The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-07-27
A GEM OF GOSSIP.

go to business, kissing their wives goodb,
or parting with them coldly, glad of tenn
porary relief from disagreeable home rule
AS Mrs. Shandy passed the home of TIN
Traffords on the next square she heard
monologue from the side door which raw
ished her ears. She stopped quickly
enough, you may be sure, and caugh
every word.
This side entrance being inclosed by
high fence, she could not see the speaker
who was evidently in earnest, and not de
ivering himself of any honeycomb sweet
ness either.
You will have to go back to you
mother. You have been false and foolish
and I've lost all respect for you. Persua
sion and kindness have no influence will
you, and I'll not stand this state of thing.
another day. Be quiet. I've had the las
word want to hear. The sooner you &C
now the better. When people can't live
together i'll peace, there's nothing to dc
but part, " and the door banged with {
violence that was still further proof of the
domestic tempest raging in that quarter
Mrs. Shandy was wildly excited. Hel
marketing was hurriedly executed, ant
again she passed the Trafford home, this
tune walking on the opposite side of the
street to get better view of the windows
from which she might obtain clew to the
tragedy, one act of which she had over
| heard. She was rewarded. Mrs. Trafford
sat at window partially concealed by
| curtains, but weeping-that was plain
| The angry words at the side door were ex,
planned. Mr.. Trafford and his wife had
| of course quarrelcd, and he had told hel
to go back to her mother. Mrs. Shandy
could hardly wait to get to the house Of
her neighbor, Mrs. Allears.
| Here she opened the jewel case and
handed out the gem of gossip, saying how
| she'd always thought there was something
wrong with the Traffords But to
think" she said, ''of people quarreling
right where they could be heard by pass
ersbyl Strange some folks have no pru-
dence and self respect In "a hours the
town had the sensation, indeed knew all
the particulars of the tragic happening in
the Trafford family.
The following day the house was closed
and stood envcloped in mournful silence
| that was, of course, but the afternoon OF
| love which had been dashed upon an I'M
! friendly shore. Many feet passed that
way out of curiosity, and many eyes stared
at the closed windows and unused door
ways of a once happy home OF course
Mrs. Trafford, obeying her husband S
cruel command, had gone to her mother.
Mr.. Trafford, it was learned, had gone to
stay with Il bachelor uncle, who resided in
the suburbs. People who met Trafford
on the cars and at business wondered at
his cheerfulness, for certainly the parting
of husband and wife is under any circum-
stances sad finale to a happy covenant.
But they could understand his effort to
hide his sorrow and humiliation, and as
he made no mention of it not friend
dared an allusion to his unhappiness.
Poor fellow! He little dreamed how he
was stared ut and discussed. Fortunately
no children were involved in the unhappy
complication.
A month passed, and the talk about the
Tratforts was dying out, when, 10 and be-
hold, their house was again opened and
occupied. Mrs Trafford had returned,
and all who met her observed her radiant
cheerfulncss and joy. Reconciliation had
certainly taken place, for Mr.. Trafford
was coming and going as usual, kissing
his wife at the door when he left her, right
before any chance witness Of the amatorial
demonstration. How had all this come
about? Mrs. Shandy, the first to tell of
the parting, was miserable not to be able
to explain the present situation. She tried
all plans of Interrogation and discovery
along with Mrs. Allcars, but succeeded in
none, and the reunion did not yield her
half the pleasure the parting had.
Horace Trafford was Il good fellow, and
his friends were relieved and delighted to
hear that he had taken his wife back to
his heart and home. They could not re-
frain from going to his Office to congratu-
late him. He was dumfounded as one after
another approached him, all with the same
expressions. AT first, thinking some joke
was being practiced on him, he laughed,
shook hands, pretending that he knew to
what they referred. Finally the thing as
sumed mysterious and serious look, es-
pecially when his wife's name was men
toned, and to his old friend, Tom Wright,
who came along with cordial expressions
of sympathy and JOY, he exclaimed:
Il don't understand you, Tom! What
is all this talk about? BY Jove, what are
the fellows up to today? They've evident
ly got some joke ON me which don't I'M
derstand. What does it all mean2"
Tom was now the aStonished one.
Don't you really know, Horace?" he
asked
L uou lHuccu, 1OIn! EoOneGnlHS up
What is it?''
Then Tom Wright explained.
''Ha, ha, hal" Trafford laughed by
Jove Tom! That beats all! Whoever
started such Il lie? Why, upon my soul,
it's the very first I've heard of it,
Hasn't Mrs. Tratford been with her
mother a whole month";" Tom asked.
Yes, she has and went at my urgent
solicitation, just to get little rest from
housekeeping.
Tom now touched ON the subject of the
quarrel overheard by Mrs. Shandy and
quickly reported, with the usual embel
lishment which gossip adds to every spread
ing report. Again Trafford laughed, this
time uproariously.
by Jove Tom, that's the richest
thing of the season. Why, that was the
cook that morning at the side door, II girl
we had imported from the rural districts,
expecting much comfort from securing her
services. We had done great deal for
her, but she had so mistreated and an
noyed my wife I took her in hand and
sent her home. Mrs. Trafford was nerv-
Gus and discouraged that morning and
had good cry. Now she is home feeling
rested and happy, and am glad haven't
lost the dear little woman!'
Mrs. Shandy was the only one who never
forgave the Traffords for not having quar-
relied and parted, but she established rep
utation. She was at last rated ON cor
rect basis.-Sterling Kane in Cincinnati
Post.