The Van Buren press., 1876-09-19

III tue sou, biue eye. Mrs. vernon re-
peated the conversation which had just
taken place, filling her daughters mind
with the same mysterions, underlined sus-
picions which agltated her own, and con-
cuded by commanding her not to glance
talk or think anything more of Mr. Frank
Williams.
Mr. Frank Williams, the victim Of these
Vaccinations, was one Of those univer-
sally popular and happily constituted
characters who take everywhere, with
young and old, grave aud gay His pc
cullarly fascinating exterior had, OF
course, something to do with this, but,
more than all, never ending flow of
good spirits and amiability. or sauv-
uveness, us phrenologists would term it,
which possesses IN irresistible attraction
ihiv s~-el unnntad quality ,na4is ~ -
play, tomp and make himself as rdicu-
lous as they could desire with children,
just as he could listen with the most def.
erentlal and interested attention to the
long, duh harangues Of their papas and
mammas.
AIS bow to his lady love, Miss Cor
trude Vernon, was the perfection of cour
tesy and grace, 50 it was to poor old Mr..
Anderson, who sold books and pnam
phlets at the little shop on the corner Of
the street. The very attendants at the
large house whore he boarded had wings
when he was to be served Yes, Mr.,
Frank Williams was, or rather had been,
universal favorte. But 10 wondrous
change The pleasufahle hatter. aglta
lion and smiles which were wont to mark
his approach At parties. all had disappear.
ed, and in their place he behell a sullen
aud ominols gravity and shrinking
Young ladies' instead OF being most hap
py, were " engaged, or " latigued. or
" Just going home" when he asked them
to dance. Miss Cornelia W Wendall no Ion.
ger declared size could not think of sing
ing without an accompaniment, and CLAN.
ced pair of most coqnet ishly beautiful
eyes, significantly as she spoke. No!
she did not accept them when he tender
ed his services The pretty widow, Mrs
Harcourt, no longer seized his arm and
carried him otrc ptive, aoiens poteas, by
way of shielding herself as she pr 1tcs-
ted, from the attacks of that insuiferable
bore, her seXagenarian adorer. Mr.. Mills.
A mamma came up one evening and alb.
solutely took her daughter off without
preface or apology, who was hesitating,
blushing and believing that her father
was going home with her. when Mr.
Williams requested that honor. There
were no more little suppers and family
dinners for him at Mrs. Lindsey's. and
little Mtggie not only refused in the most
digniiied manner to be earressed and
played with, but dashed over the other
side Of the street. whenever she saw him
coming, in evident perturbation and
alarm The gay, merry, hattering world
had changed amazingly for Mr. Frank
Williams mods and becks, and wretch
cd smiles,' all vanished he began to
doubt whether he was himself Tocom-
pIete his desperaton tie lady OF his love
had waned from tinid delight to chill in.
difference, and from chill indifference to
cold contempt, proposing i'll tue full lux
uriance of which last he received most
emphatic mo-" for his trouble Mr..
Williams confided some of his distress.
ing sensations to his friend, Mr.. Lindsey,
who contided them to his wife, aud won
dered what the deuce had got into the
people, particularly that silly litlle girl,
Gertrude Vernon, for treating fine, gen
fellow like W lnams in such u
maAner
Mrs Lindsey said nothing, but thought
a great deal her woman heart tnied
within her for fear, and over her pillow
that night fitted visions of suits for Sian
der and defamation, courts and costs,
mingled with those Of II justly infuriated
husband, and the new cashiers handsome
persen extended at full length with his
brains blown out. On considering the
matter the next day, however, there was
a possibility that some one else might
have done the mischief, and without be
traying herself she determined to proceed
i'll the most diplomatic manner possible,
TO the discovery of this lact AT small
party where Mr. Frank Williams was not,
she seated herself by Mrs Maxwell, Il
Young married lady and friend
Of his, WHO had remained cordially true
and kind amidst the voIey of cold looks
and ICY greetings by which the untortu
nate youth had been assailed.
"What can be the reason" exclaimed
Mrs. Lindsey, with a wonderfully ignor.
ant aud svmpatbizing air r,"why that agree
able young man, Mr. Williams, is not
here to uightr'
He was not invited. replied her aud,
Itor, coldly, with most suspicious brevlty
Not invited = ecnoed Mrs Lindsey,
rs if she really could not credit the full
horror of the fact, of which, br-the way,
she was aware before Her companion
made no reply, and Mrs Lindsey begun
On another track, IL do not think he is
as great a tavorite as when he FIRST came
here" Still no answer. and Mrs Lind |
sey, who did not fad this monologue
ng f." particularly agreeable, turned to
ler silent auditor, and exclaimed "What
san be the reasonf'
Il should imagine you would know,
Mrs. Lindsey" answered the lady, at
ength, with no little indignation, "for
/ was something that you told Mrs. Yer
lon, and Mrs. Vernon told Mrs. Fisher,
md Mrs. Fisher, told her cousin Mrs.
" ellis, and she toll, Mrs Davis, and she
aoGody knows who; suffice it to
,ay, that every man, woman and child |
n this place has heard the "some
hing" and ii is doing deserving young
nan incalculable injury aud running bis |.
prospects in every way