Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-10-15
TOLD IN CONFIDENCE.
By CELIA ELIZA SHUTE.


Frost's questioning gaze made her draw
her breath with difficulty, but that was
as nothing compared to the prospect of
Charlotte's coming attack They could
hear her bouncing through the upper
hall and down the stairs, like herald
Of the approaching storm, and in a mo-
mept more she came out She was tall
girl with a massive frame and big hands
and feet. Her abundant yellow hair rose
in a fuzzy mass round her pink and
white face. Her white teeth were ex.
posed in a smile that bordered on the
malicious
1--WE been sittin at the winder hearin
every word You said," she began; "sc
you see it amt any use to warn mar
not to tell me. I'm s'prised enough to
hear about Dry. From things I've seen
an heard I didn't think Steve would
make up his mind SO quick"
The girls audacity acted on Mrs.
Pease like an invigorating douche. II
aroused her to self assertion. The saucy
tone, the self conscious smile, the def.
ant attitude, all had part in her par.
tial restoration
II never hearn of Steve's payin any
particl'r attention to anybody besides
Ory," she advanced, with some spirit.
''If he has I'd like to know who it's.
Speak up, Charlotte, if you've got any.
thing to say"
We'll, 1 have Steve Judkins has
paid me as much attention as ever he
did Dry. You needn't s'pcse that be.
cause he's carried her to ride off an Oh
he amt carried nc other girls guess
I've been as often as she has an he called
here regular all the spring till 1 went
up to Aunt Maria's You needn't tell
me Ory's caught him in that little time,
because won't believe you if you dor
"CharlotteP' demonstrated Mrs. Frost,
scandalized at her daughters plain
speaking.
Don't Charlotte me, mar Frostl ]
know what I'm a-sayin."
The girls large face was scarlet with
excitement. She had stationed herself
directly in front of Mrs Pease, hel
hands ON her hips and her tall body
swaying as she talked Her eyes had
sparkles in them. Even Mrs. Frost
quailed under their growing ferceness,
80, there's partic'lar reason you
don't tell more, Is there?" she went OIL
jeeringly. "It's my private opinion you
can't tell anything that's true! 1 DOM
believe they're engaged any more'n
aml'
"Well, nowl For the lands sakel Be
you a-tellin me I'm lyin, Charlotte
Frost?"
Don't seems if you could make any
thing else out Of what l saidy"
A silence as profound as that which
dominated an uninhabited region fol
lowed this audacious statement Char.
lotte's two listeners sat rigid with as
tonishment at her daring Mrs Frost's
look of frightened amazement was tine.
tured with certain admiration of hel
daughters fearlessness, Mrs Pease's
with insulted dignity. For one dreadful
moment she had been completely over.
come at her wickedness in proclaimine
as true that which had no other founda
tion than her own strong hope, but the
skeptical sneer on the angry face before
her, the tone Of defiant accusation in the
vibrant voice, aroused her naturally
combative spirit to defense. 1--WE got
to believe it's true now," she kept say.
ing to herself. "It is true. I'm sure Of
it" Charlotte eyes seemed to possess
the quality Of augers Their pitiless
scrutiny was almost uncomfortable Mrs.
Pease's inward perturbation was such
that she scarcely knew what she was
saying. She was simply conscious, in q
dim, indeterminate way, that she must
support the statement she had been LED
into making however indefensible il
might be.
II had no idee 1t would touch you sc
deep. Charlotte" she remarked, feeling
that she must say something to prevent
herself from thinking. "If had,
wouldn t have thought Of mentionin it,
even to your mar"
well. H all thingsl' screamed
Charlotte. 81 amt said i cared a row
of pins about Steve Judkins, have l?
only said he'd give me as much encour,
agement to think he liked me as he ever
did Dry. don't want him, but ain 7
goin to turn him over to anybody with
out good reason, if don't. So, now"
"Prob'bly you'll have to make up
your mind to it sooner or later, replied
Mrs. Pease, whose faith In her own pre-
diction was growing unaccountably.
Charlotte's refuge in generalities had
lightened her burden wonderfully, and
her courage waxed valiant you really
give me turn callin me liar" she
added reproachfully.
"You acted kinder strange, anyway, "
put in Mrs Frost, who had not hitherto
ventured to interpolate a remark since
she had been so brusquely silenced by
her daughter. "How long it been since
they fixed things up between emf"
The natural question aroused Mrs.
Pease's sickening dread by reducing her
to plain facts, for which she was unpre-
pared,
81 amt goin to say another thing
Oh - Y