Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-07-22
THINGS WENT WRON


long to the same card club. the same
church and the same social circle
generally. Yet they have never, for
subtle and inscrutable reasons, been
close friends.
There has. indeed, during the last
six months been such an increase of
glittering cordially IN their relations
as to worry little Mrs. Webster-the
cordially In question all coming from
the other side of the combination
and to amuse their dear friends one
and all For story always turks
behind such glitter and display.
There was an explanation the other
day, however. and the friendly rela-
lions have reiapsed into the old con-
dition OF frigid courtesy Mrs Hayes
feels that fraud is fraud. whether
prompted by intention or not, and
Mrs. Webster is so overcome with her
own chagrin and her husbands
chuckles whenever he thinks of the
matter that II will take her many
days TO recover her poise
The story began exactly six months
ago II was at the card club, that
nest for the Matching of misunder.
standings and contentious. There
were tickets on sale for something or
other for which the women had sub
scrfbed and for which they were ex-
pected that afternoon TO pay. Mrs.
Webster had forgotten the matter and
did not have in her purse the requisite
81 for the redemption of her promise.
She was sitting next to Mrs. Hayes
as that lady drew out with what Mrs.
Webster felt was ostentation a fat
rou of bills and proceeded 10 pay her
own debt She caught Mrs Webster's
eye fastened on the bills and, moved
by some strange Impulse which she
has been trying To explain to herself
and her dear friends for six months,
offered her a loan for the afternoon.
Little Mrs. Webster refused In haste,
not being the sort of woman who takes
money loans from friends or foes.
Mrs. Hayes. being the sort of woman
who never takes back anything YER
bal, insisted to her neighbor's ulti-
mate defeat.
you can return II In day or two"
she said kindly. But whatever you
do, don't send the money through the
post. If you don't send by check,
send q postal order; It's SO much
safer"
Little Mrs. Webster bit her lip over
the patronage and took the money
disgustedly She asked her husband
that evening at dinner about postal
orders and a little later that same
evening she ran down to the corner
postal station and. through the kind.
ness Of the druggist. got postal or.
der for 81. giving Mrs. Hayes-and
the fun address accompanied the
name-as beneficiary. Then. clutch
Ing the slip of paper the druggist gave
her. she ran home, her conscience at
rest
For SIX months now Mrs. Webster
has endured an amount OF supercilious
condescension from the lady In whose
debt she was for one short day as to
drive her to the verge OF distraction.
Others. Mrs. Hayes special coterie,
also patronized and stared and from
time TO time whispered.
The storm broke one day last week
when Mrs. Webster entertained the
card club. There was tenseness in
the air which the gentle hostess felt,
and she saw with apprehension that
Mrs. Hayes and bosom friend OF that
lady's fingered after many had depart.
ed. Through mad thrust and wild
parry the truth finally came out. Mrs.
Hayes was a defrauded person and
Mrs. Webster did not pay her debts
why. you said postal order was
land sent the money to you that
very night"
Her eyes flashed as Mrs, Hayes
shifted. She rose TO the occasion.
Il can prove IT," she said. with
great hauteur. Il have the receipt
right here"
She opened a little drawer, ran
through a pile OF bills and papers
and brought out In proud disdain a
slip Of paper
The date on the postal order proved
Mrs. Webster's case, and the postal
order Itself proved Mrs. Hayes. The
humor OF the situation did not strike
any OF the excited women concerned.
for 1t took several arguments to prove
to Mrs Webster that the postoff1ce
did not personally send money and
that she had retained the only docu-
ment In the case.
After all. Mrs. Webster feels that
her husband Is 10 hlame He should