The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-13
MRS. PRANCELY.

Mrs. Prancely congratulated herself that
In all probability she was the first to get a
clew to what might prove great social
sensation, to say the least. She was too ex-
cited to attempt to digest it in privacy.
She must have it seasoned with the salt of
certainty and public dissemination. Ac-
cordingly she fastened to call on Mrs.
Van Tassel, the lady who was getting her
self talked about through cook whom she
had just discharged.
Mrs PranceIy was radiant looking
creature as she stepped into her carriage to
drive to Mrs. Van TasseIs, but gossip and
mischief were inscribed On her banner.
''Why, my dear Mrs. Van Tassel, how
do you do? So charmed to find you at
homeI Every one has been wondering
what has become of you. Our circle, you
know, cannot afford to lose one of it's
brightest starsI Do tell me about your
seIfi''
s'weIl, my dear Mrs. Prancely, 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:
eyes, dear friend; I did hear an inti1na-
ton, but-you know people will talk. We
never know when we hear the truth. OF
course wouldn't have mentioned the sub
ject myself If you-oh, how I hate gossip;
you know dol But you are safe in talk
ing with me, dear Mrs. Van Tassel, and
would really like to hear from your own
Hps-you know what friend OF yours I've
always been"
Mrs. Van Tassel, thinking it best to be
frank about her trouble, wiped her tears
and began a detail of the whole affair,
having a suspicion that her caller, not
withstanding her protestations of esteem
and her horror of gossip, would lose no
time in putting it rapidly upon the wing
of circulation.
81 did hope, Mrs. Prancely, the affair
could be settled amicably before the public
got hold of it, but perhaps it is just as
well for everybody to know the truth at
once. OF course you have heard that Mr..
Van Tassel went east some days agoP"
HAS he really gomez Mrs Prancely
asked, with a gasp of excitement.
'''Well," she said to herself, "things are
worse than thought
eyes" Mrs. Van Tassel answered sor-.
rowfully. 'It was imperative, and the
only comforter I have in the house is the
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-
domination of such boldness. Lifting her
brow high up in an arch Of disdain, she
exclaimed:
"Oh, 1 don't see how you could allow
him under the roofP'
''Oh, if you knew him as I do, Mrs.
Prancely, how innocent he is of any part
in this arrangement, 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 I
ever knewl" But her curiosity was not
! yet satisfied, so she said, with show Of
| sympathetic interest: Mrs. Van Tassel,
| don't think me inquisitive, but 1 really
would like to know the particulars of the
affair from the very beginning. Of course
every one will be questioning me about it
as soon as 1 m seen leaving the house."
Certainly, Mrs. Prancely, I 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 it
SO bitterly that l never allowed him to
come into my presence, and finally fled
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 Frustrated
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 sense
of honor and justice he is unwilling to
take it, knowing as he does that anger and
revenge prompt this generosity to him.
Besides this he knows he will not need it,
as he is soon to marry a 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 fell
low, thinks when she sees John and hears
my name her heart will relent, and she
may make a different will. People have
never understood my strict silence con
corning my mother, but now the truth
ah, excuse mel There is the postman
Yes; he has letter for mer'
Mrs. Van Tassel breaks open the letter
excitedly and reads)
FThank heavenl My mother wants mt
to come! All will be made right, and
owe it all to poor dear jean All, must you
go, Mrs PranceIy? Excuse my crying,
can't keep back the tears! You came JUS
in time to hear the happy termination of I
very long and terrible trial Goodby
Come again very soonP'
Crestfallen and disappointed, Mrs
Prancely hastened out of the house, stop
I ping at Mrs. Dapper's and Mrs. Crowley
= to Inform them that some niscbievou
= gossip had set ahoat the most atrocious in
: tinations that Mr.. and Mrs. Van Tasse
had separated because of the presence il
= their house of a young man of whom Mr.
Van Tassel was very jealous; also that sh
n herself had called on Mrs. Van Tassel, ha
n been taken into that lady's confidence an
found out there wasn't a word of truth il
, it, The young man was Mrs. Van TaSsel
3 mothers second husbands son, an
through his mediation and generosity Mrs
Van Tassel would soon get the large for
l | tune to which she was justly entitled
Then Mrs. Prancely delivered herself Of