The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1885-07-10


is indisputsble that enlightenment on
nearly concerned.
1t was glorious June weather. Blue
birds and thrushes sang in the elms.
Robins ran smoothly and swiftly over
the shaven lawns of which Eastwood
was justly proud. and captured fat
slugs and squirming earth-worms for
the home larder. Eastwood could not
but be social under such skies. Dow
ayers and msidens tripped along the
streets and around corners, and popped
in at open doors.
Fat slugs and unctiou5 lumbrici were
dry and insipid fare compared with the
tid-bits rolled over and under busy
tongues. Old residents remembered,
with loud reluctance, that Harry
Jayne's great-grandfather's wine-cellaI
was noted for the excellence of its
liquors. A cousin twice removed had
been a ''high liver" Harry's father
had q temper of his OVID, although he
had died in the odor of salctity of ty-
phoid fever.
With regard TO the nature and extent
of the injuries sustained by the mother,
opinions varied, and widely. Accord
ing to some the scalp was laid open
across the forehead down TO the bone.
But the latter was not injured. The at
testants to this fact had the support OF
eyewitness of the transaction in its
latter stages.
The naked truth was hideous enough.
Young Jaynes had returned home from
the city at two O'Clock p. m Respect
able citizens recalled how they had
heard with their own ears" the
FOWL train" He was partially intoxi-
Gated, and brought liquor home with
him. A policeman had met him near
the statiOn-Garrying heavy valise, and
could swear to his identity. In point
of fact, words were exchanged between
them. ''The policeman said, Good
evening, Mr.. JaynesT' and the rep
rebate responded, thickly, "Good-
morning, Mr.. JOhnsonr'
He admitted himself with his latch
key, and found his devoted (and wild
owed) parent sitting up for him. She
always spoiled him from 4 boy. She
had hot coffee ready. They do say
oysters, also, but on this head evidence
was not strong. Let us be accurate, at
the loss of dramatic effect. He said
that he preferred brandy and water,
and ate nothing, reeling off to his room
without thanking her for her goodness.
Left to himself, he smoked and
guzzlcd until daylight By this time
he was crazy with drink taken on an
empty stomach. His mothers room
adjoined his. When he crept stealthily
into her apartment, she was sleeping
heavily, having wept for hours-poor
thing! He picked up full brandy
bottle as he staggered in, and beat her
over the head with it.
Amy was sleeping with her mother,
and alarmed the house. DIR. Sargent
was sent for. Amy ran for him herself,
putting on her dress as she went. He
sewed up the gashes, and packed Mrs.
Jaynes off to a country relative, and
Mrs. Deane went along to take care of
her Although still in a critical condi-
ton, inflammation having supervened
upon conclusion of the brain, the I'M
happy lady would probably rally in
time.
This simple, ungarbled statement
covered the whole ground. Christian
charity dictates that we should turn a
deaf ear to exaggerations and intern
pcrate charges where character is at
stake.
Harry Jaynes attended the choir-re-
hearsal in the Second Church on SatUIr-
day evening. He was sober, undoubt-
eddy, and sang well-on Sunday, adj
full, sweet tenor that
brought the tears to the eyes of three
oil ladies and thirteen young ones.
The elderly women averred that they
thought of his Door dear mother. The
girls were moved with disintercstcd pity
for the misguided youth whose hand
some face harmOnized so well with his
and not at all with his de-
PRAYED nature.
Has it struck you that our esteemed
towrspeople stare more than usual to-
dayP" asked Harry, as he joined his
sister in the church-porch. What is
amisS in my appearanceP"
You are tritle better-loOking than
you are even on weekdays, Sir Vanity"
Iejoined Amy, with a fond glance. at
Is | who am the subject of remark, l
think. have not felt like myself since
Wednesday morning"
Daisy Dorr, walking some PAGES in
advance, heard the last sentence and
the slight quaver in the tone. She
caught. too, the beginning of the reply.
Don't be a goose. Amy! Such things
will happen i'll the best regulated fami-
lies"
Even q detectives cunning lettering
could not detain the eavcsdrOpper with
IN hearing of the rest of the speech.
II am not unfeeling, pet wish, with
all my heart, that Fanny lived thou
sand miles nearer. But when you mar
~ fellow from the other side of the
globe, it will be worse trial to me than
his is to you.
Bv another Sunday, friendly faces
we're fewer and more grave; curious
ylanccs holder The moral atmosphere
was surcharged with suspicion and dis
ike Two married ladies, said cmphat-
callv, "Good-morning. Amy" without
noticing her escort. -Four single ones
bowed very slightly to sister and
brother.
There's something wrong some
~heren the young people agreed to
Dne another. Amy added, Il have
been urpleasantly conscious of change
N the behavior of the school girls for n
week past. Some are oflish-others
On the next Sabbath Mrs. Jaynes'
mild face was seen in its wonted place
n the family pew. Half-seen, only
'or the Grape veil hung in double folds
over the left side. 1t must have been
pinned firmly i'll place, for it did not
'werve during the service, and while
many waited to speak to her i'll the YES
-ibule, nobody obtained a glimpse of
ler left eve and temple.
Excitement mounted to fever heat.
Conjecture, assertion, condemnation,
and rebutted each other,
md ran to climax by Thursday after
noon For at that time the Charitable
Society was to meet with Mrs. Jaynes,
t being her turn in the regular pro-
erosion of that movable feast.
Such a turnout of young, middle
aged and old to a church ordinance"
had never been known before in the
parish.
Mrs. Jaynes distributed the work
among the guests.
1T is very good in you young ladies
20 come out in such force" she said.
Il am thankful that did not yield to
foolish shame and get some one else TO
AXE the meeting to-day"
She raised her hand, coloring and
to touch the strip of flesh
,olored court-plastcr that had riveted
Every eye the moment she presented
herself below stairs.
Harry and Amy insist that 1 am
quite presentable. | suppose that
anu too vain for an old woman. But
was mortified at the accident, and very
willing to bury myself in the country
lntil the wound healed. charge Amy