Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-09-30

"No doubt it is. Still we ought not
to go out of our way to shun that per-
son. Let us, while we do not attempt
to interfere with the liberties of others,
be free ourselves. Were I in your place,
would not move an inch to keep out OF
her way"
"I have not your firmness. wish 1
had. 1t was only yesterday that l
crossed the street to keep from meeting
her face to face"
"You were wrong"
&C. can't help it. 1t is my weakness.
Three times already have l put myself
about to avoid her and if l could frame
any good excuse for staying away from
this party 1 certainly should do so. 1
would give anything for good sick
headache on Tuesday next - ~ T.
:" I am reslly ashamed of YOU, Ellen |
thought you more of woman, said
Mr.. Jones.
The night of the party at length came
round. During the whole day preced-
ing it, Mrs. Jones could think of moth
ing but the unpleasant feelings she
would have upon meeting with Mrs.
Todd, and her "heart was in her
mouth" all the time. She wished a
dozen times that it would rain. But her
wishes availed nothing, Not cloud to
be seen in the clear. blue armament from
morning until evening.
"Oh, if [ only had some good excuse
for staying at home" she said, over and
over again, but no good excuse offered.
Mr.. Jones saw that his wife was in a
very unhappy state of mind, and tried
his best to cheer her, but with little
good effect. e. .....-....
eft is no use to talk to me, 1 can't
help it, she replied to his sremonstrance,
in husky voice. 81 am neither a
stock nor a stone."
"There's Mrs. Jones, "said one friend
to another, on seeing the Lady they
named enter Mrs. IS we'll filled par
lors.
"Where is Mrs. Todd?" asked the
lady addressed.
"Sure enoughl where is she9" re-
piled the other. "Oh, there she is in
the other room. I wonder why it is that
she does not speak to Mrs. Jones'"
"No one knows"
"It's very strange"
"Ill tell you what I've heard"
"WhatG"
"That she's jealous of Mrs. Jones. !"
Ridiculous |"
"Isnt it 2"
81 don't believe word of it."
"Nor 1. only told you what had
heard"
"There must be some other reason" Z"
"And doubtless is" '' ''
Meantime Mrs. Jones found O seat in
a corner, where she ensconced herself,
with the determination Of keeping her
place during the evening, that she
might avoid the unpleasantness of com
ing in contact with Mrs. Todd. All this,
of course, was very weak in Mrs.
Jones but she had no independent
strength of character, it must be owned.
Poor Mrs. Jones How cut down
she looks, - remarked lady who knew
all about the trouble that existed. "I
really feel sorry for her,"
"She takes it great deal too much
to heart, " was the reply. "Mrs. Todd
might refuse to speak to me dozen
times if she liked, wouldn't break my
heart. But where is she ?"
" In the other room, as gay and lively
as ever 1 saw her. See, there she is 70
Yes, I see her. Hark You can
hear her laugh to here. 1 must con-
fess l don't like it. I don't believe
she has any heart. She must know
that Mrs. Jones is hurt at what she has
done"
"Of course she does, and her manner
is meant to insult her.
Seeing the disturbed and depressed
state of Mrs. Jones' mind, two or three
of her friends held q consultation on the
subject, and finally agreed that they
would ask Mrs. Todd, who seemed pur-
posely to avoid Mrs. Jones, why she
acted toward her as she did. But be.
fore they could find an opportunity of
doing SO, messenger came to say that
one of Mrs. Todd's children had been
taken suddenly ill. The lady withdrew
Immediately.
Mrs. Jones breathed more freely on
learning that Mrs. Todd had gone home.
Soon after she emerged from her place
in the corner, and mingled with the
company during the rest Of the evening.
On the following morning, three Ia
dies, personal friends of Mrs. Todd. met
by appointment. and entered into grave
consultation. They had undertaken to
find out the cause of offense that had oc-
CURED OF SO serious character as to
lead Mrs. Todd to adopt SO rigid q
course toward Mrs. jones, and if posi-
BILE to reconcile matters.
"The sickness of her child will be q
good excuse for us to call upon her, "
said one If he is better, we can in
troduce the matter judiciously."
:" [ wonder how she will take it 9'
suggested another.
Kindly, I hope" remarked the
third.
"Suppose she does not 2"
"We have done our duty.
True. And that consciousness
ought to be enough for u.s..
"She is very proud woman, and my
fear is that, having taken an open and
decided stand, she will yield to neither
argument nor persuasion. Last night
she over-acted her part. While she care
fully avoided coming in contact with
Mrs. Jones, she was often near her, and
on such occasions talked and laughed
louder than at any other time. thought,
once or twice, that there was something
of malice exhibited in her conduct" "
To this one of the three assented. But
the other thought differently. After
some other discussion, and an Intellectual
attempt to decide which of them should
open the matter to Mrs. Todd, the ladies
sailed forth on their errand of peace.
They found Mrs. Todd at home, who re-
ceived them in her usual agreeable
manner.
elbow is your little boy9" was the
! first question, after the first salutations