The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-01-03


over the son.
So, when Leslie rose to 60, and, con-
trary to her usual custom, Mrs. Barrett
suffered Lucy to see him out, l could
not help raising my window, very soft
", You know, just to be certain that
they were not talking too loud. Per:
haps you may have, noticed that when
the street is quiet. AID the noises of the
day are hushed, ordinary voices are
singularly audible.
They conversed for nearly ten min
utes, and, just as l expected, l caught
several words and parts of sentences,
which will set down in the order in
which they occurred.
"A good, true wife," said the young
man, rs he took her hand in his own.
Lucy's reply was almost inaudible;
but l caught happiness in the flu
turc," and "more than l can ever de-
serve"
Then Leslie finished long speech
with ian excellent time for the we'd
ding;'' and heard no more. No need,
you will doubtless say.
But the next morn;"" found myself
really ill; my throat was sore, my head
ached, and violent chill was soon fol-
lowed by u high fever.
My cold had been aggravated by my
imprudence in opening the window, and
Il weeks illness and confinement to my
bed was the result.
/ was really suffering so much that
forgot my neighbors, and it was not I'M
til the tenth day after my seizure that
my interest in my fellow-creatures re-
vived sufficiently to prompt me to ask
Rosa a single question.
swell, indeed, mum, I've had SO lit
tie time to spare since you've been
sick that ] can't tell you what's going
on even next door. But cook says
that she thinks they've had a wedding
this morning over at the Barretts', for
the young lady went away in car
riage over two hours ago, all dressed
in new travelling dress, and Young
Mr.. Brown and another gentleman
went with her, and all the children was
a-standin' on the steps a-throwin' old
shoes after them, and Mrs. Barrett was
half-laughiEg, half-crying, at the parlor
window
Married. l exclaimed" the de-
signing girl! Then my warning was
useless. But she'll never be happy,
that's one comfort. DO you know
whether Mrs. Brown is expected this
week, Rosa?'
"Mrs. Brown! Why, there she comes
now, mum; just getting out of her car
riage, l do declare" answered Rosa,
gazing from my window.
In a moment my resolution was taken.
g Help me to get up, Rosa. I'll go
right over there and break the news
gently to the poor woman, myself" l
said, as l sat up, suddenly forgetting
my ailments in my compassion for poor
Mrs. Brown.
In fifteen minutes more l was stand
ing on the steps and l had rung the
bell. That pompous waiter ushered me
into the parlor and took up my card,
and before l had time to collect my
thoughts, Mrs. Brown entered, with my
card still in her hand.
"Miss-Greentield," she began, as if
she found my name too much trouble
to pronounce, Z" have not the pleasure
of your acquaintance, l am sure; but if
IL IS a. CudTIlstDlc CTrHuu-
Here l cut her short at once. "No,
indeed, my dear madam, am not come
on an errand of charity, although my
motives are benevolent. The fact is, l
bring you bad news
She started violently. bad newsr'
she repeated.
Yes, ma am, bad news. Your ex-
cellent son.
But she turned deathly pale; then,
clutching my arm, as we still stood (for
she had not had the politencss to ask
me to sit DOWN, she gaspcd:
"What is it9 Is he ill, or hurt? Do,
for Heavens sake, speak! Don't keep
me waiting, woman"'
"No, no; he's safe-safe and well, :"
said. But she fairly pinched my arm
as she ordered me to tell her what l
meant without delay.
never saw n more naughty, impe-
riOus woman than that Mrs. Brown,
and must confess she conquered me.
l meant to tell my story in my own
way, but she forced me right to the
point.
"He's married." answered. Then
seeing her look of incredulous amaze
ment, added, Eyes, married this very
morning, not two hours ago, in your
absence, and to that awful little neigh
Dor of yours, in spite of all my efforts
to open your eyes,
Mrs. Browns face was study. She
looked by turns puzzled, astOnished,
angry and scornful; then, with a very
disagreeable smile, she asked:
% Are you in the habit of writing
anonymous letters, Miss Greenfield:
What you have just said would seem to
connect you with a contemplate epistle
of that sort, received some weeks ago
which burned, half read" Dust rs il
she could make woman believe that. J
Now, since You are so interested in
my son, let me assure you that he il
not married; that little more than two
hours ago he assisted as best man al
the wedding of his old schoolmate and
friend, Lyman Bertrand, who returned
from Germany three days ago to claim
his promised wife, Lucy Barrett, after
an absence of nearly two years."
She said all this very slowly, with hel
eyes on my face, and, can tell you,
was not comfortable. Still, l would
not give up yet. Ireplied:
But you must allow that your sol
has been very attentive to an engaged
girl; or, perhaps you don't know tina
he has been spending most of his even
ings there-writing such long letters
too, when he didn't 60 himself"
Mrs. Browns smile was more super
cilious than ever when she said, Mrs
Barrett, as you have doubtless discov
cred, is poor. Lucy is an admirabl,
German scholar. and my son expects t.
spend the next three years of his life il
Germany. Consequently she has beef
instructing him for months past, at m,
urgent request"
''But the morning you received m,
letter, l saw you rush up to your SON.
room and hold an earnest conference
with him. Then for days he avoide,
going next door. Was not that il
consequence of my warning?" l asked
anxiously.
"On the contrary, never told m
son of your letter, but l had receives
intelligence from a relative in Ger
.