The Forrest City times., 1891-07-10

! for other women 1 wage wor against this gossip crusade" she exclaimed. Things have come to such pass tha, the purity of an angel would not De exempt from the abOminable villifying | of idle women's tongues. We who | quietly endure such treatment only aid and abet the villainy by encouraging sucn lawlessness of speech. I'll no: be party to the screening of any such violation of Christian demeanor. Mrs. Sampson is very good person to be- gin on, for she may be worse gossip some day. Moreover, 1 should like her to realize, the fact that a work basket may contain needles as we'll us newspapers.
 Next day Mrs. Sampson received a note which she opened and read ''MADAM :--I have just been informed that 1 was made tho subject of especia conversation at your house on Thursday | It will be to your advantage to make known to me at once your authority for indulging in certain insinuations which you did upon 1 that occasion. MARGARET DALE"
 A thunderbolt would not have more surely transfixed her at that moment than that leaf of French note-paper. Her alarm was only equaled by Mar garet's indignation. After recovering herself, and looking the matter straight in the face, she concluded that she had better improve the advantage" her 'wrathful ladyship suggested
 My dear Miss Margaret, she be- gan, after untying her bonnet, 'it was only said in the most careless way. No one thought anything of it."
 How do you know asked Margaret severely.
 The question confused Mrs. Samp l son.
 Why, III shouldn't have thought anything of it.
 But it seems you did. You entered my room during my absence, and made capital out of what you saw. l am not to be trihed with You must retract every word you said or suffer the con- sequences of a public exposure. 1 am acquainted with the whole circum- stance, and have asked counsel
 At this Mrs. Sampson quailed. and throwing herself in an abject attitude, declared that she dld not 6etteUe, and never had for one moment 6eHeUed that there was anything wrong between Margaret and Dr. McCroud, but that folks aCouJd say things for talks sake.
 Then let them suffer the conse- quences, said Margaret.
 Mrs Sampson saw her danger, and in more piteous tone hoped Miss Dale would not mention the matter to any one. She would ask her pardon-do anything she might suggest, if she would not make fuss" about it.
 But have already spoken to two persons about it, , she said.
 ''Oh, 1 hope you haven't told my husband!" the creature implored.
 No. One was my pastor, and the other, Judge Howe"
 ''Ob. Miss Dale!" and the gossipy dame was on her knees now; '.is there no way to hush up this unfortunate buslnessp 1 can never look any one in in the face again if you prosecute me for slander. A public trial is just hor- rid! Is there no other wayp"
 To see the miserable creature on her knees imploring for mercy, and so thoroughly penitent for her sins, might have won pardon from anybody but Margaret. Motioning her visitor to a chair, she emptied upon her her last 'vial of wrath"
 Don't think for one moment, Mrs. Sampson, that l supposed that any thing you might say would destroy my reputation. It was your high handed audacity in daring to set such an insin- uation afoat that 1 so much objected to- It is a great and shameful humili- ation for woman to be forced to eat her own words in public court; and because of this, and your evident re- gret 1 do suggest another mode of reparation. It is this: Never again, so long as you live, are you to speak slanderously of an absent. person, or allow such license of speech in your house to pass unprohibited and unre- buked Do you promiseP"
 Il promise. n she said.
 Moreover. added Margaret, "if I hear of your having broken this con- tract, it shall not be too late to make you suffer the other punishment, Your tongue has been dipped in the poison of islander and gossip and it will be hard work for you to clean it. You'll need the grace of God to help you, but if you gossip less you will have more time to pray. You may go now"
 She went. But although hating Margaret thereafter, as it would be quite in keeping with human nature to suppose she was both too proud and too polite to allow her circle of friends to know it.