Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-05-22

/ Every inhabitant of mature years had
his or her private reason for wishing to
know. Parents with eligible children
considered possible future alliances with
the BrOGse or AIurrey family; young la
dies alternately hoped and sighed, and
their brothers mentally vowed to snake
things warm for Charley BrOuse.
AT this juncture In affairs, which
threatened to become serious, Sabbath
school picnic, the only public amusement
the church society ever INDUCED IN and
70 which even the store sent its quota Of
delegates, was held IN the forest skirting
the bank Of the little lake. 1t 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 a little to
their enjoyment-bu the keenest OBJ
server Of face would have failed to deIect
shade Of any self-sacrifce on the
smiling countenance Of the old parhcl-
pants. This was the time for mutual
confidence and rugged tillers OF the soil
discOursed amicably Of the stock and
crops, while buxOm housewives rehearsed
the numberless 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 weather-beaten boats
drawn high upon the bench; and the
s'forest primevar' held many sylvan
retreat for rustic lovers and places OF
concealment for the boys and girls who
scampered among its shadows III the
game Of 'thide-and-seek;" and 1t was
amid this scene, and while deep IN the
mysteries Of this scene, and while deep
in the mysteries Of this game, that little
Ada Billings, by a lucky chance, was
able to throw more light on the subject
engrossing the public mind than the
ablest Of ClayfOrd's gOssiP-mOnger shad
done.
Some spiteful women, who were not
warmly attached to Ada's mother, sald,
afterward, that Ada had followed Charley
and Kate in their ramble to spy upon
them. and that her mother had ''set her
up to it." but others declared 1t was pure
accident, for their children were playing
with her all the time. For a few days
this contested point absorbed the public
mind and tongue almost to the exclusion
of the discovery made, and the war or
words ran high. On good authority It
is safe the child was innocent Of mten-
tional spying, and only IN the Zest OF
animal spirits had ran away from her
comrades, thinking they would hunt for
her, and so stumbled upon scene that
caused her little heart to beat fast with
a new sensation, and her eyes to open
wide ike two big, blue fringed gentians.
IN this state of Open-mOuth wonderment
she stood an instant, and then turned and
ran as swiftly as her little feet could car
ry her straight to her mother, who was
sitting in a circle Of Clayford's best peO-
pie. Flushed, fearful and dripPn g with
perspiration the flung herself, face down
ward, into her mothers lap.
"Why Ada, what ails the child p ex-
claimed Mrs. Billings, giving her yigor-
GUS shake. But Ada only buried her face
deeper and did not answer.
"Perhaps she's had a fall-ouu with one
Of the boys" suggested Mrs. Ross, good
humoredly.
"Or tore her gown, more like" said
another.
ada, sit right up and tell me what's
the matter this instant" commanded
Mrs. Billings, half impatiently, yet with
some concern in her voice.
Thus adjured Ada slowly raised her
self, and still keeping her face hidden by
, her hands, said between her sObs:
"I-saw-the-sup superintendent
ing Kate-AI urrey-boo-boor
The circle looked aghast.
, ''Where? When?' gasped Mrs.
Billings excitedly.
"Over there in the woods. didn't
mean to see it, - faltered the child.
J It was a thrilling moment for Mrs.
oil TflavrFrgvsr1
was almost dying of curiosity to learn
! lay right here in her hands. She deter
mined to make the most Of her OPpOr-
tunity.
ada" she solemnly commded, 'jest
you go right on and tell US all about
this-don't you skip a word" holding
up one finger threateningly.
With dropping head and scarlet
cheeks, the abashed child continued: II
B was runnin' along on the sand, and was
Jest stOppin' to turn around an 60 back,
: when / heard sOmathin', an L looked up
l the bankSan' saw the Super tendent
and Kate Murrey gettin' up from a seat
= an his arm around her, an'-an' he
kissed her n'-an' Rugged her, an he
i kept his arm round her, an they came
9 this way, an 1 run back-that's all"
/ you're sure that's all?'' urged Mrs
Billings, anIiOusly.
eyes, I amp replied Ada, vehement
i ly; from the folds of her mothers dress.
j. II want to know gasped Mrs. Shedd
e what do you think of that?" quer.
u led Mrs. Blackman of no one in particu.
n lar.
3 II told you So" sharply retorted Mrs
: Wyndan, arising as she spoke, prepare
3 tory to spreading the news.
u At this instant the couple under dis
10 cussion sauntered into view, calm, un
l. ruthed, and sedate, and only those who
-e had Just learned their secret knew tn.
Is meaning Of the glad light in their eye
d and the brilliant bloom on Kittie's fan
face.
d Il do declare, they make a purity
L couple" whispered Mrs. Blackman to he
Z companions.
y ''Ye-esp' reluctantly admitted Mrs
B Ross: ''they do well enough"
. And so said all Clayford when it ha,
, become accustomed to the fact that i
n was really to be match; but little Adj
could never again quite reconcile tn
= solemn, dignihed superintendent and tn
proper young lady who sung like al
: angel In Sabbath school with the senti
mental pair she had oyertaken in tn
: woods.
a Stealing a Painted Umbrella.
81 In little downtown saloon in Chica
I, 60 more than a dozen men tried to sneal
10 an elegant ivory handle umbrella which