The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-09-30
AN OVERHEARD THREAT.
A Terrible Scandal, and What
Came of It.

IN kill him if he comes here again
said Mrs. Deacon Hayes. in deter
mined tone; and one of her ncighbors-
Mr. Gates Nalker-coming into her
house TO borrow Il hand saw of the
deacon, heard " hat she said
Mr. Walker was a male gossip: for
there are men, as we'll a. women, who
indulge in that species of recreation.
Mr.. Walker priclled up hi, ears and
listened intcntly-so very intcntly that
he forgot all about the SAW and went
home without asking for il.
Now. at the time she made the little
speech which heads this sketch. Mrs.
Haycs was IN the woodNhcd, entirely
alone. and MIR. Walker was in the
kitchen and heard what she said through
the open door.
lie had not the most remote idea
whom she intended TO kill. but he went
home and laid his news before his wife.
She was istounded, though she had al
WAYS thought that Mrs. Hayes wasn't
no better than she Orter be; for she put
sugar IN her tea every day and wore
white stockings common, and kept two
lamps a-burning TO once in one room,
and u iNtravagaut woman was gineral-
ly Il bad woman
Mrs. Walker put on her bonnet and
called on Aunt Ellen Splicer. Miss
Splicer was very sharp-nOsed, and
quite as keen after a scandal as ter
ricr after "A rat. A thing was buried
pretty deep when Miss Splicer failed 10
unearth il. Miss Spliccr put on a clean
apron and strolSed the cat. The put
ting on Of Il clean apron 10y Miss Spill
Ger was much the same a judge upon
the bench putting on the black cap.
Did Won ever hear that Mrs. Haves
had got a husband living" asked Miss
Spiicer, sinking her voice to that low,
confidential tone we all know so well.
why. sartin." said Mrs. Walker.
The deacon's living. hain't he?'
Il don't mean the deacon. / mean
another husband"
Good laws what, besides the dea-
con-"
" es, besides the deacon
why, Miss Splicer. how you talk,
You take my breath away, Dear me.
l feel faint! Two husbands. Wall.
wall, what is this world a-coming top
Death and destruction" said Miss
Splicer, with solemnity.
''Oh, dear said Mrs. Walker.
Yes" said Miss Splicer, when the
world is full of the wicked in sleeps
clothing a-going about seeking whom
they may devour, then comes destruc-
tion. Mrs. Walker, did you ever think
what that passage, in Sleeps cloth
ing meant"
Il allurs thought" said Mrs. Walker.
meellly, that il meant 10 be dressed
in wooden gowns, and wooden coats and
trousers
Mo- said Miss Splicer, lit means
Just such things as having two hus-
bands, and pretending not To have but
one"
'Sho." said Mrs. Walker.
Now tell you what | know, but
don't you mention it To living soul
No said Mrs. Walker: "Id be
fIayed alive and burned at a stake first!
Hope To- drop dead if wouldn't
We'll. in her young days Mrs. Hayes
used 10 be sparked by Sam Jenkins.
They engaged-some people said mar
ried. She sent him OFF and took Deacon
Hayes. The deacon was rich. sam
was poor. sam went west, and six
months ago he came back. He's been
seen twice, lurking around Deacon
Hayes house.
Good he avenS,''
And now. it's just nv opinion he's
after money. BlaclSmail.''
''BlacllmaiE What, the post office?~
cried Mrs. Walker.
No. no: hes a threatening to tell
that She was his wife before she was
the deacon'S, Expecting she'll pay him
To keep still. The papers are full of
such things. And she's determined 10
kill him if he comes there again. Don't
YOU see?'
Mrs. Walker thought she did, and
then Miss Splicer went ont with her To
call on Capt. Digby's wife, and see
what she thought
Mrs. Digby was having tea-party,
and the thing was discussed at great
length.
All the women agreed that it was a
dreadful, dreadful affair, and some
ting ought to be done. Capt. Digby
was called into the council, and the
captain scratched his bald pate. and
suggested that they tell Parson Trotter.
SO the parson was informed, but, be-
ing a very judlcious Trotter. he de-
clined to interfere.
The story grew and spread until its
proportions were enormous. Deacon
Hayes house was watched night and
day, and Mrs. Hayes, when she went
out in the village, was very much puz-
zled at the way in which all her friends
and acquaintance avoided her. Even
Parson Trotter crossed TO the other
side of the street when he saw her
coming
The good lady spoke TO her husband
about it, but the deacon only pooh
poohed. 1t was all nonsense, he said
on her part-she only imagined it
One day those who were watching
the deacon's house saw sam Jenkins
poinr toward il with "A basket in his
hand
The tidings iew-the man was going
to his doom! lie must be saved