Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-03-13
THE TALE
BEARER
She Told Because She Thought
Her Victim Ought to
Know IL
By HOWE

lake, II have called to ask you
which side you're going to take in ref
srence to AIr. Perkins. Are you going
TO advocate his remaining the pastor
Of our church or our getting some m
elseT'
Mrs. Timberlake had not called for
any such purpose. She had made up
her mind to oust Mr.. Perkins from his
pulpit and had laid her plans to do 80
without Mrs. Waters assistance. Mrs.
Timberiake had a mania. She could
not bear to see any one enjoying a
comfortable position. This was sup
plemented by a special faculty for get
ting others out OF comfortable posi-
lions, and It is an %undisputed fact that
persons are drawn to do what they do
well.
Mrs. Waters had been recently mar
ried and was very happy with her hus-
band in their own little home. This
was not pleasing to Mrs. Timberlake,
and she was seized with a desire to
Dust Mr.. Waters from his wife's affec-
tons. though In Justice to her 1t must
be admitted that a certain sympathy
for his wife was the first cause Of her
applying herself TO the work. She had
seer a man who resembled Mr.. Waters
entering the home of n married lady
living opposite her own house at 3
O'Clock in the afternoon. Mrs. Timber
lake was instantly seized with com
miseration for Mrs. Waters. The ten
derness Of Mrs. Undertakes heart
yelling up IN her bosom, mingled with
Indignation against the recreant hus-
band, gave birth to an irrepressible de
sire.
"She ought TO know It," she said to
herself. TITS a shame that such a nice
little woman rs Bertha Waters should
be 80 treated"
And thus Il came about that. Mrs.
Undertakes peculiar trait having
been aroused and fortified by the ten
derness Of her heart and her sense OF
Justice, she could not rest till she had
impaired what she had seen to the
injured wife. She would give Mrs.
Waters some intimAtion Of what she
had seen tho hrst time they met. But
10 restrain herself till then was like
endeavoring to hold the I'D on a cal
dron Of boiling water. She determined
that as BOON as she had finished GER
tain household work she would call on
the injured woman and tell her what
she ought to know. II occurred to
her that she might make a pretext for
calling OF the work she had undertake
en- with reference 10 the minister. The
result OF all these noble impulses that
guided Mrs. Timberlake was that with
In twenty minutes after she saw. or,
rather. thought she saw, Fred Waters
enter Mrs. Mainwarings house she
posted around to his home to inform
his wife of the fact.
But to return to the meeting Of the
two ladies and the dialogue which was
opened by Mrs. Timberlake asking
Mrs. Winters which side she would
take in the impending crisis in the
church
II haven't been a member OF the
church long enough" replied Mrs. Wa
tiers. ITO warrant my taking any part
in the matter. Fred prefers that !
shall keep out Of all contentious"
VERY wise. Your husband has al
ways had a reputation for being pol
itic."
The word polite nettled Mrs. Wa
tiers. She understood It, when applied
20 social matters. TO mean one who
will draw out all the Information pos
sible without imparting any. HOwev.
er, she made no reply to the lnnuendo
en- A. h-o - Ar. Tgp,horloNa cou.
ltinued, Il was not aware that you
knew the halnwarings."
II don't know any one Of that name
"Don't know that pretty Mrs. Main.
HEaringl Why. l supposed you werC
very intimate with her"
what made you think thatT"
your husband knows her. doesn't
her
mot that l am ware Of"
"Ohl" Mrs. Timberlake made the ex
clamauOn as n she would retreat from
delicate ground. She turned the sub
3ect by remarking that she thought II
was colder and there would DO snow
But Mrs. Waters did not propose q
leave the matter OF Mrs. Timberlakei
aIlusion 10 her husband without an ex
PLANTATION
She was not long IN getting thu
simple statement that Mrs. Timberlak'
had seen the gentleman enter the Ia
Gy's house In the middle Of that verJ
afternoon. As soon as she had I'm
parted the information she added, with
all the fervOr OF her compassionate
soul: I'm awfully sorry for you, Mrs
Waters. ! wouldn't have told you, bu
thought you ought to know IT,"
Having thus sympathized with tn
lady for having such a husband. Mrs
Tmberiake took herself away. con
seious Of having done an admirable &C
eion.
When Fred Waters returned to hi
home IN the evening. instead Of andini
his young wife ready to meet him viii
the MARITAL Kiss. tho maid handed hin