The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-23
THE EVENING STORY
The TattIetaIe.

last to leave the breakfast table
so Mary Morris and Wllliston are
engaged" the professor remarked.
Everybody is talking about it,
Patricia looked up at him, startled.
why, it's a secret
The professor shrugged his shoulders.
Nothing is a secret when it is once
told-and the news came from our
landlady."
Mrs Murdoch? why-I told Mrs.
Murdoch" Patricia confessed. "She
asked me such direct questions that I
dreamed she would tell
"And Mary Morris never dreamed
that you would tell" the professor re-
marked That's the way all gossip
az think" said Patricia flaming, "that
you are very unpleasant to call 1t COS
SIP"
do you know the name we have for
little girls who talk too much?" he
asked her. gravely.
She shook her head.
'Tattle-ta1e,' ne told her.
Oh she flung out, how rude you
are!' Then her lip quivered. You are
horrid to make me so uncomfortable
When Patricia's lip quivered it was
time for a mere man to lay down his
weapons. and the professor was begin
ming hurriedly, IT didn't mean" when
Mary Morris appeared at the door.
'Oh. Patricia she reproached, did
you tell Mrs. Murdoch"
YES" Patricia admitted, 'T debut
didn't think she would repeat It,
Mary
And didn't think you would" Mary
condemned. "I thought you could keep
a secret. Patricia
"Oh. Nary" Patricia's tone was dis
tressed.
at thought could trust you. Pa
tricia.'' And away she went, and Pa
tricia delivered a passionate opinion tt
the professor.
have had to lie to evade Mrs. Muir
doch's questions. She just wormed /.
out of me, and can't evade like some
people"
The professor rose and came around
to her. You know wouldn't hurt you
for the world"
But you have hurt me-" Patricia
sobbed, and I wish you'd go away. I
don't want to speak to you any more
to you or to Mary Morris or-any-
Then she fled from the dining room,
and the professor had to take his pun
ishment, for Patricia refused to make
up. She Gid not stay for the after
to the professor. And after dinner she
shut herself in her room and could not
be coaxed down to sing the Irish melo-
dies that had been the. delight OF the
boarders.
'Tt's too bad" the professor said in
a worried way to Mary Morris
YES Mary agreed. but I can't do
anything with her. I went to her with
but she said that you and 1 were
just alike. that we had judged her
and she would abide by our judgment"
Poor little Pat" said the professor,
tenderly.
He didn't like to say how, much he
missed her, the little friend whom he
had come to know in the big boarding
house.
On Saturday he sent her some flow
tied with pale purple rib
bon, with a little card, "for thoughts"
And Patricia had sent him perfume
tory little note of thanks, and had not
worn the pansies. How could he know
that she had slept with them against
her cheek, and had pressed two purple
ones in her testament?
1t was all very unpleasant and I'M
happy, and it might have lasted longer,
If it had not been for Mrs. Murdoch.
The big landlady told one day a bit
of scandal. 1t related to the husband
OF meek little woman. who always ap-
peared at the breakfast table in q red
tea gown.
Mrs. Murdoch having breathed her
precious bit of news into the ears of
a half-dozen spinsters, rejoiced in the
furry of exciting comment. And ex-
element lent to her cheeks, when she
came in to the Sunday dinner, red
ness that was increased by the
warmth of the day.
This Sunday meal was a dinner to
con5ure with. The boarderS ate and
praised, and Mrs. Murdoch, was just
leaning back in her chair, when the
husband of the lady who wore the red
tea gown burst upon the scene.
He went straight up to Mrs. Muir
doch, and Numbered, What have you
been saying about me-to my wife? 90
Mrs. Murdoch turned pale. Never
before had her sins of gossip been
brought home to her. Nothing" she
stammered.
You have told enough to make her
unhappy. To make her accuse me
me-what right had your"
Mrs. Murdoch took refuge in the
excuse of the weak. well. I was
told -
who told you?' his black eyes
swept the board.
The eyes of the six spinsters met his
serenely, not from them had come the
first telling of the taIe.
But Patricia flushed, as the inno-
cent will at times, with the memory
of former sins upon them. The flush |
caught Mrs. Murdoch's desperate eye
1T seems to me that 1 heard it
from Miss Patricia she murmured.
oh" Patricia gasped, but before
she could say more. the professor was
on his feet
ct think you must take that back, |
Mrs. Murdoch" His voice was stern. |
Miss Patricia is incapable of such
thing. I think every one here will |
agree to that
WELL" Mrs. Murdoch evaded, you |
know she told me about Mary Morris |
engagement"
Because you wormed it out of her.
and she was too truthful to be able to |
evade," the professors tones cut like |
steel, land ! am sure that if this gentle |
nan will investigate the stories he has !
ceard, he will find that your source of
Information was outside of the house, |
1ut that within the tale has been spread |
by you, and you alone.
"And now" he proceeded ct would
suggest that you apologize to Miss