Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-12-08

Miss Maynard herself opened the Star.
ndrds' door to let her ial.
turned and asked Miss Maynard, and
Miss Maynard went into the dining
room and tapped at Mrs. Stannard s
door. No answer She peeped in. Nc
one was there. An appeal to the servant
resulted in the information that Mrs.
Stannard had stepped out through the
Kitchen and gone around to Mrs Bar
rvs, thereby, as was at once apparent,
lodging Mrs. Turner and her inevitable
questlonings, and flush that extended
beyond the customary limits was on
that injured lady's face as she commu-
nicated to Mr.. Warner the information
that they would probably find Mrs.
Stannard at Mrs. Barry's, next door.
Should she go and call her? Warner
said no, thanks, they had also to see
Mr.. Maynard, and they would 20
right up to his room. And go they did
leaving her aud Miss Maynard gazing
after them up the narrow stairway and
listening for the colloquy that would
follow the knock at the young officer 8
door. They heard him say almost
heartily: ooh, come right in, Warner!
I'm SO glad you're here," and then,
with certain GOODNESS and hesitation
why, certainly, if you say so! Come
in, Mr.. Cook =" Then the door closed,
and the sound of voices became an in.
audible murmur.
Tut Mrs. Turner forgot rnaJ engage
meat with Mrs. Ray for full ten min
utes more, and then the visitors came
gathering down, and Warner bowed
most courteously to the lady as he pass
ed the parlor door and asked Mrs. Tur.
ner If she would be so very kind as to
see if Mrs. Barry would receive him
with gentleman from Denver for lust
five minutes. This Mrs. Barry proved
not only willing but glad to do, but
poor Mrs Turner had to return to won
der with Miss Maynard full five min
utes more what it all could possibly
mean before she again bethought her
self OF lost opportunities, and so finally
FASTENED away to spread the stirring til
dlngs. 1t was force of habit that led her
straight to Mrs. Gregg's and launched
her, lmpetuous and unannounced, into
that astonished and indignant presence.
The fine feminine scorn in the visage
Of her old time friend and crony recall
ed Mrs. Turner to herself.
"Oh, forgot" she exclaimed, "but
now that am here might just as we'll
ask you if you've heard the news And
even in her haste and perturbation Mrs.
Turner showed the soul of the diploma
list Had she simply burst out with the
Mrs. Gregg could then
have crushingly asked, as she had on a
former occasion, "And did you consider
5hat an acceptable excuse for this intru-
;lon" Now wifely anxiety and woman
y curiosity overmastered pride and re-
sentiment. She had to gasp, ono;
Shat?" for her husband and the re.i
nent We're her first thoughts and SO
having spoken the veil was lifted, the
ce was broken. She heard the announce
nent OF Maynard S arrest and the pres
'nce of "such strange looking men,
heriif's officers probably without
much emotion. She had meant to cut
Mrs. Turner dead and never speak to
lei again, but now she was trapped. At
east 1t opened the door for her to pitch
nto her neighbor and give he- the
'lece OF her mind for which her soul
lad been longing for days, but Mrs.
Turner shifted the coming battle and
vas up and away triumphant.
i can't stop I've got an engagement
It Mrs Rays. but l was so excited by
What had happened that l just had to
lrop IN the first house came to-" Then
way she went, and Mrs. Gregg had not
o much as chance for a crushing
word. Verify Mrs. Turner was a tacti.
ian.