Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-05-22
HOW 1T WAS FOUND OUT.

ClayfOrd was an isolated little village
almost destitute of the intellectual activi-
ties that characterize most inland villages
Of its size. 1t had its little school house,
where shOclCngly bad pedagogues held
sway; its blacksmith's shops a store
which served the triple purpose Of sup
plying the farmers few needs, postoffice
and rendezvous OF nights for all the loaf
ers in the country, and a church. These
last two buildings were eenters Of at
traction and pretty equally divided the
hOnOrs. 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 droned their simple interpretations
of the scripture into the sleepy minds OF
the young, who, when they had passed
beyond leading -strings, invariably went
oyer 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 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 cur
riculum. Be that as it may, certainly
dainty Matte Crondt, queenly Helen
Murrey and her bonnie sister Kate were
maidens upon whom q connoisseur OF
female charms might have deigned to
bestow more than passing glance.
1t was therefore, the most natural
ceive a great deal Of admiration, from the
rudest, most roliicEng b1or in the lot o.
the few, very few, upright young mel
that Clayford possessed. These latter
notable exceptions to the rule, however
were in such imminent danger Of being
spoiled by the homage lavished upoI
them by mammas with marriageablt
daughters, that at length it was dismal
" whispered about that they had becomt
SO conceited that no girl in ClayfOrd wa
considered good enough for any o
them.
Now, if there was anything Clayforj
excelled in, it was gossip. Its profcien
cy IN this is not to be wondered at, per
haps, considering the fact that every
family worth speaking to at all, were re
lated by natural ties or by marriage K
every other family; and it was perfectly
natural that anything affecting one in
dividual was a matter OF interest to al
the others; and SO when Charley BrOus,
one Of the notable three or fOur-entereC
the church on probation, it was a sub
iect for widely different comment from
every member Of this heterogeneous fam
lily. The fraternity at the store loudly
declared that Charley Brouse never haC
known how to be civil, and now he neve
would know; while, on the other hand
the church members set their seal upOl
it that Charley Brouse was destined 70
a great and noble career; and In this cir
Gle Of popular opinion he became tn
''bright particular star" Long befOr
his six months probation was at an Id
he was by reclamation elected superin.
tendent Of the Sunday-schOol, and 1t wa
touching to witness his sense OF IN
wOrthiness, that would not permit hin
to offer up prayer in the service while Ia
was only a probationary dweller IN tn
sanctuary. More than ever, If possible
mammas dotted upon him, and stern faith
ers held him up to luckless sons as a pat
tern Of excellence.
Just previous to this event the shrewd
est OF Claytord's female gOsslps had pro
mulgated her firm belief that .ICharle,
Brouse had a 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 ere
dence, for Kate had numerous beauZ
such as they were, and no one else has
observed that he paid more attention t
her than to any Of the other pretty girls
To be sure, Mrs. Wyndam thought sh
had noticed some signs Of preference 70
Kate on Charley's part; but Mrs. Wyn
dam had ways imagining something
that wasn't true, as her neighbOrs said
and what she thought did not usual,
add much weight TO any current report
However IS the time wore on thes
''ligna" became more apparent, and th
anxiety 70 learn Just how matters stoc
between the two Became alnost epideEni