The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-04
THEGOSSIP'S MISTAKE.

said Miss Felicia Addertongue, sharply
Going to be fine lady, eh2 And car
remember the time whom she was bare
footed girl, picking raspberries in hel
fathers field.'
! "She has grown up very pretty" sale
gentle Widow Markham in her quie
way.
Engaged to young Hazel, is she2' re
piled Miss Addertongue, with vicious
look in her coal-black eyes. Il can put
a spoke in her wheel, l think. Tai
young chap, ais't be, with black hail
curling close to his head, and moustache
as black as ink2"
"Yes," said wondering Mrs. Markham
II didn't know you knew him."
"Oh, l know him." said Miss Adder
tongue, with toss OF the head; Sand
know one or two things about him that
Millville society didn't seem 70 be up in. !
"You don't say sol" said the widow
curiously.
81 do say so, and l mean it. You see
Mrs. Markham, l have ways and means
of getting behind the scenes that no one
else has. My ster. Phoebe Ann, that
married Slatterly, and was let widow
six years ago, come next March, she's
housekeeper at the H--Hotel. And
was visiting her there last month, and
that's how / came TO see Mr.. Hazel"
"Myw calculated the widow.
"With my own eyes," said Miss AID
dertougue, rolling up those organs until
there was some danger OF their retiring
altogeth er into her head. Harold Ha.
eel, tall and dark, and always iull offunT
EXACTLY" cried Mrs. Markham.
"He was there" remarked Miss Fell
cha" with his wife,"
"His WIle" echoed Mrs. Markham
at can't be possible"
"Bu. it is, though" asserted Miss Fell
ella, with gloomy relish. Il saw 'em my
self. l heard him introduce her as MRS.
Hazel and tell somebody as how she
was great heiress. Older than ma,, but
still not what you'd call an old maid,
though of course he married her for her
money. No kind of doubt about that
Such diamonds as she wore-and such
silk gowns and over-skirts Of point lace
as you might cover over with bank notes
and still not come up to its value"
But" cried out bewildered Mrs. Mark
ham, she's engaged TO Juliet Reed, for
I've seen the engagement ring she wears.
"And he's married to the black-eyed
lady," said Miss Addertongue. with equal
emphasis, "because | saw the wedding
ring"
"Then what does be mean by making
love to Farmer Reeds daughter" indig.
nantly cried Mrs. Markham.
"Humphr said Miss Felicia, pursuing
up her lips viciously. That's question
| can't pretend to an ,wer. What do men
mean generally by their pranks2 just
to have little fun, suppose, and amuse
then selves for the time being"
"I.'s cruel, wicked thing" said Mrs
Markham; sand Juliet is such pretty
girl y
Tastes differ" said Mrs. Addertongue,
"For my part, never faacied them big;
blue ewes, and hair rs looks as if it had
been bleached. Juliet Reed always did
feel above the rest of the Millville lolks.
"Some one ought TO tell her," said Mrs.
Markham.
"Of course they ought" said Miss AID.
dertongue
'Icouldnt do It," said the gentle-heart-
ed widow.
a. could" said Miss Addertongue. 81
can mostly do anything when l feel 1t Il
be my Christian duty"
Pretty Juliet Reed was sewing in the
cool porch, where the shadows OF the
great elmtrees made green oasis in the
desert of sunshine around the quaint, one
storied farmhouse. She grew pale as
death MS Miss Addertongue unfolded her
tale.
"Harold married." she cried. "Harold
with another wiie2 | do not believe IT,
Is it false. :,
81 saw her with my own eyes" said
Miss Felicia, secretly enjoying Juliet
agonized terror. "a great heiress-apd
OF course man will strike for money.
but it must be mistake" persisted
Juliet, the color coming and going on her
lace like q rosy Aurora Borealls.
"Alasr groaned Miss Addertongue,
at is but too true. OF course 1t Is great
disappointment to you, Juliet Reed, but
NAV be it's meant by All-wise Provl-
dence as a lesson to lower your pride,
and teach you that we're all poor worms
and"
Miss Addertongue," sand Juliet draw
ing herself up, and fixing her blue eyes
with dignity on the malicious old gossip,
spray be silent 1t is not your place 10
preach discourse to me, nor dictate in
matters which pertain to me alone - ill
YOU excuse me if / ask you to leave mel
~, certainly, certainly" said Miss Ad'
der,ongue, rather disconnected, but ven'
omous as ever "But it amt no use try
ing to co: ceal the truth. He's played
you mean trick, and Tilted You, just ioi
his own amusement, when he had wife
living already, and"
But to Miss Addertongue's amaZemen'
she was lett standing alone in the porch
Juliet Reed had quietly walked into the
hous" and shut the door in her face.
~ hat does 1t meant" Juliet asked
himself, in q sort of dizzy bewilderment
.He was going swsy-he had not written
for week. D! surely it cannot be posi-
bic that there "a the faintest shadow o.
truth in this monstrous story And
with her flushed face buried in her hands
Juliet Reed tried to fancy what the world
would be with Harold Hszers love and
constancy cut Of it.
Il told you So" croaked Miss Adder
tongue, dragging the Widow Markham
to the window an hour or so later. That
him asserting back IN the carriage. q
proud rs Lucifer. And that's the lady
with the yellow silk parssol covered viii
white lace. Now viii You say l was mis-
txkenf -ft
dear, DEAR" said Mrs. Markham, I'D
justing her spectacles on the bridge OF ne
nose. II couldn't have believed il, 1t
hadn't seen it with nv own eyes
"And they're driving straight 70 Far
mer Reeds" added Miss Addertongue
diligently hattening her nose against tn