Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-08

the spinster, nbut i'll news travels fast,
and thought I'd better be the first to
break 1t to you myself. +"
Il don't know what you mean, Miss
Snedecor. said Grace, turning crimson
and then pale in single breath.
"Confound the old maids tattling
tonguen inwardly exclaimed the irate
Clarence. She'll be beforehand with
me after alln
Compose yourself Grace; don't be
excited!o went on Miss Patience, unity
ing her bonnet-strings and tanning her.
self violently.
Grace started up.
Walter, he is well2 Oh, Miss Pa
tience, surely nothing has happened to
himpn
''Ah, my dear, sighed Miss Snedecor
sepulchrally, IF he was dead and buried
it would be better. He's deceiver
that's all. +"
"A deceiverP Never!n cried the in
dignant girl.
II knew you wouldn't believe it,
said the bearer of evil tidings with i'll
dissembled complacency; "but always
distrusted the man, or else-well, there's
no saying what else might have happen
ed. But can prove my words, Grace
Tyler, and think it's my duty to open
your eyes after it's too late.n
''But what is itP" gasped poor little
Grace, feeling herself tremble like a
leaf. Tell me, quick! This suspense
is killing mer'
Hes flirting with another gal, and
he's only maxim fun of you, Grace
Tyler. | heard him say it with these
selfsame ears only last night. And he
was a-talkin' to the girl herself close by
the meadow-stile, a-holdin' both her
hands, and her face just as close to his
as he could get it. .
lis that all the charge you have to
bring against himP" asked Grace calm
ly, with just the slightest shadow of a
smile playing round her face.
"Ain't that enough?"
''But is it ALP"
'Yes, it is ALL
Grace broke into a laugh.
Was the girl dressed in dark cloak
and hood?"
Yes"
'Well, Miss Patience, it was myself
had walked part of the way home with
Walter, and Clarence met me Just be-
yond the stilc and escorted me home
was the offending party, and, | regret
to say, the lady of whom he spoke was
none other than yourself. =
Land o Goshen!" exclaimed the
amazed and indignant Miss Snedecor.
where's my bonnet? | won't stay
here another moment to be insulted. /
don't believe word of your made-up
story, Grace Tyler"
But ! can testify to its truth, Miss
Patience, said MIR. Clarence Tyler,
coming forward with u countenanee of
intense amusement. "And, since this
precious item of gossip has no more
substantial foundation TO boast of, allow
me to caution You, rs n friend, against
any future housekeeping or tale-bear-
ing. This time you have escaped the
consequences of your own uncontrolla-
BILE tongue. The next time beware, lest
you should be less fortunate"
MIR. Clarence Tyler bowed Miss Pa
thence out of the room, and the daunted
spinster tied ON her bonnet without a
single remembrance and went.
:" never once dreamed of the cal
being Grace Tyler herself she thought.
"And so they were talking of me! The
impudent fellow! But he'll come TO no
good YET"
Inundated and mortified, Miss Sne-
decor crept home to her solitary habita-
ton. avoiding even the doorway of Mrs.
Bookstaver, which stood invitinglv open.
How they viii all laugh at me:'
sighed she.
Nor were her apprehensions misplace
ed. And, worse than all. when the
wedding-cards of Mr.. Dayton and Mis-
Tyler came out, month or so subse-
quently, Miss Patience got none!
But she didn't leave off gossiping-
old maids of Miss Patience Snedecor' S
stamp never do.