The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-16

sLN - AND OBSElbs 1ANs AA1AA4AA3OI1s ~
You'll find out" And the gentleman
went on his way.
Miss Nancy Gill rushed into a house
near by and before she had even said
good morning to the family, she said
| in a very excited manner. Il suppose
/ you've heard the latest, Mrs. Trum-
pet?"
mo. what is it? asked Mrs. Trum-
| pet who by the way, was cousin
| of Toms wife.
II understand, and l got it from
good authority, for Jim Ford told me,
| that Toms been in a fight and some
body, l didn't hear who it was nearly
| knocked his eyes out.
"As soon as dinner was over Tom
wife's cousin, Mrs Trumpet, put on
| her Sunday clothes and went across
town to see Mrs Tattle, to whom she
| told the news as follows:
Poor Mary, she married Tom
against her mothers wishes and If
| she is m cousin and wish her TO
| do we'll, I'm afraid she's carried her
| ducks to a bad market, poor thing.
/ why what in the world is the mat
! ter?" Mrs. Tattle asked, all astare
| with curiosity.
I'm sorry to have to tell you"
| said Mrs. Trumpet, for it's kind Of q
! family matter, and it makes me feel
| as if 1 were diSgraced. But I'll tell you,
as q very dear friend, if you'll prom
| Use that you'll not let it go any turth-
! err
''Why, of course, I'll promise. Do
tell me what it is"
"Well, if [ must tell you, Mrs Tat
, tie, Tom Jones, who married my
cousin Mary, has gone to drinking
you don't tell me- so p
Yves, he got drunk and got into a
| fight, and Nancy Gill told me that Jim
| Ford told her that somebody gouSed
his eyes nearly out. O, it's horrible
| to think about"
Mrs. Tattle, who had the news,
didn't lose a moment after Mrs.
Trumpet Toms wife's cousin left, be-
! fore putting on her hat and starting to
see a friend of hers living two or
three squares away. She met her at
the gate just going outgoing, as she
said, to see Toms wife.
Il wouldn't do it," said Mrs Tat
| tie.
"Why not?" asked lady number four
Mrs. Prudence.
Il hate to speak of it," said Mrs.
Tattle. las / half way promised Mrs.
Trumpet I'd not speak of it.
Speak of what?" asked Mrs. Pru-
| dence.
IT'S a great scandal. Mrs. Pru-
dence" said Mrs Tattle, and | am
really ashamed that such a disgrace
full thing should have occurred in our
town"
What is it? You'll run me crazy
if you don't tell me quick, said Mrs.
Prudence.
We'll" said Mrs. Tattle, you ought
to know it, so I'll tell you, as you
were starting to see Mary Wills, who
is now Mrs. Tom Jones; for ! think
people ought to know what sort of
people they propose 10 visit. I've just
been informed upon reliable evidence
| that Tom and his wife have had a
fight and"
'"What? You don't tell me so. Do
go on"
You know it's said Tom used to
be a pretty wild boy; and a great
many people thought il he did teach
Sunday school and pray in public
when he got to be man, just as apt
as not, he kept a bottle hid out and
got drunk every night, after other
people went to bed. Now. since he's
married Mary Wills, as good q girl as
you'll find in town, he's gone toehard
| drinking. Last night he went home
drunk and was dragging Mary all over
the mouse, ny the na1r OF ner ne2Q;
but as good luck would have it, Mary
happened to get hold of the fire.
! poker, and, if she is a delicate little
body, she struck him so hard with
the poker she knocked him down. and
, before he could get up Mary ran
! home to her fathers. ri tell you
how | got my news. jim Ford told
Nancy Gill, and Nancy Gill told Mrs
Trumpet, VINO is Mary's own cousin,
and Mrs. Trumpet told me, out of
her own mouth.
Mrs. Prudence stood high in socie-
ty and in the church; so the next
morning she rode around town, ali the
forenoon to let the good sisters have
the news And this is the story she
told at each house, and she told it
as if it had been stereotyped:
81 understand upon good authority
that Mary Wills who recently married
Tom Jones, has brought suit for di-
vorce They say Tom is treating her
dreadfully, since he's got to drinking
The other night he choked her until
her face was black and blue then he
was dragging her around the house
by her hair, when she came too like,
and getting a poker, she struck Tom
right across. the eyes, knocked him
down, and she, poor child, jumped out
of the house and ran home to her
father. Yes, the suit is already be-
gun" And this was the report that
went all over town. OF the truth of