Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-10-20
VOL 81.

pened during the morning. Mr.. Jone
was disposed to treat the matter lightly
but his wife soon satisfied him that tn
thing was no joke
"What can be Mrs. Todd's reason TO
such conduct ?" he asked, with a seriou
air.
! 81 can't tell for my life''
s.She must have heard some false repor
about you"
tits as likely as not. But what can i
be?"
"Something serious to cause her to TAX
+, so decided a stand as she seems to hay,
DONE"
Mr.. Jones looked grave and spoke IN {
grave tone of voice. This made matter
worse. Mrs. Jones' first idea was tina
Mrs. Todd had heard something that sh'
might have said about her; and thai
wounded pride had caused her to do as sht
had done. But her husband S remark sug
gested other thoughts. 1t was possible
that reports were in circulation calculated
to injure her social standing, and Mrs
Todd's conduct toward her was not the
result of any private pique.
sit was certainly strange and unaccoun
table" she said, in reply to her husbands
last remark, speaking in a thoughtful
tone.
"Would it not be the fairest and best
way for you to go and ask for an explana
ton ?'
mo, can't do that" replied Mrs. Jones
quickly. II am willing to bear undeserved
contempt, and unjust censure, but I will
never humble myself to any one."
For the rest of the day, Mrs. Jones
thoughts all flowed in one channel. A
hundred reasons for Mrs. Todd's strange
conduct were imagined, but none seemed
long satisfactory. At last she remembered
having spoken pretty freely about that Ia
dy, to certain individual who was not re-
markable for his discretion.
"That's it - she said, rising from hel
chair, and walking nervously across the
floor of her chamber backward and forward
for two OF three times, while burning
glow suffused her cheek. Isn't it too bad
that words, spoken in confidence. should
have been repeated! I don't wonder she
is offended! !"
The idea was retained for a time, and
then abandoned for some other that seemed
more plausible. For the next two weeks
Mrs. Jones was very unhappy. She did
Todd 1n,.i hof
but she saw number of her friends, to
whom either she or Mrs. Lyon had COM
muncated the fact already stated. All de
clared the conduct of Mrs. Todd to be I'm.
accountable but several, among them.
selves, had shrewd suspicious of the real
cause Conversations on the subject, like
the following, were held.
II can tell you what I think about it
Mrs. S. You know Mrs. Jones is pretty
free with her tongue 2"
"Yes7'
"You've heard her talk about Mrs.
Todd ?''
II don't remember. now"
81 have, often. She doesn't spare her
sometimes. You know, yourself, that Mrs.
Todd has queer ways Of her own"
"She is not perfect, certainly.
mot by great deal; and Mrs. Jones
has not hesitated to say SO. There is not
the least doubt in my mind that Mrs. Todd
has heard something."
"Perhaps So But she is very foolish to
take any notice of it,"
$50 1 think. But you know she is
toucby.''
In some instances. the conversation as
sumed a grave FORM
''Do you know what has struck me in
this matter Of Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Todd2'
says one scandal loving parsonage to an
other whose taste ran parallel with hel
own.
ssNo; what is it ?" eagerly asks the audi
tor.
81 will tell you. But you mustn't speak
OF it for your life"
"Never fear me-"
The communication is made in deeI
whisper.
"Bless me !" exclaims the recipient OF
the secret. sit surely cannot be so p
sThere is not the least doubt of it. I
had it from a source that cannot be doubt.
ed"
Chow in the world did you hear it ?"
sIn way not dreamed of by Mrs
Jones'"
mo doubt Mrs. Todd has heard the
same"
! en- OF the least in the world. But don't
| you think her to blame in refusing to keeI
Mrs. jones' company, or even 10 speak tt
her ?"
Certainly [ do. 1t happened lont
time ago, and no doubt poor Mrs. Jone
has suffered enough Oh account of it. In
deed, don't think she ought to be blamed
in the matter at all. 1t was her misfor
| tune, not her fault"
$50 l think-in fact, [ believe she is jus
as worthy CT respect and kindness as Mrs
| Todd"
mo doubt of it in the world; and from
me she shall always receive it,
''And from me Also"
In this way the circle spread, so that be
fore two weeks had elapsed there were NJ
} less than twenty different notions hell
about Mrs. Todd's behavior to Mrs. Jones
Some talked very seriously about cutting
the acquaintance of Mrs. Jones also, Will
others took her side and threatened to Civ
up the acquaintance of Mrs. Todd.
Thus matters stood, when mutua
friend, who wished to DO honor to som
visitors from neighboring city, sent GU
, invitations for party. Before these in
yitations were dispatched: it was seriousl
! debated whether it would do to invite bot
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Todd, considering
how matters stood between them. IN
decision was in favor of letting them tax
| cara of their own difficulties,