Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-09-23
A GOSSIP'S WORK.

~GOOd Dyel'
Barbara speaks the words s. WY and
with outward calmn ;, but inwardly
her heart is all on L.s with wrath and
righteous indignation. Charlie Stafford
is pale and angry looking as he stands
confronting her, his dark eyes full of a
somber light, his lips compressed beneath
the shadow of his black mustache.
"Good byel" repeats Barbara, with q
suggestive glance towar the door,
you mean it, b ,bara-Miss Lyn-
wood, should say" & Siffiy)-"you really
mean to throw me over In this cold
blooded fashion after all these months7 2
You can credit the false assertions of a
scandal loving old gossip, and believe
actually believe me guilty of this of which
you accuse me? Barbara-Miss Lyn-
wood, m3an-I would never have be-
lieved it of you. You have seemed such
q trusting little thing, So"
"Hushl say; not another word, siri"
"That is just what Mrs. Moore said, she
pants, in low, hushed voice-"that
same scandal loving old gossip of whom
you speak. She said that was easily
might say without reservation; that, in
short, you were trihing with me, and ]
was too silly and gullible to comprehend
the truth of the situation. She told me
of your filtration with Mrs. Amyot-"
(which is utterly false" interpolates
the young man quietly, but his dark eyes
flash with utterly and alb.
solutely false, Barbara. have been de-
Gently polite TO Mrs. Amyot, no more,
and she is engaged to my cousin. Well,
what else did Mrs. Moore say to your"
II have told you all that care to re-
peat, returns the girl defiantly; ~but it
is enough TO prove to me that we can bo
friends no longer, you and l. We have
never been anything but mere friends.
"No, we have been nothing but nero
friends, Barbara, he returns sadly;
yet" He holds out his hand. "Good
bye, then, he says simply.
For Just moment her hand lies in his
broad palm; then the door opens and
closes, and he is gone.
"Gonel" she means in the bitterness Of
her aching heart; gone-foreverl Yet,
oh, Charlie, Charlie, would lay down
my life for your salel But, mol
II can not help believing what Mrs.
Moore said, " she goes on slowly, "for
what object could she have in misreprp-
senting the matter? 1t can not concern
or interest her. the state Of affairs be-
tween Charlie Stafford and myself. Yet
she has told me enough to make me give
him up forever. How can bear it!
ITO boast in the presence of others
that he possessed my Lowell" she goes on,
in angry wrath-"to say that he is essen
tial to my happiness-that Barbara Lyn-
wood will not look at another man when
he is neari Such conceit-such outra
gous, abominable insultsl"
She can go no further; her wrath
pauses to take breath. Then she goes to
ner own room TO prepare for theev ing's
omusement-a dance at neighbor's
1T will be an informal affair-Littleton
Is a small vilIage-but Barbara has looked
forward to this dance with thoughts of
lnalloyed happiness with Charlie Sfaf-
ford. She dresses her elf in her prettiest
gown and is soon at Mrs. Morton's hand
some home, where already large mum.
Der of young people are assembled.
But Charlie Stafford is not present. and
he does not make his appearance dur
ing the entire evening. Mrs. Amyot, a
pretty young widow, volunteers the in
formation that he has left Littleton-has
gone to another city to remain indef.
nitely. Barbara overhears the announce
ment and her heart stands still with a
dark foreboding Of coming evil. Yet she
has sent him away from her. Why, then.
should she be troubled?
She leaves Mrs. Morton's at an early
hour and goes home in very unenviable
frame Of mind. When she reaches home
she finds Mrs. Moore in the parlor with
her mother. At sight of the girl the
irrepressible old gossip. who is old enough
to know better, cries effusively:
Such thing has happened, Barbiel"
You know Charlie Staffordg OF course.
am only jesting we all know that YOU
ore well acquainted with him, and that
he has been your very shadow. Well,
poor fellowi he was going to Memphis
this evening TO remain for some time,
but his horse ran away while he was rid
ing to the station to take the train; he
was thrown to the ground and is seri-
ously injured. Barbarai where are ou go
ingsS
To Charlie. viii gol. It was who
sent him away, and he has suffered
through my folly Mamma, have known
Charlie Stafford all my life. He is an
orphan, and alone in the world. Shall
we not"
Barbarba, my dear, be quiet--be rea.
eonablei interrupts Mrs. Lynwood has.