Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-05-20
how 1T WAS FOUND OUT.
BY ANNA BILINsK1.

Clavford was an isolated little village
almost destitute of the intellectual activ-
ity 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 sup
plvinC the farmers few needs, postoffice
and rendezvous of nights for all the loaf
ers in the country, and church. These
last two buildings were centers of attrac-
ton and pretty equally divided the hon
ors
The church society was almost always
in "a chronic state of eruption, but the
deacons and ancient pillars of the gospel
held steadfastly to their course, and dorm
ed their simple interpretations of the
Scripture into the sleepy minds of the
Young, who, when they had passed beyond
leading strings, invariably went over to
the merry crowd in the store.
Despite this mental and spiritual dearth
it was fact that Gaylord was the homo
of some very pretty and attractive young
ladies', whatever else might be said of the
young men. Perhaps the difference was
traceable to there being no alternative for
the girls from the harmless teachings of
the church; and if their minds held little,
that little was not the rude immortality of
the store cirriculum. Be that "a it 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 passing glance.
1t was, therefore, the most natural
thing in the world that they should re-
ceiye great deal of admiration, from
the rudest most rollicking boor in the lot
TO the few, very few, upright young men
that Gaylord possessed. These latter,
notable exceptions to the rule, however,
were in such imminent danger of being
spoiled by the homage lavished upon
them by mamas with manageable
daughters, that at length it was dismally
whispered about that they had become so
conceited that no girl in Clayford was
considered good enough for any one of
them.
Now, if there was anything Clayford as
a community exoelled in, it was gossip.
It's proficiency in this was not to be won
dered at, perhaps, considering the fact
Shat every family worth considering at
all was related by natural ties or by mar
rage to every other family; and it was
perfectly natural that anything affecting
one individual was matter of interest to
all others and so when Charley Brouse-
one of the notable three or four enter
ed the church on probation it was a sub
ect for widely different comment from
every member of this heterogeneous fam
lily. The fraternity at the store loudly
declared that Charley Brouse never had
known how to be civil, and now he never
would know; while, on the other hand,
the church members set their seal upon
it that Charley Brouse was destined for
great and shining career; and in this
circle of popular opinion he became the
bright particular star" Long before
his six months probation was at an end,
he was by reclamation elected superin-
tendent of the Sabbath school, and il was
touching to witness his sense of unwothi-
ness, that would not permit him to offer
up prayer in the service while he was only
a probationary member IN the sanctu-
airy. More than ever mamas dotted up
on him, and stern fathers held him up to
luckless sons as pattern of excellence.
Just previous to this event the shrewd
est of Clayford's female gossips had pro-
mulgated her firm belief that Charley
Brouse had kind of hankering notion
after Kate Murrey; and as for Kate-la!
she'd snap at the chance any mint" But
her story had not gained much credence,
for Kate had numerous beaux, such as
they we're and no one else had observed
that he paid more attention to her than TO
any of the other pretty girls. To be sure,
Mrs. Wyndman thought she had noticed
some signs of preference for Kate on
Chsrley's part; but Mrs. Wyndam was al
ways imagining something that wasn't
true as her neighbors said, and what she
thought did not usually add much weight
te any current report.
However, as time wore on, these signs
became more apparent, and the anxiety
90 learn just how matters stood between
the two became an epidemic. Every
lnhabitant of mature years had his or her
reasons for wishing to know. Parents
with eligible children considered possible
future alliances with the Brouse or Murrey
family; young ladies alternately hoped
and sighed, and their brothers mentally
vowed to make things warm for Charley
Brouse
At this juncture in affairs. which threat
ened 20 become serious, q Sabbath-school
picnic, the only public amusement the
church society ever INDUCED in, and to
which even the store sent its quota of dele
gates was held in the forest skirting the
bank of the little lake. Ii was the event
of the season, instituted each year solely
for the children's benefit; and TO the credit
OF the elders be it confessed, this holiday
contributed not little to their enjOymet -
but the keenest observer of the face would
have failed to detect a shade of any self
sacrifice on the smiling countenance OF
the Older participants. This was the time
for mutual confidence, and rugged tillers
0f the soil discoursed amicably Of the
'tock and crops, while buxom housewives
rehcarsed the numberess domestic details
that made up the sum of life in their
little world. Then the lake offered Its
placid surface to those who cared to risk
their lives in the few weatherbeaten boats
drawn high upon the beach; and the for
~ primeval" held many sylvan retreat
tgr rustic lovers and places of conceal
Hent for the boys and girls who seamper-