Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-25
TWO SUDDEN CONVERSIONS

SHiit'hN' .'hii'iN lullt lNAhNh llfl
two little children into the pony cart
one afternoon, arranged rcins and whip
with the precision of Jchu, and drove
away.
Mrs. Rayncs was not popular at this
hotel, except with its proprietor. As
she paid her bills promptly and without
demur, he always spoke of her in
hushed and reverent tones. But the
men said she was distant, and the
women deceitful, which, being trans.
lated, meant that she was absorbed in
devotion to her family and Indifferent
TO all else, She wouldn't talk, hence
she was talked about; for there is both
glory and safety in assailing an enemy
who will neither fight nor run away
At the matutinal gatherings in the front
parlor by the great windows opening on
the piazza, where the sewing was an eX.
cuse for gossip, as bread pudding some.
times is for brandy sauce, the little
widow was never present, except in con.
sideration.
Old Mrs. Parker, who was 50 rich as
to be eccentric, but never rude nor COW
etous nor suspicious, would shake her
great turban when the name was men
toned and say that she feared all was
not right A singular fear, by the way,
which caused her to grin. Miss Blodgc,
a sentinel on the outpost Of middle life,
whose face and tongue were as sharp AS
her needle, would snap "I0u needn't
tell me; know it, The two Ncedham
girls, who cultivated pety and cough,
and who were dlsdained by those of
their own age as "poky" and encour-
aged by their elders AS earnest" would
sigh aud bite their lips as If restraining
what they could say by the thought Of
what they should. But Mrs. Graft,
worn matron, who had nine children
and despised any one not equally de.
cayed and prolific, would freely expose
the bitterness Of her heart
MARK my Words she would saw,
she is an adventures. She never gets
any letters nor writes any. Look al tile
way she dresses those children. with
their bare legs and gold buckles! It's
disgraceful Did you hear her sing last
Sunday at service? For all the world
like a professional. And I'm sure a
Methodist with half an eye could tell
from her walk that She had been a
dancer. Mrs. Raynes, indeed Who
ever saw or heard Of Mr.. Haynes, or his
tombstone either, if he is so very dead
lhete were three charges on her bill last
week from the bar, for | saw the PRO.
prietor asserting the tickets. Mark nv
words, she has history, and when a
woman has a history she has something
to be ashamed Of "
"Oh do you think so?" the timorons
and hysterical Miss Tarbell would i'm.
nlfift4 whnat4 I'm l.
achieved the yesterday" and to-day"
seemed also likely to gain the forever"
How dreadful"
All! my dear young lady" would
remark the Rev. DR.. Newcomb, mis-
slonary with an appetite, On sick leave,
the iaIrest fruit may harbor the worm,
the glow OF health conceal the mcrobe
OF disease. Deceit is the most insidinus
form OF evil, as had occasion to elab.
crate IN my sermon delivered az the Law.
ing OF the cornerstone of the Memorial
Chapel to the Tea Drinkers of Hawaii
on the text, There is death in the pot,
wherein | set forth, firstly" Bnt mere
there would be u general move toward
the yeranda, as if the strains Of the vii.
lage band were dox0Iogv.
As Tor the rest of the guests. there
were indeed two line young collegans.
Nea liammerton and Iom jackson, who
over thclr billiards disposed of the
widow as follows; "Shc's the right sort.
Tommy Aye, aye, Ned, there's no
ID nonsense about her"-and who
were eager IN opening doors and fetch.
ing chairs and giving candies to the
chilurtn when they escaped maternal
watchfuiness, But the snutfy old
BANKERS and supeIanuated merchants
returned the apathy which she eyinral
lpr their wandering stories and for whist
Win mani 4 sly innuendo, aud the
Young CUBS, whose youth and cnbbiSh-
ness were painfully apparent to her,
"hispeTei among themselves Of chances
winch shc never bestowed. Probably
tue lnaidens with whom they discoy.
ered each evening the ubscurest nooxs
81 The verania heard some Of thnsl
bgastlhgs, or perhaps they missed the
cuddllhg which matdens expect from
maron 50 slightly their senior, or again
perhaps It was owing to the Partisan
costumes 50 perfect in molding and
tasIe--at Az events, they also shared in
the general dislike.
UNCONSCIOUS VI these petty antipathies
Mrs. Haynes enjoyed the keen mouptln
air, the grand scenery, and the mead
woven Of the roses that bloolned on h.r
children checks, That day when I'M
started on her drive had been bright
ana balmyi but later in the afternoon
Or. Newcomb, while performing Ms
haoitual 100 laps around the house
looked frequently at the barometer and
then at the cncloudcd peaks ana
knowihgly shook his head. Nor wonId
one nave required his sapienCe to iudIe
that storm was brewing, for earth nnl
shy joined IN warning, but the grOup
q olu gentlemen to whom he cummunl-
Gated inns prophecy found in wonder.
ihcht oil Ills astuteness Il welcome sub.
JecL lor conversation, which lasted unit,
Inc ram drove them indoors,
During supper old Mrs Parker glanced
frequently toward the little table which
was set apart for the widow and her
chlldren--an c&Clusivcucss that Ind
caused oltence-and WHISPERED. TO Miss
BlodBe Who sat beside her, az ate arain d
"Ol course " Cliskcd the SINISTER
Thinking as usual, as if any one Carc
Tor her airs and gruces. They are
So vulgar and SO very inelTectiye.~ And
the two Necdham girls raised Their
hands and opened their lips in holy ii.
dignation, but through holier self.c6n.
troll restrained the singing words. Vet
lhey all delayed to witness the dcspised
entrance, until the closing of the doors
| sent them away unsatistied.
The night came down black and
lowry. lhcre was shrieklng wind,
lull OF gusts, and damp and bleak,
Throughout the hills thunder reyer
nerated, On the office hearth a grea,
flre was blazing, and before it a knot d.
| the old gentlemen were exCh.n,;,t