The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-18


sensation. to sny the least She was too |
excitedsbD attempt To digest 10 In privncy.
She mutt have II seasoned with the salt OF |
certainty and public dissemination. Ac- |
cordingly. she bastened 20 call on Mrs.
Van Tnssei, tho lady who was getting her.
self talked about through cook whom
sho had just discharged.
Mrs PrnnceIy was . rndinnt looking
creature as she stepped into her carriage
20 drive TO Mrs Van Tossel's, but gossip
and mischief were inscribed ON her ban
ner.
"wby, my dear Mrs Van TasscI, how
do you dor So charmed to find you mt
hoInel Every one has been wondering
what has become OF you. Our circle, you
know. cannot afford to lose ono OF its
brightest starsI Do tell mo about your
self"
"Wcll, my dear Mrs. Prnncely, I've been
nowhere lately. I've had such beavy
heart for some weeks now I've scarcely left
my own room. You may have bcnrd"-
Mrs. Van Tasscl bowed her head In
tears. Mrs Prancely, aIl agIow, answered:
"Ycs, dear friend, did near an iDti-
nation. but-you know people will talk.
We never know when we hear the truth.
OF course wouldn't have mentioned the
subject myself II you-ob, how hate gos-
sipl You know do! But you are safe In
talking with me, dear Mrs Van Tasscl,
and l would really like to hear from your
lips-you know what a friend OF yours
I've always BEEN"
Mrs. Van Tassel, thinking It bcst to be
frank about hor trouble, wiped her tears
and began detail OF the whole affair,
having suspicion that her caller, not
withstnnding her protestations OF esteem
and horror Of gossip, would lose no time
In putting It rapidly upon the wings OF
circulation.
II did hope, bIrs. Pranoely, tho affair
could he settled amicably before the public
got hold Of It, but perhaps II 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 agoY
Yes," Mrs. Van Tassel continued sor-
| rowfully. "It was Imperative, and the
| only comforter l have In the house 10 tho
young man himself. All, he IL so noble,
80 determined that justice shall be done
! mel Few men would have behaved %
generously"
Mrs. Pranccly began to assume q cold
dignity. Twas for her to show her con-
demnation Of such boldncss. Lifting her
/ brow high up In an arch Of disdaiD, she
exclaimed:
| "Oh, don't see how you could allow
him under your roofP'
"Oh, II you knew him as do, Mrs.
Prancely, how innocent he is of any part
In this estrangemont, and how true he Is
| to me, you would understand that I can
not praise him enough"
Mrs. Prancely could scarcely contain
herself. She was saying mentally, "This
Ia the most unblushipg piece of boldness
| ever knewp But her curiosity was not
yet satisfied, so she said, with a show Of
sympathetic interest: MRS. Van Tassel
don't think mo inquisitive, but / really
would like to know the particulars of the
affair from tic beginning. or course ev-
cry one will be questioning mo about it as
soon as I'm seen leaving the house."
Certainly, Mrs Prancely. Iquite 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, n count. Every one knew he
married her for her money. / opposed 1t
SO bitterly that ! 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 to be mentioned In her
presence. OF course she kept her fortune
In her own name, and she and the old
Frenohman have been living in magnif-
cent style for over five years. Now she is
prostrated with illness from which she can
never recover. Knowing this, she has
made will giving to her husbands 9 son,
the young man now with me, the estate
which should by right come to me. He
has such a sense of honor and justice be is
unwilling to take 1t, knowing, az he doee,
that anger and revenge prompt this gener-
osity to him. Besides this he knows he
will not need Il, 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 matter over with us. 1t was
through his persuasion alone that my
husband consented to go to my mother.
jean. the dear fellow. thinks when she
sees John and hears my name her heart
will relent, aud she may make different
will. People have never understood my
strict silence concerning my mother, but
now the truth-ah, excuse mel There is
the pOstman. Yes, he has q letter for
me"
MRS. Van Tassel breaks open the letter
excitedly and reads.)
"Thank heaven! My mother wants me
to come All will be made right, and I
owe 1t all to poor dear jean! All, must
| you SO, Mrs. IIuHCelyT ExcuSe ny cry
ing; 1 can't keep back tho tears! You
came just In time to hear the happy ter
! mination of a very long and terrible trial
Goodby! Come again very soon''
Crestfallen and disappointed, Mrs.
Prancely fastened out of the house, stop
ping at Mrs Dapper's and Mrs. Crowley 8
to inform them that some mischievous
gossip had set adoat the most atrocious
intimations that Mr. and Mrs. Van Tassel
had separated because Of the presence In
their house OF young man Of whom Mr.
Van Tassel 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 a word Of
truth In It, The young man was Mrs
Van Tassel's mothers second husbands q
son, and through his mediation and gen
erosity Mrs. Van Tassel would soon get
the large fortune to which she was Justly
entitled Then Mrs. Prancely delivered
herself of disquisition on gossip and gos-
| sipers Wondering how nconlo could And AZ