Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-01-16


ed, I'm sure; but | don't think your
face is any narrower than mine is !"
"N by, Lizzle" expostulated Mrs.
Brown. "I surely haven't offended
you? I merely spoke the truth when
you asked me; aud | didn't didn't
mean to hurt your feelings"
"The truth, indeed !" snapped Lizzie.
"Where would you be, if told the
truth, | wonder :"
And with this last shot Lizzie
bounced out of the room and went
down the front stairs as fast as possible
"Lizzie Lizzie ~ called out Mrs.
Brown plaintively over the banisters
Lizzie Please come back J"
But Lizzie was deaf, and went out
shutting the door to with bang.
Mrs. Brown went back into her bed
room, and-well yes-she cried little.
1t certainly was hard, this being
champion OF absolute truth. However,
little reflection soon brought back her
enthusiasm, and she determined still to
go on in the good new way. just
then, Mary, who had ans wered the
ring of the front door bell, came up to
saw: Mrs. Green is downstairs,
ma'am and would like to see you"
Mrs. Brown reflected a moment.
Mrs Green was q talkative, gossip
loving neighbor, whom she had ever
detested, but whom she had ever been
careful to conciliate out of Difference to
the sharpness of her tongue.
You may tell her, Mary" said Mrs.
Brown, slowly, that l do not wish to
see her."
That you're very busy, and place
to excuse We. ma'am, is it?" said Mary,
understandingly.
Mo- said Mrs. Brown. "Say just
this-that | do not wish to see her this
morning"
Mary smiled and went down and de-
livered the message.
What" exclaimed Mrs. Green, in
high-pitched voice Don't wish to
see me! what's the reason, I'd like to
know? Has any one been carrying
tales of me to her, wonder? This is
an awful town for gossiping, and |
know it; and perhaps some one has
told her some story about me, or some
thing. Just go upstairs again, my
good girl, and tell your mistress that,
if she has heard any stories, am pos
tive | can explain them all away. 1t
would greve me to be bad friends with
Mrs. Brown" she added smoothly.
Mary went upstairs again and de-
livered her message.
"Tell her, Mary" said Mrs. Brown,
decidedly, "that | have heard no stories
whatever; but that | do no wish to see
her this morning"
Down went Mary aud delivered this
message.
"Wellr' exclaimed Mrs. Green. "this
is peculiar Tell your mistress, my
girl, that she won't be troubled by my
calls in the future; but she'll hear from
me some time soon ~
And with her head in air and eyes
flashing, Mrs. Green, sailed slowly
out
Mary ran upstairs, giggling.
80, Missus! She was just that put
out"
Il suppose so, Mary" said Mrs.
Brown gravely. But | couldn't help
| it,"
An hour later Mrs Brown set down
to write note. She had received an
invitation to lunch party, given by a
lady whom she knew but slightly, but
who had invited her out of considera,
ton for her established social position.
1t was for this reason and no other that
she was included among the select and
chosen few, and she knew it, and it an
moved and vexed her She would not
60; to that she had made up her mind
some time before; but she had intend
ed sending polite note of regret.
Now she determined to send an honest
note of explanation. Her note read:
MRS SMITH:
Dear Madam.-I have to acknowl
edge the receipt of our invitation for
the 1lth inst. AS you have seen me
but twice in your life and do not know
me ut all intimately | am surprised at
your asking me to lunch party, as il
| were an old and valued friend. To
say that thank you would be untrue,
because your reason for asking me can
not be truly complimentary to me; and
to say that | regret not to be able to be
present would be equally false. am
not coming, because | do not wish TO
come; and I trust, if this sounds curt,
that you will understand that it is with
no feeling of discourtesy toward you
that pen the words
am, very sincerely,
MRS +. Brown.
Mrs. Brown looked at this moment
little doubtful before she put it in the
envelope, then smiled to herself little
wickedly, gummed down the flap of the
envelope, and put on the stamp with
more than her usual frmness.
: After dinner, about four o'clock in the
afternoon, the door-bell rang again. and
this time it was the minister. Mr.. Jack
son, who bad come to call.
"I'm real glad to see you, Mr.. Jack
son." she said, as she came into the
parlor; "Sit down"
Delightful day, isn't it, Mrs
| Brown" said the minister.
"Well; it is pleasant" said Mrs
Brown.
81 called especially. dear Mrs
Brown, to talk over with you that plan
of getting up club among the churcf
ladies for the benefit of the heather
D You remember you were among th'
' number that agreed with me about its
being good and interesting way t'
. raise money for the object"
;. Poor Mrs. Brown Her heart and
q courage were down to zero If ther'
/: was one thing above another that sh'
? didn't believe in among church work
it was this very one of sending none.
to the heather. Bot here was her pas
tor, expecting her cordial help ant
!. symnatY. and there was her VOW o