Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-03-29
THE
Mistake Of a Gossip.

BY MARY EpGwoRTH.

Engaged to young Hazel, is she?'
said Miss Felicia Addertongue,
sharply. "Going to be fine lady,
Ell? And I can remember the time
when she was barefooted girl, pick
ing raspberries in her fathers field. "
''She has grown up very pretty, "
said gentle Widow Mark ham, in her
mild way.
Engaged to young. Hazel, is she?"
repeated Miss Addertongue, with a
vicious look in her coal. black eyes.
81 can put spoke in her wheel. 1
think. Tall, young chap, amt he,
with black hair curling close to his
head, and mustaohe as black as ink?"
eyes," said the wondering Mrs.
Markham. 81 didn't know you
knew him."
''Oh, L know him." said Miss Ad-
dertongue, with toss of the head f;
"and know one OF two things about
him that Millville society don't seem
to be up in"
"You don't say SOP" said the
widow, curiously
81 do say so, l mean it. You see,
Mrs. Markham, l have ways and
means of getting behind the scenes
that no one else has. My sister,
Phebe Ann, that married Slatterly,
and was left widow six years ago
come next March, she's housekeeper
at the H Hotel. And Twas visit
ing her there last month, and that's
how came to see Mr.. Hazel"
"Myw calculated the widow.
''With my own eyes," said Miss
Addertongue, rolling up those organs
until there was some danger of their
retiring altogether into her head.
''Harold Hazel, tall and dark, and
always full of fun?"
Exactly" cried Mrs. Markham.
''He was there" remarked Miss
Felicia, "with his wife"
''His wife!" echoed Mrs. Markham.
ut can't be possible!'
'.But it is, though" asserted Miss
Felicia, with gloomy relish. II saw
EN- myself. I heard him introduce
her as Mrs. Hazel and tell some
body as how she was great heiress.
Older than him, but still not what
you'd call all old maid, though of
course he married her for her money.
No kind of doubt about that Such
diamonds as she wore-and such silk
gowns and overskirts of point lace as
you might cover up with bank notes,
and still not come up to its value"
''But," cried out bewildered Mrs.
Markham, "he's engaged to Juliet
Reed, for I've seen the engaged ring
she wears.
'And he's married to the black
eyed lady," said Miss Addertongue,
with equal emphasis, "because I saw
the wedding ring"
''Then what does he mean by MAX
ing love to Farmer Reeds uyhter?"
Indignantly cried Mrs. Markham.
'Humphv' said Miss Felicia, purs-
ing up her lips viciously. "That's q
question I can't pretend to answer.
What do men mean generally by their
pranks? Just to have little fun, L
suppose, and amuse themselves for
the time being.
"It's cruel, wicked thing" said
Mrs. Markham, ''and Juliet is such a
pretty girl"
"Tastes differ" said Miss Adder
tongue. ''For my part, I never
fancied thom big blue eyes, and hair
as looks as if it had been bleached.
Juliet Reed always did feel above the
rest OF the Millville folks"
''Some one ought to tell her." said
Mrs. Mark ham.
''Of course they ought" said Miss
Addertongue.
81 couldn't do it." said the gentle
hearted widow.
'I could" said Miss Addertongue.
ct can mostly do anything when 1 feel
it to be my Christian duty
Fretty Juliet Reed was sewing in
the cool porch, where the shadow of
the great elm trees made green oasis
in the desert of sunshine around the
quaint, one storied farmhouse. She
grew pale as death as Miss Adder
tongue unfolded her tale.
Harold married." she cried.
s'Harold with another wife? do not
believe it. 1t is false"
81 seen her with my own eyes, I"
said Miss Felicia, secretly enjoying
Juliet's agonized terror "a great
heiress--and of course man will
strike for money"
s'But it must be mistake" per-
sisted Juliet, the color coming and
going on her face like rosy Aurora
Borealis.
"Alasr' groaned Miss Addertougue,
sit is but too true. OF course it is a
great disappointment to you, Juliet
Heed, but maybe it's meant by an all
wise Providence as lesson to lower
your pride, and teach you that we're
all poor worms, and "
"Miss Addertongue, said Juliet,
drawing herself up. and fixing hei
hun axes ON the malicious old rossin