Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-04-17
A MATTER OE GOSSIP.
RY GEORGE s. MCDOWELL.

I ood . Soir, w ttiR Va DCilut Go
They had held their position for some
years; had, in fact, grown with the firm
They had been acquaiatances and
friends almost from birth, associates
since they had become large enough
TO be trus ed out of their mother
laps, and consequently were now
friendly beyond what can always be
found between mere fellow clerks.
Both were good looking young
men, and in manners and address
were unequaled among the gentry OF
Benares. 1t was no wonder, then,
that they were SO popular with the
young ladies, while, at the same
time, their good business capacities
won them the esteem of the papas
and mammas.
Their parents were among the
wealthiest of the town, and there
were fair prospects that some day
they would be rich, since both were
only children. All in all, there were
no other two young men of their age
who stood so favorab!y with all the
folks of the town. with papa and
mamma, with Miss Lucy and brother
James. One might think all they
had to do was to pick out from
among the anxious maidens of the
place, one to suit their fancy, court
and marry her.
But the simplest thing in the world
stood in the way of their carrying
out any matrimonial plan. 1t was
their fortune to fall in love with the
same girl Tor they thought they had
done SOL and with a spirit Of mag
nanimity so eminently, universally
scarce in the world to day, each re.
Trained from encroachipg on ground
the other wished to possess. A strik.
ing coincidence; and the more str,k
ing to the good people of Benares
because SO novel and strange to them.
1t was thorn in the lives of the COS.
sips of the place, and at one of their
conventions its mention induced the
following conversation
Mrs. Blowsum, grand master of the
organization, introduced the subject.
1 am fairly at wits end. can't
for the world see how i. ie that either
Philip Graves or Charles Clifton
don't go in and win Clara Morrow.
or else give others a chance. It is
the easiest thing In the world to pro.
pose"(Mrs Blowsum not being man,
OF course had nothing to do but listen
patiently and murmur 'Yes,D 'and il
the young lady loved either of them
she would not hesitate to accept the
one she best loved, and thus rid her.
sell OF the other. But if the fact of
their being such intimate friends
hinders them now from taking the
step, then l am sure that after they
have taken it neither will De such q
tool as to hate the other because he
was successful. Surely, they don't
suppose Miss Clara loves both OF
them. They must know that is i'm.
possible If they do not, can easily
tell them better. 1t seems strange
to me that men can't see into the Sc
cret of such things better than that.
after six thousand years experience.
And if each is afraid of losing the
friendship of the other, l can only
set them down as a pair of FOOLS
Why need one be so self denying,
and forego all the happiness in store
for him because he fears to rob the
other OF an equal happiness q
Probably neither of them loves
Miss Clara, put in Miss Green, a
maiden of fifty; who, never having
been loved herself, at least never
having been told OF it (for that she
was unmarried is an accepted sign
was quite ready to think her lot must
have parallel
oh, pshaw Matty Green retorted
the chief of gossips, witheringly,syou'
and Miss Matte was about to re.
ceive a strong reminder, when Mrs.
Blowsum checked herself, wisely and
continued more charltably, you must
not think | am so blind as that I
remember just how Mr.. Blowsum
acted toward me before we were
married, when in the presence of 9th.
ers; and these young men act as he
did, for all the world. Actions speak
plainly, and if Philip Graves and
Charles Clifton are not both in love
with Miss Morrow, then l never was
loved myself
Not at all thing to be surprised
at. | would sooner believe you were
not, anyhow slipped to the end OF
Miss Green's tongue, but she mag
unanimously swallowed it back. She
was wise enough, besides, n Of to make
an enemy Of Mrs. Blowsum. But she
wanted to say it so badly, and could
not think of anything else as suitable,
that she held her peace. But Miss
Plum, another marriageable female
of some forty summers, took up the
gauntlet.
i won't dispute your words, Mrs.
Blowsum, for your years. (she hated
to say experience) make you able to
Judge only l say it won't surprise
me at all if it proves to be that they
don't, either Of them, love her as they
ought. We can't always 90 by ap.
pearances nowadays
! That is true, Miss Plum hastil,
interposed Mrs. Seal, .but then there
are times when appearances combine
to make most onclusive proof; and
am satisfied this is one. But VIII,
do you think the young men dom
love Miss Clara?'
yes, let us hear your reasoDs fol
such conclusion petitioned Mrs
Blowsum, somewhat scornfully.
well, it appears to me that if the,
did love her, they wouldn't hanl
about as they do, undetermined. Tru,
love is stronger than friendship, ane
any one will risk the latter to secur,
the former. Does Philip Graves Low,
as he should, if be is willing to trans
fer the object of that love to Charlie
Clifton and the same of Charlie
Clifton? ! tell you love is a jealou
passion, and will not stand secon,
even to the strongest friendship
Miss Plum had never before ex
pressed her sentiments at such lengt
III the presence OF Mrs. Blowsum
and she was frightened at her ow
audacity, manifested before the orae
ular gossip. Bot she had nushed be