The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-08-26
CHAPTER XIII.

MRS MEAD RETURNS TO GREYSToNE
~ know Pm doin' right Niver could. !
hold ND my head if they got saying it were
Judith Mead as helped Michaels girl to room
ayay and leave her character behind her,
said Mrs. Mead to herself as the wagon
drove off and upon loosened truss of hay she
sat- right in the center of the vehicle, staring
out of the shadow ut the pretty little inn
that was dropping behind
It was eleven o'clock when they arrived at
the top of the High street Of Greystone.
"Thls1l do, mister" exclaimed Mrs Mead,
who had no opinion Of Johnny as driver,
and was weary of the jolting inflicted Oh
her, and the miserably slow way they made;
lye needn't so no further"
Johnny, however, refused to take any
notice of her request There was OH a!e
house some distance down the street, and not
until the wagon was abreast of it did he cry,
"Whoa!" Then dropping from his pcrch'
with a trife of briskness In the acton, no
came round to tho back Of the cart, and
said, aye can get down here if ye loke"
The oil woman scrambled down rs best
she could. and Johnny locked on with grim
at her boots Thel correcting his smile as
she faced round upon him, he said:
"This here's the Wheatshea' and the navey
in the liquor is as foine as though 'twar all
room stool"
"Ye're welcome to drink rs much as iver
they'll trust ye with" replied Mrs. Mead
tartly.
."Aren't ye goin to stand summat'' cried
the man.
ayes, half pint o vinegar, if ye're good
to drink it." answered the old woman
aGo along. or I'll get ye drownt for
WITCH" shouted tho disappointed Johnny;
and off he went, chuckling audibly.
Not ten yards, however, could she 80 with,
out meeting an acquaintance. Who shouiu
this be but old Mrs Bruff, going to her snutf
shop in George street, with her dinner III
paper parcel.
"Good mornin', Mrs. Mead. How are
you? IT'S an age sin seen yc my way"
"I'm middlin' we'll, thank zee, Mrs. Bruif.
AS to comm your way, what hath snuif TO
say to lone old cratur' that counts her val
lev in fardcnss The flies, they do tickle,
truly. Them and the dogs knows what's
good" exclaimed Mrs Mead, with glance
at the paper parcel "And doth not the par
son say that prosperity draws strange things
to it.'
"Ye're alters quizzing, Mrs Mead. Pros
perity, indeed! Five and fourpencc was my
arnings last week; scarce three loaves III 1t
thanks to them wagabone French, as l1s
mussy for them amt q man."
"Well, and yc give me no news? That two
gossips should roast i this heat with nothing
to say! But they're wonderful liars Grey
stone," said Mrs Mead
"News-to thee" crioa Mrs. Bruff, with a
ludicrous toss OF the head. "Nhy, here l
stand for truth; f'r, as you say, they're
dreadful liars i Greystone."
"Thc truth o WHAT
"But YOU know!' exclaimed Mrs. Brusf.
looking at her old companion with absurd
incredulity in her face.
N do not know" replied Mrs. Mead, with
The eagerness of born gossip. Il nm this
minute arrived from Winston. and il any
thing hath happ'd Pm as strange to it as
unborn infant"
"Why, then," said Mrs. Bruff, speaking
slowly, and with evident sense of superiority,
't's everywhercs 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. Brutf, that my brother
Strangfield is dead! The Lord forbid l
SAYS. i hope not, Mr. Skelton.' I'm afeard
he is, then.' he says. Jim Mason he says,
him as keeps the Blue PoSteses, had the
news from Tom Ratlles as is cousin to the
S;rangfolds' scrvint; Polly her name is.
She was sent for the doctor, but came fuSt
in fright to her mothcr-who's kept her bed
sim April, poor wretch-an says that
StranSfield's fell down in n fit, and'S dead
man. Lord bless me, sir! says l."
@That's news indccd!' exclaimed Mrs.
Mead, very pale, and catching up her dress.
"If it's true, it's Us strange visitation as
any that iver l read of i'll Holy Writ. Good
by to We. You've put me in hurry, Mrs.
Brur. Lord savo us! what wonderful things
happen in this life!"
She was limping rapidly away before Mrs.
BruT could return her farewell.
She was too experienced Il gossip herself to
believe in the accuracy Of any story related:
but then, likewise, sho well knew that almost
never does any story get abroad without
foundation. They may say there's flame
where there is only spark; Dut DC sure Iiere
is fire Of some kind.
Hastily down the street she went. Ar
rived at her home, she washed her face,
brushed her hair, busted her bonnet and
shoes, and, glancing at the cupboard, to
mako sure of bit of dinner to be cooked on
her return, she sailed forth once more, and
walked direct to Strangfelds house
No outward and visible sign there was of
anything being amiss.
Mrs. Mead knocked softly, and, with un-
easiness bred in her by the dislike bore her
by the Stranghelds, kept herself close, that
she might not be spied by any sideways
glance from the window. No one respond
ing, she knocked again loudly, and presently
tho door was opened by Mrs. Strangfeld
herself.