Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-09-16

Winnie. by general advice from without'
had managed to keep UP an almost continu
al warfare at home, although she was ma
turally generous-hearted child; and when
she had recovered from her fright. and
made sure she had not swallowed all the
water in the river, she looked gravely at
her step-mother's soiled garments and
said, slowly
IF you don't care, Mrs. Merton, I'll
call you mamma, now.''
After that day Mrs. Merton had many
friends; for you can always reach a moth
ers heart through her children, and every
woman seemsa mother to any child in the
hour of danger.
'.She was brave and self-possessed, and
she saved my Elmer, and I don't mean to
ever say another word against her if she
never goes to church, That was what
Mrs. Evans said at the next meeting, and
as she seldom expressed an opinion for
herself, the ladies for the most part agreed
with her, except Mr.. Hezekiah Winners
who said,-
"Well, dunno; she may be all right,
but woman that could entrap man of
forty, and he minister, kind of looks to
me as though she was f1irt."
And Miss Sophronia Dobbs nodded her
false frlzzes emphatically as she said,-
~ agree with you, Mrs. Winters. We
mustn't all be taken in by one good act.''
Well, to tell the truth, folks did, gener-
ally speaking, keep an eye on her; but ev-
erything seemed satisfactory. She did
nothing that scandalized their ideas of pro-
priety, and they dad almost made up their
minds that with proper advice she might
DO for minister's wife after all.
But the town of L-was visited one
day by travelling theatrical troupe, and
everybody was going who wasn't a pillar
in the church, and who wouldn't no such
institution of Satan.'' Mrs. Winters was
especially bitter against them. The thea
ter, a long time ago, had led her one son
from his home, and the only sweet, sacred
spot in Mrs. Winters hard, religious life
was her love for her boy, her baby, as she
called him, although he was almost man
when he went away.
The day the troupe arrived Mrs. Winter
was at home alone, and the faint sound of
distant music was arousing to utterance
the grief she had kept buried so long.
''I'll just 60 to the sewing circle and for
get my sorrow by listening to something
or other" And away trudged Mrs. Whit
ers to Mrs. Richfield g, whose turn it was
to entertain the society.
Everybody was busy and gossipy, and
Mrs. Winters was listening to the report
of the bad behavior of the girl of the peri
cd when Miss Arimintha White came
bustling in.
'Law me! ladies have you heard?" and
without waiting for an answer, she con-
tinued, ''Oh, the dreadful, awful actions
of Imogene Merton! Sarah Holcomb, that
lives next door. seen it with her own eyes,
and she told me all about it. And poor.
dear Mr.. Merton away on church bust
ness!'
What is it?" ''Do tell2" $50 on,
Ariminthar, and explain,'' we're the words
from all sides.
well, to begin with, my feelings is aw-
fully rlled up; bat you all know that them
theatre fellars come to-day. Well. one of
'em-I know he was one because he got off
4he train with them-come to Mrs. Mer-
tons to-day, and she was settin' in that
room of hers with them windows that
swings out; and he, instead ofgoing to the
front door or ringing the bell like man,
why, when he saw her a-settin' in that
room, with her back to the window, he
just slipped up sly and sneakin like and
stepped in through the window, ard then
jumped clear across the room, and such
huggin' an kissin' was never seen in a
minister's house afore! Now, ladies, I
know this Is so, cause Sarah Halcomb
told it for solemn truth, and that amt
the worst of it. After he had stayed an
hour or so he went to the hotel and got
another fellar, and them two walked
straight to the minister's house, and she
opened the door, fixed up fit to kill. Now
I say it g the duty of every member of this
society to look into this matter. The
minister is gone, and we have got the re-
spectability of the church to sustain. We
should 60 Immediately and hear what that
dreadful creature has to say for herself
Law me! Who'd have thought it,"
THE most scandalous thing ever heerdr'
MAYBE there is some mistake,' put in
Mrs. Evans, who hadn't forgotten the
brave swimmer the day Of the picnic.
1t was solemn visaged group that filed
into the minister's sitting room. Mrs.
Hezekiah was to be chief spokeswoman, as
she generally was on all church occasions.
Mrs. Merton greeted them, her face all
smiles.
II had just sent for you, Mrs. Winters;
I have such pleasant surprise for you'll
and she actually kissed the old lady's with
cred cheek, while Miss Sophrona Dobbs
muttered "Judas!'' under her breath
Just come right In here, while I talk to
the ladies'" And Mrs. Winters followed,