Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-09-02

flee it to say, that every man, woman
and child in this place has heard the
something" and it is doing deserv
ing young man incalculable injury and
running his prospects in every way"
"What will become of me2" thought
Mrs. Lindsey, in an agony, as she walk
ed home that night. ooh that treach
erous Mrs. Vernon, when / told her in
all friendliness, too, entirely ON her
daughter Gertrude's account, and she
promised me that she never wouldspeak
of it again /"
Early the next morning she sailed
into Mrs. Vernon's and asked, with
quivering lips and ashy cheek, whether
she had mentioned "that affair about
Mr.. Frank Williams to any one.
Her friend looked excessively fright
ened AMI silly herself for moment or
two, then acknowledged that she " had
spoken of it to Mrs. Fisher, but she was
sure she had not told-she would go and
see her without delay"
" But she has though" replied Mrs.
Lindsey, with the energy OF despair;
"she told her cousin Mrs. Wells, and
Mrs. Wells told Mrs. Douglass, and
Mrs. Douglass told Mrs. Davis, and it is
all over town"
Nothing except Mrs. Lindsey's con-
sternation could equal Mrs. Vernon's.
But q drowning man catches at q straw.
"There may be some mistake" she
replied, sat all events I'll go and see
Mrs. Fisher this afternoon.
elbow cyuld you, Mrs. Fisher" be-
gun Mrs. Vernon, "tell that affair
about Mr.. Williams, which confded to
you, under the strictest injunctions of
secrecy2"
Mrs. Fisher looked up at the ceiling,
down on the floor, and out of the win
dow, and gathering courage. doubtless,
from the survey of these prospects,
said, in faltering tone, "that she had
only told cousin Mrs. Wells, who was
very prudent, and never mentioned any
thing"
"But she has not been very prudent
this time," answered Mrs. Vernon, with
no little acrimony, "for she has told
Mrs. Douglass, who has told Mrs.
Davis, who informed the whole town, I
imagine, for everybody knows it.
Not half an hour elapsed before Mrs.
Fishers hat and cloak were on, and she
was in Mrs. Wells parlor.
"Lucy," she exclaimed, when she
met her cousin, show could you tell
anybody what 1 told you about Mr..
Frank Williams2 l certainly thought
that in mentioning thing to you was
safe-I would no sooner have trusted it
to dumb woman-what possessed you
to tell this2"
81 did not exactly tell it, answered
Mrs. Wells, with crimson face, cor
rather, / have no idea of betraying con,
fidence. Mrs. Douglass said something,
from which l had no doubt that she
knew all about it, and answering her
with this idea, of course, very innocent.
| ly, made in some measure the disclo-
sure, then concluded it would be more
prudent to tell her all and bind her to
| secrecy"
(Which she has not kept" said Mrs.
Fisher, "for she has told Mrs. Davis,
who has told the whole town, [ suspect,
for everybody knows it, and it is max
ing a great deal of trouble"
81 am very sorry" answered Mrs.
Wells. "What can L do2 Shall I &c
and see Mrs. Douglass ?"
eyes, by all means; put on your
things now, and then come to our house
and tell me what she says" replied her
cousin.
Mrs. Wells was timid woman, and
it took her some time to broach the
subject.
You remember what I tcld you
about Mr.. Williams2" she said, at
length, in q low, confused tone.
eyes" answered Mrs. Douglass, with
the most composed air in the world.
"Did you ever tell any one-Mrs.
Davis" stammered poor Mrs. Wells,
feeling like the victim herself.
ono" answered Mrs. Douglass,
Mrs. Davis told me-"
els it possible 2" said her auditor, il
a delighted surprise. How did%he heal
it2"
"It was the same story; it came from
Mrs. Lindsey" answered her friend
"She told Mrs. Allan, who told Mrs
Johnson, who told Mrs. White, who told
Mrs. Davis, and she told me"
"Indeed !" said Mrs. Wells, with al
astonished expression of oountenanct
peculiar to herself. Indeed p
What racing and chasing was there
that hvelong afternoon about A" that
affair " of Mr.. Frank Williams. Wha
a commotion in eight or ten feminine
hearts (married ones too) of which ht
was most unwittingly the cause. Pur
pie, brown and stone colored cloak,
were dodging each other in all direo
tions, and after explanations and re
explanations by scores, everybody shool
their hands free of the matter, voting
that Mrs. Lindsey was the guilty person
on whom retribution should fall. She
unfortunate woman) was sitting quietly
at home in pleasing ignorance of all thi
commotion, when Mrs. Vernon, with
peculiarly pursed-up expression of coun
tenance, came in. Never since th,
memory of man, or woman either, hat
her friend and neighbor looked so aw
fully solemn and rigidly severe. Mrs
Lindsey had not heart or voice enough
to bid her =" good-evening;" she merel,
J motioned her to seat, and gazinI
steadfastly at her, waited for her t,
begin.
81 am surprised, Mrs. Lindsey" a
length said the lady, cat your attackin,
! me with making public that story abou
Mr.. Williams. when you have informe,
: everybody else of it, as we'll as myself.
J Still, Mrs. Lindsey said nothing; sh
merely looked for further explanation
" You told Mrs. Allan" said her com
| panion, in reply to the look, "and sh
told Mrs. johnson, and "---
l {" told Mrs. Allan 2" gasped Mrs
l Lindsey, at length; 81 never told an,
3 one but you"
> "What ! not one Sunday, comin