Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-10-11
ANNAPoLIs. SATURDAY EVENING. OCTOBER ].

Va AAAAS last 1AoMAAAAS Insult, TOT she knew
that he was thoroughly enjoying the ex.
tremely good hunting and fishing the
country about afforded, and she did not
want to hurry him away from them, so
she had resolved, very wisely, to ignore
her neighbors' peculiar manners and
trust to luck to give her the clue to it
when the thing came to a crisis at last
ltwas through her next door neighbor.
the Mrs. Baxter whose sympathy had
been so offensive. that she was enlighs-
ened. lat worthy lady ran over to
Mrs Denehart's one August afternoon
forgetting. so excited was she, any SEM
blance of hat or bonnet and rushed in
upon the other, her particular chosen
confidant and gossip. "IIe's at it again
Mrs Denehart and oh, it's just awful.
couldn't stand to hear it going ON. SO
came away as fast as could.
WHAT" said the shocked Mrs Dene-
hart, hes not-?"
Yes, he is, tell you. could hear
her as plainly as / can you Oh. poor
| thingl And she at my house only this
morning trying to appear so bright and
cheery and talking so sweetly of her
dear Frank and of how good he is to herl
Yes declare / hate the very sight of
him!"
SO do |, )" said her friend, "and as for
Mr.. Denehart he says he can hardly
keep from knocking him down when he
meets him. He seems such an easy
going. good natured sort of man, too,
just TO look at him.
"Oh, do you think so? Why, / can al
ways see such a crafty, cruel expression
hidden behind that everlasting smile of
his, that believe I'd hate him less if he
ooked glunl"
The two ladies eyed each other for
moment in silence, then Mrs. Denehart
said: DO you suppose it's going on
yet?'
"Yes. Oh, it always lasts from half an
hour to two hours sometimes
"My goodness, you don't sayl never
heard of anything so awful in my life.
If you think it is really going on still,
| I'll 60 home with you for little while,
thou i | declare l oughtn't to take the
time, for / promised Maud she could
have this dress to wear to the picnic to-
morrow, and if don't hurry"
"Oh, never mind the dress! You can
work on it tonight. Come in. So the
two hurried over to the Baxter residence,
and the lady of the house led her guest
with the air of an usher you have tipped
to find you the best seat in the building,
to nook in the high stone wall that
separated her grounds from those of the
Mayberry's. In a few minutes there
came from the white cottage a sound
that blanched Mrs. Denehart's cheeks
and caused her to glance with consterna-
ton at her hostess, who nodded triumph
antly.
"Oh, have mercy, have mercyi Spare
me, for am defenseless and won,a'f!"
cried voice in anguish. "Don't
don't strike. am your loving fa.. ..al
wifel"
Yes, she is, know it, and he's a
brute, brute, a brutel" cried Mrs.
Denehart with such force as she could
through the hand Mrs Baxter had
clapped over her mouth. Hush, you
mustn't speak so loud. Remember that
if we can hear them they might hear us.
"Oh, oh. oh! he is killing me; he is
killing M! Every blow rends my heartl
Oh, oh, ohI" went on the voice, growing
shriller and more excited at every sylla-
bic.
Ny gracious!" said Mrs Denehart,
SIM not going to stand that minute
longer. I'm going for Mr. Denehart and
he's got to go and stop it =" Mrs. Baxter
accompanied her to the gate, and there
they saw both their husbands come down
the street talking with the minister.
There's Mr.. Green, said Mrs. Baxter.
"Why he's the very one to go with Mr.
Denehart, and John had better go, too.
Such desperate, awful creature might
prove very dangerous when he found
that he was caught up with. Nothing
could have happened better than for Mr.
Green to have come along just now.
The three gentlemen, seeing the ladies
waiting for them, crossed over and lis
tened to the story with indignation and
horror.
This is most shocking, said the min
lister. Il had heard something of it, but
had set it down as piece of gossip, ex-
aggerated and unreliable. However, in
tie face of such evidence, l can no
longer hesitate about my duty in the
matter Will you come with me, gentle
men? As deacons in the church you have
a right to inquire with me into the |
affair
They were little shy about accept |
ing the invitation, but their good ladies |
were so in favor of their supporting the
minister in his delicate undertaking that |
at last all three fled in at the neat low
gate, and up the flower bordered path to
the door. Tie minister knocked loudly, |
and in few minutes the little company
was much surprised to see Mrs. May
berry, looking even unusually bright |
and pretty in smart gown and rose
at her throat, come to the door. If she
was equally surprised at the solemn inn
portant looking group, she did not show
it, but inviting them in most cordially,
led them into her dainty little parlor,
xv1aora fhoxy a M -lxxk-ardlrr took chairs and |