The Forrest City times., 1891-07-10
SERVED HER RIGHT.
A Story For Gossips,

and invite Margaret to attend Ere suming upon her intimacy, she ran upstairs, tapped at Margaret's door, and hearing no response, opened the door and entered.
 No one was there, and sitting down for a moment her attention was at tracted to some packages of paper ly- ing in a work basket. She took them in her hand, and read on the margin of one Compliments of Dr. Me- Croud, and dallying a moment longer, she went away.
 Margaret Dale was true scion of an old Knickerbocker family and had sense of pride and justice in about equal measure. At this time she was only convalescent from very severe and dangerous illness, through which she had been cared for by Dr. Me Croud, sturdy old Scotchman, old enough to be her father, with some extra years He took her on her first rides, and now and then brought her English and Scotch papers to read and they were these which Mrs Samp- son had seen in Margarets work basket.
 It is quite unnecessary to analyze the character of Mrs. Sampson. She has her counterpart in nearly every neighborhood, but hourishes best in small villages. She possessed lively immagination, was fond of gossip, not from any wrong motive, but indulged in many careless, thoughtless remarks.
 Gossip is always a patchwork busi- ness and nobody had greater faculty for putting this and that" together than had Dame Sampson. She knew everybody knew-that old Dr. Me CrOud lived unhappily with very un- happy wife. The respective families of each came over from Scotland to- gether, with the young people--then very young-affianeed The young man began his battle with life bravely, and after much hard work and intercourse with the world, and feeling the new developing of his powers and feelings, discovered that his fiancee was not at all the woman to satisfy either his head or his heart. But he was hon. -orable. He meant to do what he be- lieved to be right. He told the girl that he no longer loved her, but would keep his engagement to marry her, if she insisted upon his so doing.
 The girl did insist as we'll as her parents, and they were married So it was not at all remarkable that Mrs. McCroud should be very unhappy woman or that people should talk about Dr. McCroud's domestic infelici- ties. But no one could point to a single fact rehecting upon his honor as man or a physician. Then Mrs. Sampson knew-as did everybody else
 that Margaret was an heiress. cared very little for men, and had discarded would-be lovers by the dozen. She had strong, vigorous mind, with very little sentiment, which. however, is an excellent thing in woman; and the sturdy good sense and lack of nonsense that characterized the straightforw Scotch doctor. made him peculiarly acceptable to her, both as physician and friend.
 Putting what she knew of both to- gether and adding what her imagina- tion contributed, Mrs. Sampson con- eluded that she had made social dis covery, and so, on the afternoon of her sewing party, led the conversation upon Margaret Dale. her illness, her wonderful recovery, in which, of course, the other ladies joined.
 After Margaret had been pretty thoroughly discussed, Dame Sampson, who had been watching for favorable opportunity to give vent to her sus- picions, said, with sigh:
 What pity it is that she is throw ing herself away on Dr. McCroud"
 It was equal to the bursting of a bomb-shell in the social camp. The women, startled and mystifed, were eager with interrogations, which led the way for the hostess to detail her suspicious, in proof of which she ex- hibited the fact of the newspapers and the marginal penciling. Thus were the seeds sown for a first-class scandal, although not one of the number enter tained the slightest doubt of the great good sense, honor, and integrity of Margaret Dale.
 One littlo woman wanted. with all her soul to defend Margaret from such an allegation. but she lacked the cour- age, and so remained silent She was quite like the scores of namby -pamby friends we all have, whose lack of righteous indignation and spunk are so vexing. and whose friendship is of such discouraging value. But this littlc faint-hearted woman had con- science, and her own sense of right which was quite as apt to be wrong. in fact--and the very first thing she did after leaving was to go straight to Margaret and detail to her the conyer- sation in regard to her.
 Margaret was mot to tell who told her--no. not for the world" That she promised Although her Dutch blood was reused to q fury she was ont quick to think and equally quick tc < net The idea of allowing such license of tongue to pass unnoticed never oc. cured to her. A woman--and one, too, who had professed friendship for hei .--had dared to make dishonest insinu- ations against her. It was crime she should suffer for it.
 She sent for two meu--ono her ole pastor and the other an old friend o her father Judge Howe They heart her version of the affair spiled at hel intensity of feeling. and .advised hel not to notice it at all. She and Dr McCroud were both too we'll known ts n injured by any such idle gossip x n1nM nrwtnod