The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1879-05-30

Afternoon found goodly company as
sembled in Mrs Danes excepting room !"
maids. matrons, young men, and middle
aged, with sprinkling of the neuter
gender, viz, old bachelors and old
maids.
Conspicuous was Mrs. Robinson, in a
sky-blue muslin dress, and cap trimmed
with pink ribbon, for this worthy lady
did not believe in outward mourning;
she patronized a putting of the heart in
sackcloth and ashes"
The terrible story Of the Widow Jones
beau had been told to each successive
newcomer by the indefatigable Mrs
Dame, and a score of tongues ratified
fluently on ithe scandalous conduct of
one of their church members,
The young ladies (who had an eye to
the minister-singularly enough, he was
unmarried) were in favor of calling
church meeting and Ixpelling her at I,
once.
The elderly ladies put on their specta-
cles and declared that there were no
"sch acting" when they were young
Folks tried to behave themselvet de-
cent, them"
Deacon Griswold said it was pity
that so handsome woman as Widow
Jones should be guilty of such an IN
propriety; and Esquire jenkins (who
had got the mitten from the widow
when she was Miss Sally White) remark
ed, as he pulled up his dicky. that it was
strange how some folks should ever have
been received into good society.
Mrs. Dame, for the hundredth time,
expressed her determination of making
the "Widder" ashamed of herself, and
her visitors. one and all, declared that
she "wouldn't be mite to blame!"
In the midst of it, the door was thrown
open, and the unfortunate object Of all
these remarks entered the room, followed
by fne-looking. graceful young man,
who, to use the whispered expression of
Mrs. Robinson to Sam Miles wife
couldn't keep his eyes off that flirting
'huzzyw
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentle
men," said the widow blandly. Per
NIT me to present Mr.. Eugene Hender-
son, of Portland"
Everybody bowed politely-the young
ladies in particular-and the dsconsolate
Widow Robinson pulled down her false
curls upon her cheeks. and simpered.
"a fine day. Mrs. Jones" said Mrs
Dame, by way of opening.
"Yes," replied the widow, livery
pleasant. and you have a pleasant com
pany assembled. 81 am always sure oi
meeting good society here"
"Yes, alters have kept good compa'
ny, and alters kalkerlate tor said the
hostess, casting sharp look under the
brown eyelashes of the Widow Jones.
"No doubt of it," returned that lady
] good-humoredly-''and / am glad OF it
l do dislike meeting people who have
made themselves notorious by their evi
ways!"
That's very good idea. Mrs. Jones
if we only practice it. but if we are bat
ourselves we have to be in bad company
all the time"
"very true, Mrs. Dame; you seem tt
understand the nature of such case ex
actlym
Mrs. Dame felt the point of the re
mark, but she only Redeemed. and con
tinued:
"Mrs. Jones, when any one in ou
church is guilty of onbehaving, do yo'
know what is done with emp"
That depends on circumstances
"Wall, allow me TO ask if you woul'
consider it prosperous for any onmarrie'
woman to let young man hug and kis
her in broad daylight. and afore folk
too?"
"what makes the difference, Mrs
Dame, whether it is daylight, or not3
isn't the best people that do their evi
deeds in the dark, is il? Besides, 'proT
erousness' of such thing depends o
who the young man is!"
The impudent widow didn't eve
blush or stop plying her needle.
"Welll did I ever?" calculated Mr.
} Robinson. raising both hands TOWARD
the plaster ceiling, and her eyes to ii
solemn countenance Of Deacon Griswol'
"orful depravityl I'm sadly afeared