The Forrest City times., 1894-06-01
FORREST CITY, ARK. FRIDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 1, 1884,
Come right in. mamma. There are

Come right in, mamma. There are some ladies waiting for you"
 Mrs. Allen was astonished to find SO many callers in her parior at one time, but showed no trace of surprise in her manner
 Good afternoon, ladies; am very glad to see you 1t was such lovely day that went for the mail myself. hope you have not been waiting long"
 Her greeting was so cordial that Mrs. Jones afterwards said she was glad she was not head of the delegation. After one or two intellectual efforts Mrs Simpkins abruptly began:
 Mrs. Allen, or Mrs Smith, or what ever your name is--the Lord only knows, we don't!-wc have come here this afternoon to find out who you are. You give your name as Allen, and get letters for Mrs. Smith, and we ain't used to TO such goings on, and we have come here to have you explain, if you can, for we don't want no mysteries in our neighborhood."
 Surprise rendered Mrs. Allen speech less for a moment: then she coldly said:
 Ladies, l gave my name as Allen simply because that was my husbands name, and, consequently. is mine. Mrs. Smith is my widowed sister, who resides with me. For reasons not necessary to state, 1 receive and an- swer her letters That is the meaning of the supposed mystery which has caused you so much distress. Like the ghost, it exists only in imagination"
 She ceased speaking and glanced to- ward the door, evidently expecting her visitors to go; but Mrs. Simpkins was not easily routed.
 You say your sister lives with you; it's odd no one has ever seen her and that you never have no company. And can you tell us, ma'am, who the poor critter is that roams about this house at night, all in white?"
 Mrs. Aliens face was very stern as she answered.:
 'I had hoped that it would not be necessary to go into the details of this painful matter; but in order to check malicious gossip will explain that my sister is a confirmed invalid, and left the city because she was on the verge of nervous prostration. We came here that she might be perfectly quiet. and have avoided company on her account She is not able to read or answer her letters, which all refer to business, as she owns considerable real estate in town Now. ladies, as I have nothing more to say concerning my private affairs. will bid you good afternoon"
 Mrs. Aliens tone and manner for bade further words, and the discomfited women rose in a body and marched out of the house. Not until they reached the gate did Mrs Simpxins recover her powers of speech; then she ex, claimed
 Well, I neverl"
 Had Mrs. Simpkins got a glance into the orchard, where May blossoms made thick, sweet-scented carpet on the ground, she would have been even more amazed, and utterly enraged.
 For Fred Parsons and Nora Allen were seated there. She was holding a sprig of the blossoms, which he had just broken off for her. and Fred was saying:
 ''I wonder if those old gossips have gone, Nora? What . chatter they would raise if they knew that had just surrendered my heart to the fair. est stranger tha, ever came to this queer old .ownr'
 The gossips heard all about it later, when the wedding bells pealed Mrs Simpkins vented her spite in her char acteristic way. To this day she can't understand why Fred Parsons ignored the chance to gain a wife and a mother-in-law proficient in the art of gossip.-N. |. Journal.