Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-10-21
THE BREATH OF SCANDAL.
Il Failed to Tarnish the Pure Gold Of
Character.

THE BREATH OF SCANDAL.
II Failed to Tarnish the Pure Gold OF
Character.
(By Elias Lisle. Copyright 1901, by
A. s. Richardson.)
Young Mrs. verrell leaned on the
rail of the yacht and looked with dis
appointed surprise at the approaching
dingey.
"There are only Hugh and your cous-
in in the boat" she announced to her
guest. "Mr. Cuthbert isn't there. I'm
so sorry"
Her information implied that the sor-
row was sympathetic rather than per-
sonal. Sibyl Beach resented it.
"You needn't be, Helen,' she said,
the curve of her lips Strengthening
firmly.
"Why, I iny tied him to come, partic-
ularly on your account"
"And l wanted him not to, particu-
larly on my account said the girl.
"Why, Sibyl, dear | thought you
were such great friends or even more"
$50 did IT, There was a suspicion
of tears in the bright eyes the girl
turned to her friend. 80 did | until
until he disgraced himself. oh, you'll
know all about 1t soon enough any
way. may as well show you now"
She held out clipping from week
ly publication which makes business
of purveying social sewage TO its read
erS.
ut came to me In the mail-anony-
nous, of course" she said.
Mrs. verrell took it with an express
sion of distaste.
"You wouldn't believe anything that
wretched paper says, hope" she OBJ
served. whenever | read 1t feel as
If ] needed a bath to get clean again"
1.-THE Era had little notice, too, say
ing that Sid-Mr. Cuthbert-was there,
and that is reliable enough. l only
wish it weren't" .-....
With pressed lips and frowning brow
Mrs. yerrell ran over the clippings. 1t
was comment, less yelled than is
common with that paper, upon the
presence of Sidney Cuthbert at the flu
neral of a woman who had once been
well known in that dim border OF the
theatrical profession where people of a
more dubious world claim habitation.
st will strengthen Mr.. Cuthberts
reputation for generosity among his
club and society friends" commented
the paragraph, that he should have
borne the expense of the funeral from
his own pocket The woman who was
once known as Viola Trevannion was
buried beside her son, whose death
two years ago was also the occasion
Of a burst of mortuary generosity on
the part of young Cuthbert."
isn't that a nice thing to read about
a man you had thought you could
could at least respect" said the girl
bitterly.
81 don't believe 1t about Mr.. Cuth-
bert" began the other Indignantly
when the two men came over the rail.
After verrell and young DR.. Dent
had greeted the two women the latter
turned to his cousin and said:
"Did | hear you speaking about Sid
ney Cuthbert, Beauty"
"You may have if you were listen
ing" said the girl. "And | do wish,
Harvey, that you would drop that
childish nickname. I've outgrown it."
"Well, / don't know about your out
growing it, said Dent, looking at her
flushed cheeks and shining eyes, but
you certainly haven't outgrown your
childish--beg pardon-your childhood
temper. But Of course I'll drop 1t,
Sib, if you don't like it," he added
good naturally. But was interested
in Sidney Cuthbert because | used to
know him when he was Typh and
was house in Sawgums."
"What's Sawgums" asked Verrell
lazily from his deck chair. "Lunatic
asylum? And was Cuthbert one of the
numbered patients and you another!
l understood you to say you were a
house. Singular dslusi0n."
.Sawgums is short for st. Angus
tines hospital, where l disported my
self as house physician when Cuth-
bert became typhoid case No. T." ex-
planned the young physician. LAS all
the private rooms were full he had to
go into the public ward and live at 81
per day between profane and asth-
matte car driver and a charity con-
valescent."
every good lesson in economy" OBJ
served Yerrell virtuously.
"He couldn't give many dinner par
ties and send the kind Of flowers he
used to favor Sibyl with on that basis.
Helen, if my feet are in your way I'll
have 'em moved" he concluded, bliss
fully unconscious of his wifes savage
glances. ibid Cuthbert like it, Dent?'
Seemed to enjoy it tolerably after
he got convalescent. He got up quite
friendship with another patient
known as Tommy the Cod, presumably
because he lived in an empty fish box
down Fulton market way"
"Don't remember having heard Cuth-
bert speak of the gentleman" MUIR
INJURED yerrell. "Did he ever bring
him to call, Sibyl? Helen, if you kick
the only husband you're ever likely to