Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-24

Endicott. But you look rather up.
set
That impertinent little mink just
bowed to me as i was entering your
gate, Mrs. Endicott.'
The idea! .Impudent! .Horrible!'
came from the different parts of the
room.
"But l glared at her." added Mrs.
Hemenway, trlumphantly.
II saw her talking with the minister
last night and shouldn't wonder but
that she will sing in the choir,'' said
one.
II she Joins the choir. then leave
won't sit in the same bench with a
singer of French songs" said another,
the leader OF the choir.
And the way she runs after the
men," spoke up Mrs. Endicott. "AIy'
4 husband declares she is the brightest
little woman In town."
oh, a man always falls In love with
a woman when she Is French, a widow
and a little mysterious. Mr.. Endicott
J Is not the only man who admires Mrs.
Sartoris," ventured Mandy with a look
in Mrs. Hemenway's direction. Unfor-
tunately that woman Intercepted tile
look and her whole figure set In stir,
rigid lines. And in a short time the
circle broke up.
e Helen Sartoris was a young widow,
who, with her 4-years- old child and two
maids, had taken up her residence in
Huxbridge some two months since. The
good people Of the town called upon
her and their calls were dutifully re-
turned, and the widow seemed charm-
ing until 1t was discovered that the
men of the town were raving about her.
Then the women froze in their manner
towards her, and after few wretched
days, filed with snubs and cold glares
from her erstwhile friends, the little
widow laughed at her prosecutors and
their snubs and became deeply gracious
to- the male relatives of these same
women. OF course. this was the worst
possible course for her to pursue-but
she was woman.
The grounds of Mrs. Hemenway adj,
Joined those of Mrs. sartoris, SO that 1t
was not wonderful that Guy Hemen-
way should see the widow in her gar
den and fall In love with her pretty
little self. And Helen. her short mar
ried live having been loyeiess and cold,
welcomed the new tender feeling In her!
heart for Guy Hemenway.
When Mrs. Hemenway reached home
that afternoon she was much excited
over the hint she received from Mandy.
II hear Mrs. Sartoris is joining the.
choir" she said.
"Well, she ought to. She has a de-
lightful voice"
s Have you heard her sing?" inquired
his mother, sharply.
Guy recovered himself. Eyes, often,
! to her little girl in the garden here
Ah, you do not know all about that
woman Her poor child! She neglects
her, leaves her to the care of the SER
wants while she reads French novels
and bleaches her hair. They say she
actually beats the child. One might
expect cruelty from person with
green eyes3'
Mother" broke in the young man.
oh, men do not believe it. Or course
not. But to think of woman ill-treat-
ing a little child, but her son had
left her and the old woman returned to
the house.
On the other side of the bushes a
woman knelt with white. sad face, her
arms clasped tightly about small re-
production of herself in white muslin.
The child moved In her arms and the
woman's face lost its strained look.
The next morning Helen received a
note from Mrs. Hemenway asking her
z to call. AT first she was inclined to re-
fuse, but instead she waited until late
In the da.,, and then donned her fuf-
Aest, most frivolous looking frock and
entered the Hemenway home in her
gayest hnmor. But the gayety vanish
ed when Helen saw how Ill Mrs. Hem
enway appeared.
Her hostess motioned her to a chair
and began icily; y sent for you to ap-i