West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-06-19

knowing the meaning OF the word
honor.
II don't see. neither"
well, watch or no watch, he's been
n mighty sick loolin man ever since.
He looks as IL he'd been pulled through
n knotholc. n man with cancer or n
Ease OF appendicitis couldn't look much
worse"
That's so." said Mrs Dean.
"oh, mercy, my brcadr' exclaimed
Mrs. Hostettcr, getting up excltcdly.
II must run or itil be spolt."
well have 10 take this here dove
color door I'm hand" called Mrs. Dean
after her. "lf he can't put a stop TO II,
guess we can. We can't have any
such goin ons In this ncighborhood."
Mrs. Frazer closed the door carefully
after Mrs. Hostcttcr and returned to
the sitting room. She sat down and
locked Mt Mrs. Dean. Mrs. Dean look.
cd at her. Both smiled.
ut takes lots OF folks 10 make n
! world" said Mrs. Dean "rhc idec OF
her a-makin out so about other peoples
actin ups. Look at her husbnnd-thc
whole town a-talkin about him. reck-
on IL women knew all that's bcin said
about their husbands theN wouldn't bc
20 fresh n.talkIn about Others"
Eyes" said Mrs. Frazer slowly, but
nin't That awful about Mis- Mayhcw?
can't git over her n-havln such vir-
tuous loolin front door I'll never trust
dove color ng'in as long as the Lord
gives me breath. IL you'd IA told me
to hunt up the length and the breadth
or this hull town for nm innocent look
In house." she added. with great So
lcmnity, I'D n pointed out that one"
Mrs. Dean arose slowly. II don't
know but what I would OF. too" she
said, with deep sigh. "Weli, I've got
TO 20 too. ] amt got weeks bake
ready to 20 In tho oven--I get mine all
done on the proper bakin day--but I've
plenty TO do"
Mrs Frazer went TO the door with
her. She badc her good afternoon
there, but when Mrs. Dean had ached
the gate Mrs. Frazer ran heavily down
the steps and stood on the walk. She
stood with her body balanced bnck.
ward, holding ono hand arched over
her eyes. The wind was strong. II
streamed her light gown ont In dap.
ping folds mud gave bold glImpses OF
her thick ankles. "Oh say. Mis- Dean"
she called out. lifting her voice i'm
portantly. "Fll drop In tomorrow sure
ana let you know where that trunk
went tor
III was an afternoon In spring. The
hrs had pushed out their new growth
! OF pale delicate green. The snps had
mounted through swelling veins and
blown their spicy fragrance through
the air. The shadbush was I'm white
ana frlngy bloom. Tho wild currnnt
hung her red clusters OF beauty over
the creek that went foamIng down to
the sound. Out I'm the woods the salm.
on bcrry's crimson bells swung fairy
music for those who were born with
the gift OF divine hearing. In shallow
ponds nnd marsh plnces the mellow
throatcd frogs murmured day and
night. The red vested robin rocked In
the dappled alders top and sang his
sweet but few noted love lyric 10 his
sweetheart. The beautiful skunk cab
bagc had lifted its pale waxen candles
from out the broad green leaves. The
ferns were thrustlng their bent heads
through the moist earth like mottled
silver scrpents. The meadows and the
hillsides had run TO yellow with dan
delions and buttercups.
You nre very. very preityi
You are very, very swceti
called the red vested robin, and Mrs.
Mayhcw, hanging up her blrdcage mt
the right OF the dove colorcd door,
thrilled with sudden Joy and lifted her
eyes TO the tall alder tree. Surely that
was Spring herself tIptoeing across the
hills In her pale green gown, with
blown golden hair about her and the
laughter a rills following after her
footsteps. There was n wreath OF star
flowers around her brow, and about her
waist was buttercup zone. Her breath
had the sweetness Of n Wild rose thick
ct, and she bore the altar OF lost ec-
stasy In the pink cup OF her hand. And,
all. the irresistible lure OF her
Then n cloud fell upon Mrs. May
| hcw's face. She turned with sigh and
entered the house. Her brow was lined
deep with care.
a sweetcr faced woman than she had
never come TO that western town. She
| had lnugbcd and sung herself In sheer
happiness, into every ones heart. The
men admired her; the women loved
her; her husband adored her. For two
years she had been the cnyied leader
Of alIr the most beautiful, the most
| gracious. the most accomplished OF her
sex.
! Then tile change came The choir,
! the church. the Red Cross society,
knew her no more She was not well,
! she said, and her white face and dark
! Circlcd eyes were silent witnesses I'm
| proof OF tie assertion. At first there
was wonder. then curiosity, then put
/ ting together OF heads and gossip.
Mrs. Mayhem suspected nothing.
| There were other things 90 occupy her
/ thoughts. Life was holding another
| cup-a new cup-to her lips. and she
was drinking II without n murmur.
The grayest sin one can commit
against her neighbors IL to bear n
| trouble In silence without taking them
| into her confidence This sin Mrs.
/ Mayhem had committed. People OF
certain belief, cndeavoring to explain
their conception of sin and It's newt
/ able punishment 90 unenlightened
minds. usually assure us In chlldlikc
/ argument that III we put our hands In
90 the fire we viii be burned" When
Mrs. Mayhcw Kept things" from her
neigbbors. she was unconsciously put
ting her small hand Into hot FIRE. A
day was to come when she would take
II out. only 60 learn that It was too late
for remedies to be OF avail.
ON this spring day. then, sho hung
I the birdcngc on tho right side OF tie in