Smyrna times., 1910-09-28
DeCeivins ~
~ The Gossips

SreSdIlOIl anu d InuTInur ran over the
church. Miss Wilson was passing
down the center aisle, radiant in her
white gown and large black hat;
her head proudly uplifted, her eyes
smiling. Beside her was her mother,
shy. gentle, appealing, with the
soft eyes and sweet face that the
village had so soon learned to love.
The presence of these two afford
ed no occasion for comment as they
had appeared every Sunday since the
first of the summer but following
them was the object that rendered
the occasion memorable.
1t was no other than a man, tall |
and broad till he seemed to fill the
whole church when he entered. His
features We're clear-cut and pleasant,
and his clothes were made and worn
in fashion wholly foreign to Mil
lersville.
"College" Jack Kent's whisper
cut through the air of suspense that
hung over the congregation. His
sister Uttered outright, and Mrs.
Kent silenced them both with a re-
sounding slap of her fan.
The color rose in Miss Wilson's
| face till the curve of her cheek below
the sweeping hat was a soft, bril-
liant carmine. There were mis-
chievous lights in her eyes suddenly
lifted to those of her companion, and
she whispered something which he
bent his head to catch. The glance
they exchanged was intimate and
full of tenderness. Gentle Mrs.
Turner felt lump rise in her throat
when she saw it, and she mentally
pronounced them both "dears."
Yes, the mystery was solved; the
reason for Miss Wilson's Indifference
explained Ever since she and her
mother had come to live in the little
gray house at the corner she had been
beset by every eligible man the viii
lage and surrounding town could
boast.
There was the minister, the rising
young architect, and even Harry
Barns with his wealth and "college
edication.' To one and all she haC
been kind but politely Indifferent
and the village marveled that sc
lovely form could hide a heart Sc
stony. 1t no longer wondered. Even
Harry Barns paled beside the charm:
of this young Adonis.
the retreat of the trio was cut of
after church by shy advances. Miss
Wilson met them halfway, anC
there was look of sweet mischie.
in her eyes when she introduced "Mr
Rodney"
"No wonder declared Mrs. Kent
as she watched them slowly depart
ing along the road. "What coult
the boys expect?' But the tow
was still curious. No one coulC
state what relation the young ma
bore to Miss Wilson. 1t was left t
II Nettie Haynes to discover, and thi
1t she did no later than that very after
II noon.
o She had taken book up on Curt
L Hill and was sitting in the grove b
e the brook trying to read, when ar
II preaching voices arrested her atten
tion.
)r Miss Wilson and Mr.. Rodney cam
II along the other side of the streal
l. and sat do IN on a large fiat rock
t The girls face was sad, and her eye
K full of unshed tears. To the breatl
less watcher she was the personific;
tion of tragedy.
"You see, the man was saying
taking her hand and trying to dra
her to him, "you see"-but she il
- terrupted protesting.
III 81 just cannot bear to lose yor
- Ben; just can't bear it, dear"
: Her tears overfowed and she shoe
with sudden sobs. The man too
| her in his arms.
"Don't kiddy, don't" he mu
INJURED. "Others bear it. Anywi
it is too late now. have got
70 marry her..
Here the horror stricken Nett
dropped behind the bushes and roll
ess. over and over down the hill aw
9f l9f- from them. With winged feet s
led spread the news that Adonis h
ier- I Tilted Miss Wilson, or, worse yt
by was bound by some dreadful scanc
,rd to another woman.
e,sl lase Sympathetic looks followed MI
Wilson wherever she went for t
III. | next few days. When she and h
mother took the train for town
Wednesday, new and exciting SIP,
ulaticn arose. No knowing how tn
,aI. might have ended had she not pu
stop to them by returning. I
mode of her return took the town
/ the ears.
X She stepped off the train acco
itn nanied nv her mother. Behind tn