Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-01-05

a SCANDAL.

DN Nv IiI'iS, saw litltl SIdul.
Once everybody said the earth was Hat,
now we all know it is round"
Speak for yourself!' retorted Mrs.
Jeffrey. Il don't know it's round, but
I'm 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 n thing
even il | don't see it,"
Mrs. Grant flushed n little and tears
came to her eyes.
''She is my friend. and | love her
dearly" she said. ''She has faults
every one can see that; but this wicked,
shameful story-l simply cannot believe
it. Oh, Mrs. Jeffrey, n you moi see
that it is n matter Of conscience with me
as well rs with youP'
M. Jeffrey, a little ashamed, but of
the same opinion still, rose to 90.
IF the matter is brought up in the
church, you will then hear al the evil
dence. After YOU see the letter you may
change your mind"
Pine Falls was convulsed over its first
scandal. The tongue Of censure that
had family reproved when Abram lIar-
ris had carried his mother off 20 the
poor-house, and INDUCED in audible
criticisms when Laura Cowles had been
baptized in the river in midwinter dur
ing a church revival and died of intlam-
matory rheumatism n week aftcrward,
had now broken silence and carried the
story from house to house until it was
OF eyerybody's lips.
A mania for visiting seemed to have
broken u among the ladies. Half q
dozen could be seen any day with n lit
tie bundle of knitting or crochet in
hand, going to make informal visits or
calls At the homes OF their intimate
friends or near neighbors. To be sure
each lady was very particular to ex-
plain, if opportunity offered, that she
had promised TO show Mrs. So-and-so n
new stitch or pattern, or she had been
intending TO take her work and run
in" to see Mrs. Such-a-one for six
months or more. Ii was really Il shame
to neglect ones neighbors so.
Mrs. Jeffrey and Mrs. Martin were
seated on the back porch of the Jeffrey
mansion, engaged in earnest and CON
iidential conversation. Overhead in the
apple tree the robin sang unheard. On
the floor n mischicvous kitten played
with Miss Martins ball of zephyr, tang
ling the thread UNDECIDED, while her
crochet work lay idly in her lap.
"She always aid seem frivolous to
me-" remarked Mrs. Jeffrey. mo care
of her house, no iuterc-t in domestic
matters. There's a great deal said in
these days about n woman's hiding n
God-given talent under Il bushcl, and
s~mothering her genius under domestic
drudgery; but I've noticed that the wo-
mel who are domestic and take an in
tcrest in their homes are not the women
who figure in scandal cases or elope-
ments."
Perhaps" replied Mrs. Martin. who
was not so conservative rs her neighbor,
there's a great deal of human nature
in women rs well rs mon. Most Of them
take an interest in some one thing be-
sides housekeeping. With some it is
painting, with others music. others
fancy-work or religion. I've known
women who were really dissipated, YOU
might say, in religious work; they car
ried il to such unreasonable lengths.
You and |, no. being gifted in any of
these directions, have gone on in plain,
quiet home life. But we must not, on
that account, find fault with those who
see life from a different standpoint, or
call them frivolous because they take
an interest in things we don't care for.
Mrs. Downs was always fond of dress
and fancy work, but until this story
came out everybody seemed to like her. y
well, You al say what you please. +"
returned Mrs. Jeffrey, w~rathfuliy, 'when
a behaves herself, she won't be
talked about. The most shameful part
Of the whole affair is her assumed limo
cence. | saw her myself walking the
streets with Mr.. Cotton only last even
ing, rs cool rs you please. If there's a
maj in this village that | pity, its Jack
Downs"
The next dav was Sunday, and tht
minister, Mr.. Snow, looked around a
the rapidly filling pews with a feel
ing of calm complacency. Every
body belonging TO the C aggregation
was there. Every face wore a look @
keen expectancy, and when Jack Down
entered with his pretty wife significan
looks were exchanged and a suppresse'
sensation was visible throughout tn
audience.
Youthful and pretty, she added {
these attractions by a'taste in dress tha
was simply perfect. As she came slow
ly up the aisle twirling her fan nor
chalantly whispered comments passe
from one to another.
How brazen! Did you ever see sue
cffrontery?" murmured Mrs. Dorr :
Mrs. Cowles.
"She's a plucky little piece!' said Mr.
Martin to his wife, in a ton in which
surprise was SO evidently favored will
admiration that his better-half bestow
ed upon him a glance Of whitening
corn.
What audacity!" said Mrs. Brown
to her daughter Cora.
But that young lady, who rejoiced II
the distinction of being the village poet
ess. was wrapped in poetic contempla
ton. She knew that Mrs. Downs hat
fallen under public disapprobation be
cause of a love-ictter that had beer
found by some one addressed to he
and in Mr.. Colton's handwriting.
Other people saw the r~eprchensibl
married ilirt accepting protestations o
love from n gentleman acquaintance
Not so Miss Cora. This Byronic stat
of affairs did not SO much shock he