The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-04-23
HOW TIE WORLD JUDGES.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

The world in this case was repre-
scented by the sewing circle of Abing
ton, which met once a week at the vari
GUS houses of the ladies of the congre-
cation of the church which it repre-
sented. There were matrons and maid
ems, young and old, and among the
latter, notice, if you will, Alice Spencer.
neither young nor old, but maiden
whose story ali Abingdon knows. Ten
years ago DR.. Greyson and Alice Spencer
"kept company" There was quarrel,
growing from trife. until it ended in n
separation, and DR.. Greyson married
Maude Hepburn, heiress of the richest
man in Abingdon.
Alice wore the willow" gracefully
enough, neither going into brain fever
nor rushing about seeking mission
as a properly conducted maiden in her
plight should have done. She is not
with snowy lace ruffles and tritie of
Eluc here and there, her sweet, fair face
IS very pleasant to see. She is gentle
and placid. doing her duty we'll, and al
ways cheerful. yet there comes frown
Of ain across her low, white forehead,
as the stream of censure flows around
her
Il had il from Martha, Mrs. Greyson's
cpak," Mrs. Zee said, emphatically,
that Agnes and Lottie Greyson were
sent to boarding school against their
own mothers will. 1t is downright
cruelty! Why, Agnes is not eight years
old. and Lottie just passed six. Mere
babies!"
They say their mother took ON
dreadfully," said fat, comfortable Mrs.
Agnew, looking up from perplexing
gusset; screamed and cried and chung
to the poor little things, as if she
couldn't let them go. That hateful
Miss Greyson took them away"
Miss Greyson interferes in every
thing" said another voice; "for my
part, if my husband brought prim ole
maid sister into my house, I'd just put
her in her PLACED But, they do say that
half the time poor Mrs. Greyson isn't
allowed to order her own dinner"
81 never thought much of DR.. Grey
son after he gave up practice and went
to live on his wife's money" said Mrs.
Agnew. "Such a splendid doctor as he
was, and doing so much good, had no
business to fold his hands and live in
idleness, before he was 30 years old"
And so on, and on, and on, till
monster in human form and a suffering.
martyred angel were evolved from the
Greyson household, and held up to
scorn. Even Mrs. Greyson herself had
a side slap or two, as being "poor-spir-
tied" and one who took too meekly to be-
ing put upon" by her tyrant of hus-
band and sister
Alice Spencer bent her head lower
and lower over her sewing, hearing all,
hut saying no word of defense or blame
Her heart was very sore when these
stories, that were not new in Abing-
ton, but merely were revised, improved
and enlarged whenever the gossips met,
were told. She was of a large-hearted
nature, forgiving and tender, and when
her lover deserted her she sent no i'll
will after him. She had hoped he would
return to her, and she suffered intense
ly, if silently, when he nursed his wrath
so long and then married. But she
lived her sorrow down, and wished DR..
Greyson every happiness.
Often, in the delicious days of court
ship, DR.. Greyson had told Alice of his
sister Margaret, the older sister, who
had taken his mothers place when he
was child of three years. She had,
from his loving descriptions, learned to
think of Margaret Greyson as one of
those noble, self-sacrificing women who
make the home dwelling place of all
peace and happiness. 1t had been one
of their favorite dreams of the future
to think of Margaret in their home,
ministering angel, and to repay her
by their devotion for her long sisterly
care.
And now, another of her idols was
torn down and smirched by evil tongues,
and Alice heard of Miss Greyson as
sort of assistant domestic demon, to
carry out her brothers wickedness.
She had no power to contradict amy
of these reports, for Maude Greyson
had exhibited the most savage jealousy
of her husbands first love, and her
manner to Alice was positively insult
ing.
Pondering ON all these things, Alice
walked from the sewing circle to her
own modest cottage, where she had