The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-11-07
A VILLAGE SCANDAL.

But what everybody says must be
true, persisted Mrs. jeffrey.
"By no means" said Helen Grant.
te5Dee everybody said the earth was fiat,
1ss we all know il sround."
Speak for yourself p retorted Mrs.
.SsdFey. 81 don't know it's round, but
IN willing TO believe it on good evil
dence. Thank heaven, I'm not so stub
born that / won't believe. I'm one OF
the sort that can be convinced OF thing
even if don't see it."
Mrs Grant flushed little and tears
came to her eyes.
ssShe is my friend, and love her
dearly" she said. "She has faults
every one can see that; but this wicked,
shameful story-I simply cannot believe
it. Oh. Mrs Jeffrey, can YOU not see
that 1t is matter of conscience with me
as well as with your
Mrs. Jeffrey, little ashamed, but of
the same opinion still, rose to go.
"If the matter is brought up in the
church, you VIII hear then all the evil.
dence. After you see the letter you may
change your mind"
Pine Falls was convulsed over its first
scandal The tongue of censlre that
had family reproved wien Abraham Har-
ris had carried his mother off 10 the poor
house. and INDUCED in audible criticisms
when Laura Cowles had been baptized in
the river in midwinter during church
revival and died of infiammatory rheuma
tism week afterward, had now broken
silence and carried the story from house
to house until it was on eyerybody's lips.
A mania for visiting seemed to have
broken out among the ladies'. Half 4
dozen could be seen auy day with little
bundle of knitting or crochet in hand,
going to make informal visits or calls al
the homes of their intimate friends or
near neighbors To be- sure each lady
was very particular TO explain, II opper
tunity offered, that she had promised TO
show Mrs. Soand so new stitch or pat
tern, or she had been intending to take
her work and run in" to see Mrs Such
acne for SIX months or more. 1t was
really shame to neglect ones neighbors
20.
Mrs. Jeffrey and Mrs. Martin were
seated on the back porch of the jeffrey
mansion, engaged inIearnest and conhden-
tial conversation. Overhead in the apple
sree the robin sang unheard On the floor
michevous kitten played with Mrs. Mar
tins ball of zephyr, tangling the thread
UNDECIDED, while her crochet work lay
idly in her lap.
She always did seem frivolous to
me-" remarked Mrs. Jeffrey. No care
of her house. no interest in domestic mat
tiers. There's great deal said in these
days about a wonaD's hiding God-given
talent under bushel, and smothering her
genius under domestic drudgery; but I've
noticed that the women who are domestic
and take an interest in their homes are
not the women who figure III scandal cases
or elopemenis."
Perhaps" replied Mrs. Martin, who
was not so conservative rs her neighbor,
IS there's a great deal of human nature in
women as well as men. Most of them
take an interest in some one thing be-
sides housekeeping. With some 1t is
painting, with others music others fancy |
work or religion. I've known women |
who were really dissipated, you might |
say, iu religious work; they carried it to |
sucn unreasonable lengths. You and i, |
not being gifted in any Of these directions,
have gone on in plain, quiet home life. J
But we must not, on that account, find |
fault with those who see lite from differ
ent standpoint, or call them frivolous be- |
cause they take an interest in things we
dont's care for. Mrs. Downs was always
fond of dress and fancy work, but until
this story came out everybody seemed TO
like Der.
swell, you can say what you please"
returned Mrs. jeffrey, wrathiully, when
q woman behaves herself, she won't be
talked about. The most shameful part
of the whole affair is her assumed inno-
cence. / saw her myself walking the
streets with Mr.. Cotton only last even
ing, as cool as you please. If there's a
man in this village that l pity, its Jack
Downs"
The next day was Sunday, and the
minister, Mr.. Snow, looked around at
the rapidly filing pews with feeling of
calm complacency. Everybody belonging
TO the congregation was there. Every |
face wore look of keen expectancy, and
when Jack Downs entered with his pretty
wife significant looks were exchanged and
asuppressed sensation was visible through
out the audience.
Youthful and pretty, she added to
these attractions by taste IN dress that
was simply perfect AS she came slowly
up the aisle twiFling her fan nonchalantly
whispered comments passed from one to
another.
"How brazenl Did you ever see such
effrontery?' murmured Mrs. Dorr to Mrs.
Cowles.
''She's piucky little piecel" said Mr.
Martin to his wife, in tone in which sur
prise was SO evidently favored with ad-
miration that his better half bestowed
upon him glance of whitening scorn.
What audacity!" said Mrs. Brown to
her daughter Cora
But that young lady, who rejoiced in
the distinction of being the village poet
ess, was wrapped in poetic contemplation.
She knew that Mrs. Downs had fallen un-