Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-09-03

forget my sorrow by listening to some
thing or other" And away trudged
Mrs. Winters to Mrs. Richfeld's, whose
turn it was to entertain the society.
Everybody was busy and gossipy, and
Mrs. Winters was listening to the re
port of the bad behavior of the girl Of
the period when Miss Arimintha White
came bustling in.
Claw me ladies have you heard p
and without waiting for an answer, she
continued, "Oh, the dreadful, awful
actions OF Imogene Merton Sarah
Halcomb, that lives next door, seen il
with her own eyes, and she told me ali
about it. And poor, dear Mr.. Merton
away on church business |"
"What is it" "Do tell ?" "Go on,
Ariminthar, and explain" were the
words from all sides.
"Well, to begin with, my feelings is
awfully riled up but you all know that
them theater fellars ,me, to-day. Well,
one of 'em-I know he was one because
he got off the train with them-come to
Mrs. Merton's to-day; and she was a
settin' in that room of hers with them
windows that swings out and he, in
stead of going to the front door or
ringing the bell like man, why, when
he saw her a-sittin' in that room, with
her back to the window, he just slipped
up sly and sneakin'- like and stepped in
through the window, and then jumped
clear across the room, and such huggin'
an kissin' was never seen in ministers
house afore Now, ladies, I know this
is so, cause Sarah Halcomb told it for
a 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's the duty of every member of
this society to look into this matter.
The minister is gone, and we have got
the respectability of the church to sus-
tain. We should go immediately and
hear what that dreadful creature has to
say for herself"
"Law me! Who'd have thought it ?"
"The most scandalous thing 1 ever
heerdp
"Maybe there is some mistake" put
in Mrs. Evans, who hadn't forgotten
the brave swimmer the day of the pic
mic.
Tt was solemn-visaged group that
filed into the minister's sitting room.
Mrs. Hezekiah was to be chief spokes-
woman, 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 a pleasant surprise for you !"
and she actually kissed the old lady's
withered cheek, while Miss Sophrona
Dobbs muttered "Judas p under her
breath. "Just come right in here, while
I talk to the ladies'" And Mrs. Winters
followed, her withered face white with
indignation.
Suddenly there was strange, glad
cry from the wrathy lady, and in answer
to the words, eddie, my boy !" some
one said Mother !" and then Mrs. Mer-
ton went back to explain matters to the
astonished ladies'.
"My brother came to-day, and in his
travelling he came by chance upon Ed
gar Winters. Edgar is travelling with
the theater troupe that is here, and they
being friends, Luke brought Edgar
here, and sent for Mrs. Winters but
she came before my note reached her."
The ladies now began to feel ashamed,
but they were generous. Miss Aramin-
tina said
eff I'm the bearer of scandal again
it shan't be about you, Mrs. Merton"
ALI hardness seemed melted out OF
Mrs. Winters nature as she returned to
the sitting-room.
81 want you to forgive me if you can,
Mrs. Merton. came here to-day to
denounce you, and on circumstantial
evidence only; but I'll be your friend in
the future, remember that"
The ladies by turns apologized for
having troubled her SO much.
"Oh, I'm getting used to be minis
ter's wife, and I don't mind such things,
you know"
Perhaps this last remark was ungra-
cious; but it was true to her, and there
after one minister's wife was not made
the subject of ill-natured gossips.-
| Wdrerlu M00asi,ae.