The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-25
HOW 1T WAS FOUND OUT.
BY ANNAH BILINSKI.

Clayford was an isolated little viii
lage, almost destitute Of the intel
Iectual activities that characterize
most inland villages OF its size. 1t
had its little old school-house, where
shockingly bad pedagogues held sway;
its blacksmith's shop; a store which
served the triple purpose OF supply
ing the farmers few needs, postoffice
and rendezvous OF nights for all the
Ioafers in the country, and church.
These last two buildings were centers
OF attraction and pretty equally di-
yided the honors. The church society
was almost always in chronic state
Of eruption, but the deacons and on
cient pillars of the gospel held stea&-
lastly to their course, and droned
their simple interpretations OF the
Scripture into the sleepy minds Of
the young, who, when they had pass
ed beyond leading strings, invariably
went over to the merry crowd in
the store. ....
Despite this mental and spiritual
dearth it was fact that Clayford was
the home of some very pretty and at
tractive young ladies, whatever else
might be said OF the young men. Per
haps the difference was traceable to
there being no alternative for the girls
from the harmless teachings of the
church; and ii their minds held little,
that little was not the rude immoral
ity of the store curriculum. Be that
as 1t may, certainly dainty Matte
Crondit, queenly Helen Murrey and
her bonnie sister Kate were maidens
upon whom connoisseur of female
charms might have deigned to bestow
more than a passing glance.
1t was therefore the most natural
thing in the worlo that they should re-
ceive a great deal of admiration. from
the rudest, most rollicking boor
in the lot to the few, very few, up
right young men that Clayford
possessed. These latter, notable ex-
ceptions TO the rule, however, were in
such imminent danger of being spoiled
by the homage lavished upon them by
mammas with marriageable daugh-
ters, that at length it was dismally
whispered about that they had be-
come so conceited that no girl in Clay
ford was considered good enough for
any one of them.
Now, il there was anything Clay
lord as community excelled in, it
was gossip. Its proficiency in this
was not to be wondered at, perhaps,
considering the fact that every family
worth considering at all was related
by natural ties or by marriage 60
every other family; and it was perfect
ly natural that anything affecting one
Individual was q matter ofinterest to
all the others; and so when Charley
four entered the church on proba-
tion, it was a subject for widely y-differ-
ent comment from every member OF
this heterogeneous family. The fra
ternity at the store loudly declared
that Charley Brouse never had known
how to be civil, and now he meyer
would know; while, on the othe- hand,
| the church members set their seal up
on it that Charley Brouse was des-
| tired for great and shining career;
and in this circle OF popular opinion
he became the "bright particular
starr Long before his six months
| probation was at an end, he was by
acclamation elected Superintendent of
the Sabbath-school; and it was touch
| ing to witness his sense of unworthi-
ness, that would not permit him to
offer up prayer-in the service while he
was only probationary dweller In
/ the sanctuary. More than ever, if
/ possible, mammas dotted upon him,
and stern fathers held him up to luck
less sons as pattern OF excellence.
/ Just previous to this event the
shrewdest of Clayford's female gos-
sips had promulgated her firm belief
that Charley Brouse had a kind Of
lhankering notion after Kate Murrey;
| and as for Kate--lal she'd snap at the
chance, any mint" But her story
had not gained much credence, for
| Kate had numerous beaux, such as
they were, and no one else had OBJ
| served that be paid more attention to
/ her than to any OF the 3ther pretty
girls. To be sure, Mrs. Wyndam
! thought she had noticed some signs Of