Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-08-19
CHAPTER XIII.
MEs. MEAD RETURNS TO GREYsToSE


81 know Pm dom right Niver could l
bold up my head If they gee saying it were
Judith Mead as helped Michael's girl to room
away and leave her character behind her.
said Mrs Mead TO herself as the wagon
drove off; and upon a loosenea truss of hay she
sat, right in the center OF the vehicle staring
out of the shadow at the pretty little inn
that was dropping behind.
1t was eleven O'Clock when they arrived at
the top of the High street of Greystone
"Tbisll do, mister" exclaimed Mrs. Mead,
who had no opinion of Johnny as driver,
and was weary of the jolting inflicted on
her, and the miserably slow way they made;
rye needn't go no further"
Johnny, however, refused to take any
notice of her request. There was an ale
house some distance down the street, and not
until the wagon was abreast Of it did he cry,
"Whoa!" Then dropping from his perch,
with trifie of brislSness in the action, he
came round to the back of the cart and
said, aye can get down here il We 10 Ike
The old woman scrambled down as best
she could, and Johnny looked on with n grin
at her boots. Then correcting his smile as
she faced round upon him. he said:
"This here's tho Wheatshea', and the flavey
in the liquor is as foine as though 'twar all
room stool"
"Ye're welcome to drink as much as liver
they'll trust ye with replied Mrs Mead
tartly
"Aren't ye goin' to stand summat" cried
the man.
eyes, half pint o vinegar, if ye're good
TO drink it," answered the old woman
go along. or I'll get ye drownt for
WITCH" shouted the disappointed Johnny;
md ,ff he oi,p
Not ten yards, however, could she go with
out meeting an acquaintance Who should
this be but old Mrs Bruff. going to her snuff
shop in George street, with her dinner in a
paper parcel.
"Good mornin', Mrs. Mead. How are
you? It's an age sin l seen We my way"
"Pm middlin well, thank zee, Mrs Bruf
As to comm your way, what hath snuff to
say to a lone old cratur' that counts her val
ley in fardensl The flies, they do tickle
truly. Them and the dogs knows what's
good" exclaimed Mrs Mead with a glance
at the paper parcel "And doth not the par
son say that prosperity draws strange things
to itln
"Ye're alters quizzing, Mrs. Mead. Pros
perity, indeedl Five and fourpence was my
| airnings last week; scarce three loaves in it
thanks TO them wagabone French, as it's a
mussy for them | amt man"
swell, and We give me newsl That two
gossips should roast i this heat with nothing
to sayl But they're wonderful liars + Grey
stone,n said Mrs Mead
"News-to thecn erie Mrs. Bruff, with
ludicrous toss of the head. "Why, here
stand for truth; FIR, as you say, they're
dreadful liars i Greystone."
"The truth q WHAT
| Rt,f E,,r- N-- Rrrrfr
looking at her old COMPANION with absurd
incredulity in her face.
IL do not know" replied Mrs. Mead, with
! the eagerness of born gossip. Il am this
minute arrived from Winston. and if any
thing hath happ'd I'm as strange to it as
unborn infant"
sWhy, them said Mrs. Bruff, speaking
slowly, and with evident sense of superiority,
"itis everywheres towd that Mike Strang-
fields wench hath run away for shame o.
the wrong done her by Dr. Shaw's son But
that's not it, neither. Not twenty minutes
since, met Deacon SHELTON, who says TO me,
! Is it true, Mrs. Bruff that my brother
| Strangfeld is dead! The Lord forbid,
1 says. i hope not, Mr. SHELTON I'm afeard
he is. them he says Jim Mason, he says,
him keeps the Blue Posteses, had the
news from Tom Rallies. as is cousin to the
otfal5hetds serVlnt, ROXY her name Is
She was sent for the doctor, bat came fust
in fright to her mother-wh kept her bed
sin April, poor wretch-an says that
Strangfeld's fell down in fit, ani's a dead
man Lord bless me, sirr says L
that's news indeei!' exclaimed Mrs
Mead, very pale, and catching up her dress
IF its true, it's strange visitation as
any that liver read of in Holy Writ Good
by to- e. You've put me in hurry. Mrs
Bruff Lord save usi what wonderful things
happen in this lifer
She was limping rapidly away before Mrs
Bruf could return her farewell
She was too experienced gossip herself TO
believe in the accuracy of any story related;
but then, likewise, she well knew that almost
never does any story get abroad without
| foundation They may say there's fame