Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-11-08

so do |, " said her friend, and as for
Mr. Dcnrhart, he says he can hardly
keep from knocking him down when he
meets i'm. 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 crafty, cruel expression
hidden behind that everlasting smile of
his. that | believe Id hate him less if he
looked glum!'
The two ladies eyed each other for
moment in silence, then Mrs. Denehart
said: DO you suppose its going on
YETI"
Yes. Oh, it always lasts from half an
| hour to two hours sometimes
"My goodness, you don't say! never
heard of anything so awful in my life.
| If you think it is really going on still,
| I'll 90 home with YOU for a little while,
| though | declare | oughtn'G 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 hou-e led her guest
with the air Of an usher you have tipped
| to find YOU the best seat in the building,
to a nook in the high stone wall that
| separated her grounds from those of the
| Mayberry's. In few minutes there
| came from the white cottage a sound
that blanched Mrs. Deneharts checks
and caused her to glance with consterna-
| ton at her hostess, who nodded triumph
antly.
"Oh, have mercy, have mercy! Spare
me, for | am defenseless and a woman!"
cried a voice in anguish. Don't strike,
don't strike. | am your loving faithful
wife."
Yes she is, l know it, and he's a
brute, brute, a brute!" 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 load. 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 heart!
On, OH, ohr went on the voice, growing
shriller and more excited at every sylla-
| bic
MY gracious!" said Mrs Denehart,
I'm not going to stand that minute
! longer I'm going for Mr.. Denehart and
he's got to 60 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
"Ihere's Mr.. Green, said Mrs. Baxter.
"Why he's the very one to go with Mr..
Denehart, and JON had better go, too.
Such a desperate, awful creature might
prove very dangerous when he found
that lie 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, i'll
tho face of such evidence, 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 filed in at the neat low
gate, and up the flower bordered path to
the door. The minister knocked loudly,
and in few minutes the little company
was much surprised to see Mrs. May
! berry, looking even unusually bright
and pretty III 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,
where they awkwardly took chairs, and
began diligent study of the pattern of
the wall paper and the carpet.
Their hostess, seeing their embarrass-
ment, ran on with airy pleasant chatter,
though her eyes twinkled with merri-
ment. Frank will be so sorry to have
missed you, gentlemen, but he is not
at home to-day-is out fishing and hunt
ing, as usual.
This broke the spell. Mrs. May
berry, said good Mr.. Green, clearing
his throat with an expression of door
die coming into his face. "I-we, all!
hem! have cough! Please excuse
me. The fact is my dear lady, you
your neighbors have heard some very
distressing mysterious sounds - hem!
really, | must have taken severe cold.
Let me get you some wine" said
Mrs Mayberry, mo? Well, you were
saying my neighbors have heard dis.
tressing mysterious sounds.
Yes, and we have come TOTO
madam is your husband at home?" cried
the minister, breaking down all at once
before Mrs. May berrys innocent gaze,
the cold perspiration trickling down his
kindly old face.
NO, sir, he is out, as I told you, fish
ing and hunting"
Then to whom, my child, were you
addressing those frantic prayers not to
strike you?"
The little woman cast one weak, help
less look at the trio, made one futile
struggle to control herself, and gave
way to peal after peal of irrepressible
laughter A fearful thought passed into
the minds of the minister and the
deacons-the cruelties of her husband,
and the humiliating knowledge that the
secret she had so striven to keep from
the world was one no longer had driven
her mad. They gazed at her sorrow.