Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-03-02

misplaced affection. Viewing the
whole matter simply as an abstrac-
ton, she surreptitiouSly drew out her
hymn-book and slyly penciled on the
margin:
Let the cold world deride me,
will but love thee more,
Whatever fate betide thee
Here she stopped, the only rhyme
that suggested itself being gore
Struggling with the situation, she had
just changed the line, Il will not shed
thy gore" TO My heart can but
adore" when she was recalled to her
self by the sound of Mr. Shows voice,
as he finished reading the usual list of
notices.
"A most painful circumstance hav-
ing arisen, that seriously affects us as
community as well as congrega-
ton, since it comprises the good names
of two of our members. | feel it a du-
ty to afford an opportunity for full
explanation The congregation is in
vited to meet at the parsonage to-
morrow evening at eight o'clock. |
hope that every member Of this con
gregation will be present
After that ii mattered little whether
the sermon was marvel of brilliancy
or the dullest disquisition that ever
bored long-suffering audience. No
one paid the slightest attention TO it,
except old Major Dorr, who was so
deaf that he only caught about one
word in ten. and had thus missed the
story of the love letter that the school
teacher had written to Mrs. Downs.
After the conclusion of the services,
Mrs Cowles, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Martin
and Mrs. Jeffrey stopped in the aisle
for a moments conference.
Il shall take Beatrice Cenci out OF
the school," said Mrs Jeffrey mo
child of mine shall be under the in
struction of a teacher who writeslove-
letters to a married woman
And to think that Mr.. Snow should
attempt to cover it up and excuse it,
added Mrs -Cowles. Il don't know
but we shall be obliged to withdraw
from the church Ny husband thinks
there is a great deal of corruption
among themselves nowadays.
Certainly no one was better able to
detect corruption anywhere than Mr..
Cowles, if half the stories of his own
escapades could be relied upon. But
Mrs. Cowles' friends remained discreet
ly silent on this point.
Il shall not allow Cora to go to the
parsonage tomorrow evening" inter
posed Mrs. Brown. Il think the dis
cussion of such subjects has most de-
moralizing effect on young people. 1t
is deplorable affair all around"
But when the evening came Cora
did go. More than that. to her moth
er's great horror, she crossed the room
and sat down by Jack Downs and his
wife, who sat alone together on the
long sofa although a great many were
standing up around the large parlors
This was not so much from sympa-
thy with Mrs Downs, as professional
instinct such as that which impels a
surgeon to investigate all sorts ofpath
illogical monstrosities. She wanted 70
observe for herself the ravages Of re-
morse, humiliation and unhappy love,
the better 70 finish her poem.
But Mrs Downs was rs pretty, as
gay and nonchalant as ever. Once or
twice she whispered behind her fan to
her husband, and once she actually
laughed, which so outraged the sensi-
bilities of the more severely virtuous
matrons that they shuddered with
horror.
Mr. Cotton was romantic looking
young man, with disheveled hair, and
a look of general shrewdness. He had
lately come to Pine Falls as teacher.
and now stood leaning against the
mantel. His romantic appearance, so
attractive TO the ladies, was due to his
hair, which he wore long on account
of his ears, they being enormously
large, and all interesting pallor, which
was caused by dyspepsia, and not un-
happy love, as the young ladies sup
posed.
Il have here said Mr. Snow, "a
letter which has been tEeme ofmuch
severe comment. The envelope is ad-
dressed 70 Mrs. Downs, and it was
picked up in the street by Mrs. Mar
tins little son, who took it TO his
fathers grocery. The contents are in
a different penmanship, with Mr.. Col
tons name as signature. will ask
Mr.. Cotton TO make ali explanation
which viii, mo doubt, be satisfactory"
"Satisfactoryr' repeated Mr.. Cowles,
with more spirit than politeness. ut
seems TO me that when a man writes
in that style to another mans wife,
calling her husband a base wretch
here he cast An indignant glance at
Jack Downs urging her to run
away with him, a satisfactory expla-
nation is not an easy matter"
You are mistaken, sir" answered
Mr.. Cotton. An explanation in this
case is very easily made. / am mem-
Der of an amateur theatrical club,