Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-06-13
MRS. PRANCELY.

bcnhttlon, tO bhy tHc lchbt. Dne was 700 OK
cited TO attempt to digest II In privacy.
She must have 10 seasoned with the salt Of
certainty and pubic dissemination. Ac-
cordingly she hastcned 20 call on Mrs.
Van Tassel, tho lady who was getting her
self talked about through "a cook whom she
had Just discharged.
Mrs Pranccly was radiant looking
creature as she stepped into her carriage TO
drive To Mrs. Van Tassel's, but gossip and
mischief were inscribed ON her banner.
"Why, my deaf MS Van Tassel, how
do you do? So charmed 70 find you at
homel Every one has been wondering
whnt has become OF you. Our circle, you
know, cannot afford To lose one OF Its
brightest starsi DO tell me about your
selfp'
"well, my dear Mrs. Pranccly, I've been
nowhere lately. I've had such a heavy
heart for some weeks now I've scarcely left
my own room. You may have heard
Mrs. Van Tassel bowed her head in
tears. Mrs. Prancely all aglow, answered:
"Yes, dear friend; / did hear an intima-
tion, but-you know people will talk. We
never know when we heer the truth. OF
course wouldn't have mentioDed the sub
ject myself II you-oh, how hate gossip;
you know / dol But you are safe In talk
Ing with Ifle, dear Mrs. Van Tassel, and /
would really like to hear from your own
lips-you know what friend of yours I've
always been"
Mrs. Van Tassel, thinking 1t best to be
frank about her trouble wiped her tears
and began a detail Of the whole affair,
having q suspicion that her caller, not
withstanding her protestations OF esteem
and her horror of gossip, would lose no
time In putting 1t rapidly upon the wing
Of circulation.
II did hope, Mrs. Prancely the affair
could be settled amicably before the public
got hold of it, but perhaps 1t Is just as
well for everybody to know the truth at
once. OF course you have beard that Mr..
Van Tassel went east some days ago9"
"Has he really gomez" Mrs. Prancely
asked with gasp Of excitement.
"Wel," she said to herself, "things are
worse than thought"
eyes" Mrs. Van Tassel answered sor-
rowfully. 1T was imperative, and the
only comforter have In the house is the
young man himself. All, he is SO noble,
SO determined that justice shall be done
me. Few men would have behaved SO gen.
erously."
Mrs Prancely began to assume a cold
dignity. Twas for her to show her con-
demnation Of such boldness. Lifting her
brow high up in an arch Of disdain, she
exclaimed:
"Oh, don't see how you could allow
him under the roofp'
"Oh, II you knew him as / do, Mrs
Prancely, how innocent he is Of any part
In this estrangement, and how true he Is
to me, you would understand that can
not praise him enough"
Mrs Prancely could scarcely contain
herself She was saying mentally, "This
is the most unblushing piece of boldness /
ever knew" But her curiosity was not
yet satisfied, so she said, with a show of
sympathetic interest: Mrs. Van Tassel,
don't think me inquisitive, but I really
would like to know the particulars Of the
affair from the very beginning or course
every one will be questioning me about 1t
as soon as I'm seen leaving the house."
Certainly, Mrs. Prancely, quite for.
got that you never heard how the estrange.
ment came about. 1t all grew out Of my
mothers marriage to that despicable old
Frenchman, a count. Every one knew he
married her for her money. l opposed IL
so bitterly that I never allowed him to
come into my presence, and finally fed
from my own home. My mother has never
forgiven me- and from that day has never
allowed my name mentioned in her pres
ence. OF course she kept her fortune In
her own name, and she and the old French
man have been living In magnificent style
for over five years. Now she is prostrated
with illness from which she can never re-
cover. Knowing this, she. has made will
giving to her husbands son, the young
man now with me- the estate which should
by right come to me. He has such q sense
of honor and justice he is unwilling tC
take It, knowing as he does that anger and
revenge prompt this generosity to him
Besides this he knows he will not need 1t,
as he Is soon to marry young woman IN
New York who has come into possession
| of enormous wealth. Poor fellow He
came on from the east just to talk the mat
ter over with us. 1t was through his per
suasion alone that my husband consented
| to go to my mother. Jean, the dear fel
| low, thinks when she sees John and hears
my name her heart will relent, and she
may make different will. People have
never understood my strict silence con
cerning my mother, but now the truth
ah, excuse mel There is the postman
Yes; he has letter for mei''
(Mrs. Van Tassel breaks open the letter
excitedly and reads.
"Thank heavenl My mother wants me
| to comei All will be made right, and
owe 1t all to poor dear Jean All, must you
20, Mrs. Prancelyp Excuse my crying,
can't keep back the tearsl You came just
In time to hear the happy termination of Q
very long and terrible trial. Goodby
Come again very soonl"
Crestfallen and disappointed, Mrs
Prancely hastered out of the house, stop
| ping at Mrs. Dapper's and Mrs. Crowley
to inform them that some mischievoui
gossip had set aHoat the most atrocious In
timations that Mr.. and Mrs. Van Tasse
had separated because Of the presence IN
their house Of young man of whom Mr.
Van Tnsscl was very jealous; also that she
herself had called on Mrs. Van Tassel, had
been taken into that lady's confidence and
found out there wasn't q word Of truth ir
| it. The young man was Mrs. Van Tassel'i
ynOfhar,a sacopd hrahapd,a aOu AND