Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-05-06
THE GOssIP's MISTAKE.

Engaged to young Hazel, is she p
said FeIicia AddertOngue, sharply.
aGoing to be a fine lady, eh And
can remember the time when she was a
barefooted girl, picking raspberries in
her fathers field"
.She has grown up very pretty" said
gentle widow Markham. i'm her mild way.
Engaged to young Hazel, is she p re-
peated Miss Addertongue, with vicious
look i'm her coal black eyes. Il can put
a spoke i'm her wheel, [ think. Tall
young chap, amt he, with black hair
curling close to his head, and mustache
as black as ink ?"
"Yes," said wondering Mrs. Markham.
81 didn't know you knew him."
"Oh. know him." said Miss Adder
tongue, with toss of her head ''and l
know one or two things about him that
Millville society don't seem to be up in"
You don't say ?" said the widow,
curiously.
IL do say so, and l mean it! You see,
Mrs. Markham, have ways and means
of getting behind the scenes that no che
else has. My sister, Phoebe Ann, that
married Statterly. and was left a widow
six years ago come next March, she's
housekeeper at the IL hotel. And
was visiting her there last month, and
that's how 1 came to see Mr.. Hazel"
"My!" calculated the widow.
'With my own eyes," said Miss Adder
tongue, rolling up those organs until
there was some danger of their retiring
altogether into her head. ''Harold Ha-
Eel, tall and dark and always full Of fun?'
Exactly !" cried Mrs. Markham.
1iHc was there remarked Miss Fell
cia, with his wife,"
"His wife ~ echoed Mrs. Markham.
SIT can't be possible :"
"But it is, though" asserted Miss Fe-
licia. with gloomy relish. Il saw 'em
myself. / heard him introduce her as
Mrs. Hazel and tell somebody as how
she was great heiress. Older than
him, 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 Overskirts of point
lace as you might cover over with bank
notes, and still not come up to its value. y
"But," cried out bewildered Mrs.
Markham, she's engaged to Juliet Reed,
for I've seen the engaged ring she wears. y
land he's married to the black-eyed
lady, said Miss Addertongue, with
equal emphasis, because l saw the we'd
ding ring!'
''Then what does he mean by making
love to farmer Reeds daughters" indig-
nantly cried Mrs. Markham.
"Humph!" said Miss Felicia. pursuing
up her lips viciously. 'sThat's ques-
ton l can't pretend to answer. What do
men generally mean by their pranks {?
Just to have little fun, suppose, and
amuse themselves for the time being"
"lt's cruel, wicked thing said Mrs.
Markham; 'and Juliet is such pretty
girl"
"Tastes differ" said Miss Addertonguc.
s.For my part, never fanced them big
blue eyes, and hair as looks as if it had
been bleached. Juliet Reed always did
feel above the Millville folks"
Some one ought to tell her." said Mrs.
Markham.
"Of course they ought" said Miss Adj
dertOngue.
II couldn't do it." said the gentle-heart-
ed widow.
81 could" said Miss Addertongue. 81
can mostly do anything when feel it to
be my Christian duty"
Pretty Juliet Reed was sewing i'm the
cool porch, where the shadow of the
great elm trees made a green oasis i'm the
desert Of sunshine around the Quaint.
One-storied farm house. She grew pale
as death as Miss Addertongue unfolded
her tale.
."Harold married ?" she cried. Harold
with another wife? / do not believe it.
1t is false :"
IL seen her with my own eyes, said
Miss Felicia, secretly enjoying Juliet's
agonized terror. "A great heiress-and
OF course man will strike for money. -
"But it must be a mistake" persisted
Juhet, the color coming and going on
her face like rosy aurora borealis.
"Alas! ~ groaned Miss Addertongue,
sit is but too true. Of course it is a
great disappointment to you, Juliet
Reed, but maybe it's meant by all-wise
Providence as q lesson to lower your
pride and teach you that we're all poor
worms, and
''Miss Addertongue," said Juliet, draw
ing herself up and fixing her blue eyes
with dignity on the malicious old gossip,
pray be silent. 1t is not your place to
preach to me nor dictate in matters
which pertain to me alone. Will you
excuse me If ask you to leave me?"
I'm certainly, certainly said Miss
Aopertongue, rather disconnected, but
venomous as ever. 'sBut it amt no use
trying 10 conceal the truth. He's PLAYED
you q mean trick. and Tilted you, just for
MS own amusement. when he had wife
living already, and-nT
But Miss to Addertongue's amazement
sne was left standing alone i'm the porch.
juliet Reed had quietly walked into the
mouse and shut the door in her face.
: what does it mean?' Juliet asked
.a .9' in sort of dizzy bewilderment.
"a ne was going away-he has not written
not NJ, week. Oh! surely, surely it can
sn os Le possible that there is the faintest
Ana w Oh truth in this mOnstrous storyl"
han5s WIN Inner ner flushed face buried in her
' Quiet Reed tried to fancy what