Smyrna times., 1876-06-28

am not suspicious" Mrs. GRAY cried
notify. " What dreadful world we live
IN, and how unkind it is of you, Della, to
tell me such reports No; take that back.
I our motive was good; but what shall
| do?"
EVIL spirits are more easily aroused than
lald, as experience proves, and before we
call fire from heaven to consume the unjust
II Is desirable to establish the point as to
who the unjust are.
Mrs. Gray moved about with heavy
heart and clouded brow. She was sorelv
perplexed in regard to her duty, and shranll
from admitting the necessity of setting in.
curry on foot. Meanwhile, Eastman was
stirred with rumors, and Mrs. Atherton.
who perceived no diminution of respect
and interest among her acquaintance. was
touched by that subtle magnetism which
warns a sensitive spirit of danger. There
was no tangible evidence that her vague
fears were other than baseless. Only-she
was watched. Instinct tells of such sur
vellance. Going out and coming in, at
table, IN the drawing-rooms, eyes were upon
her whose expression was that of curiosity.
In vain the clew to this mystery was sought,
but cloud settled upon this sunny being
and Rumor added the item to its incrcas.
ing list, Mrs. Atherton is very unhappy"
Neither Mrs. Linn nor Miss Harris had
joined the town gossip, and each wondered
what had given rise thereto, neither sup.
posed that the harvest had grown from a
seed dropped during a morning call. 1t
CHANGED, however, that young sewing
glrl, occupying an adjoining room, had
overheard portion of that careless chat,
and gathering only the conclusion that Mrs.
Atherton was " dreadful queer" This She
naturally desired to communicate, and
at every turn the story grew, until Eastman
was credibly informed that Mrs. Judge
Atherton was not only not living with her
husband, but that her unhappy temper was
the cause of their separation.
When Mrs Gray, shrinking in every
nerve, laid before her favorite boarder the
painful circumstances, of which she could
no longer be kept in ignorance, the two
good women cried together.
" never believed a word, but how was |
to prove my grounds ?" asked the elder, and
the accused replied:
My husband is in Europe. | have left
a large family circle behind me for the
benefit of entire change and rest. Whether
am queer or not he is likely to be inform
ed, but his business abroad was to bring
home an invaded mother who is afraid to
travel without him; and | am deadly sea
sick on the water, so preferred to remain
on the dry land. Can you imagine what
created this fearfully unjust theory in
regard to my affairs?"
No; Mrs. Gray was in utter darkness,
and, with much regret on either side, the
landlady and her boarder parted. Expla-
nations were attempted-in part received
here and there-but Mrs. Atherton, woun.
ded and indignant, shook the dust of East.
ham from her feet before the return of her
husband.
Some months subsequent to these events.
when tongues had ceased to busy them.
selves over an old tale, Mrs. Lnn's sister
arrived from Liverpool steamer. She was
breezy, good-natured body, and in reply
to a query,
"What did you think of Mary Earl
Mrs. Atherton that is ?"
She exclaimed, "The grandest girl in our
/ set, but how she dressed in those davs ~
Miss Lu was obliged to indulge in loud
laugh before she continued. "Mary was
under the care of an antique aunt, who
made her wear such duds The summer
we graduated this relative presented her
with bonnet which Mrs Noah would have
thrown overheard, and Mary wore it because
she would not hurt the old ladys feelings.
| always said she must be queer to do such
things"
And was there nothing queer about our
friend but her style of clothing?" inquired
Mrs. Linn almost anxiously.
"Nothingi What ails you, though ?'
for the lady had risen, and was standing
facing her.
"Just this, Lu Armstrong: We have
driven that woman out Of Eastman, and
two-t thirds of the people credit cruel and
absurd story which, do believe !-sprang
from my remarking once that you called
her 'queer.'
Then followed a circumstantial account
of unlucky Mrs. Athertons persecution
for such, indeed, it was-although Mrs.
Gray was the sole individual who frankly
gave her an opportunity to explain matters.
Even Mrs. Linn, ready to accept her
share of the blame, was unconscious Of the
medium by which trife was set floating.
Miss Harris did not repeat anything, and to
Miss Harris alone had she thrown out
purely idle remark, not in the least design.
ing mischief
The retraction of scandal occupies a won
derfully minute space in print or in con-
versation. If the thing is allowed to drop
the majority of good Christians consider
their duty performed, though the tongues
which have uttered the bitter or ludicrous