The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-20
A GEM OF GOSSIP.

one mornipg. twas the hour tnaU men
60 to business, kissing their wives goodby
or parting with them coldly, glad Of tenn
porary relief from disagreeabic home rule.
AS Mrs Shandy passed the home Of tho
Traffords ON the next square she heard
monologuc from tho side door which raw
ished her ears. She stopped quickly
enough, you may bo sure, and caught
every wcSd.
This side entrance being inclosed by
high fence, she could not see the speaker,
who was evidently In earnest, and not de-
hvering himself Of any honcycomb sweet
ness either.
You will have to go back 20 your
mother. You have been false and foolish,
and I've lost all respect for you. Persua-
sion and kindness have no influence with
you, and III not stand this state Of things
another day. Be quiet. I've had the last
word want To hear. The sooner you go
now the better. When people can't live
together in peace, there's nothing TO do
but part, and the door banged with a
violence that was still further proof of the
domestic tempest raging In that quarter.
Mrs. Shandy was wildly excited. Her
marketing was hurriedly executed, and
again she passed the Trnfford home, this
tune walking on the opposite side of the
street to get a 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 wecping-tEat 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 her
to go back to her mother. Mrs. Shandy
could hardly wait to get to the house Of
her ncighbor, Mrs. Allears.
Hero she opened the jewel case and
handed out the gem Of gossip, saying how
she'd always thought there was something
wrong with tho Traffords. But TO
think" shc said "of people quarrcling
right where they could be heard by pass
ersby! Strange some folks have no pru-
dence and self respect" In "a hours the
town had the sensation, indeed knew all
the Trafford family.
The following day the house was closed
and stood enveloped In mournful silence
that was, of course, but tho afternoon Of
love which had been dashed upon an un-
friendly shore. Many feet passed that
way out of curiosity, and many eyes stared
at the closed windows and unused door
ways OF once happy home. OF course
Mrs. Trafford, obcying her husbands
cruel command, had gone to her mother.
Mr.. Trafford, 1t was learned, had gone TO
stay with 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 q 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 1t not friend
dared an allusion to his unhappiness.
Poor fellow! He little dreamed how he
was stared at and discussed Fortunately
no children were involved In the unhappy
complication.
A month passed. and the talk about the
Traffords 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
cheerfulness 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
aboutS 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. Allears, but succeeded in
none, and the reunion did not yield her
half the pleasure the parting had.
Horace Trafford was a good fellow, and
his friends were relieved and delighted to
hear that he had taken his wife back to
his heart and homo. 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, cs-
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, Toni What
is all this talk abouts BY Jove, what are
the fellows up to todayf They've evident
ly got some joke on me which l don't un-
derstand. What does 1t all meanT'
Tom was now the astonished one.
Don't you really know, Horace'" he
asked.
Il don't indeed, Toni Something's up.
What Is itp'
Then Tom Wright explained.
"Ha, ha, haV Traford laughed. "By
Jove, Toni That beats all! Whoever
started such lie' Why, upon my soul,
it's the very first I've heard Of it,"
Hasn't Mrs. Trafford been with her
mother whole month"; Tom asked.
"Ycs, she has and went at my urgent
solicitation, just to get a little rest from
housekeeping.
Tom now touched on the subject of the
quarrel overheard by Mrs. Shandy ana
quickly reported, with the usual embol-
lishment which gossip adds to every spread
ing report. Again Trafford laughed, this
time uproariously.
by Jove, Tom, that's tho richest
thing of the season. Why, that was tho
cook that morning at the side door, 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 80 mistrcated and an
noyed my wife / took her In hand and
sent her home Mrs. Trafford was nerv-