Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1921-04-15
Perfectly
Scandalous''
BY H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

n
That was the unanimous verdict of
the rocking chair brigade as it rocked
and knit and gossiped away the sum
mer afternoons on the broad veranda
of the Willard Mountain house. Per
fectly scandalous, my dcar! And, no
doubt, the sentence was a just one.
At any rate, the facts apparently
spoke for themselves. Marion Belmont
had arrived only two weeks ago. Two
days later had come John Anderson
Gray. That much information the
hotel register vonched for Yet in
ii ridiculous short time since, the two
had scraped up an acquaintance. de-
yeloped it into a Irritation and were
now spending hours together, unchap-
eroned, climbing the mountains, pad
ding on the lake or occupying the
back seat of the hotel bus, with Pete
hired to drive them about the country
side.
They didn't come in until twenty
five minutes past eleven last night"
whispered Miss Lapham with pursed
lips and limiting eyes. HE left her
outside her door, which is opposite
mine, and heard them giggling and
laughing for quite ten minutes p
Yes went on Mrs. Otis, who, ex-
cept by the grace of applied chem
istry, would have been decidedly white
haired, land every morning before
breakfast she is down waiting for him
on the veranda I" The old ladies
knitted faster than ever.
Even little Miss Scobie could not
refrain from adding her contribution
to the rest, and she was the least
gOssipy of the whole crew. II was up
in my room getting ready for my nap"
she breathed, when | happened to
look out of the window They were
coming up the path by the spruces.
And just before they reached the turn
they stopped and / think-I am sure
he kissed herr
Meanwhile the shocking pair were
Idly drifting in and out of pine-Scent-
ed, beauty-haunted bays of the little
mountain lake Marion Belmont, ac-
cording to the register sat Iazily back
against the cushioned thwart of the
canoe, her slim hands folded on the
soft sport hat in her lap, her eyes
resting dreamily on the tanned face
of the man in the stern, John Ander
son Gray, according to the register.
ALAN" she said suddenly, "does it
seem possible that you have been here
nearly two weeks? How the time Las
flown -
at has, indeed, Betty" he replied.
"And, hang it all, / have simply got
to get back the first of next week"
81 know" she said ~"And of course
I must, too
"We might as well go together, /
suppose" he said.
"Wouldn't it look-rather odd?' she
asked, hesitatingly. 81 am afraid we
have come in for considerable discus
sion as it is from the row of Mrs.
Grundies on the veranda p
1--WE an idea" suggested the man.
Lets give them something really
worth worrying over. Let's elopep
The person addressed dropped her
eyes. "Oh Mr.. Anderson, l mean
John, really, really dol"
And if Mrs Otis could have over
heard the conversation she would not
have needed the little episode in the
post Office to supply her with the in
formation she gave out later to her
friends. CHANGING to be in the little
office Immediately in the rear of Miss
Belmont's white-lawned figure, she
could not help overhearing the lat
ter's inquiry for the mail. "Any let
tiers, please lifted the low contralto
voice, ''for Mrs. Brad-er, l mean, Miss
Belm0nt?"
''She isn't using her own name" was
the message Mrs. Otis brought her
confederates in disseminating scandal.
"And she's married.
81 wonder if he knows" ventured
Miss Scobie, who concealed lurking
admiration for the tall, well-knit fig
ure Of John Anderson Gray. IF he
doesn't it might be a kindness to let
him know before she-er-spoiled his
life, or anything like that!'
The idea held an appeal to them
all, for, womanlike, they found it
easier to blame the woman than the
man. And, heads together, they plot
ted how to drop the news with SEEM
ing carelessness to the victim of the
lady's charms.
They managed it that very after
noon with what might be called con-
siderable finesse. Miss Scobie was
the appointed spokesman. "Oh, Mr..
Gray she said invitingly as that gen.
tleman came out from the office for
the moment unaccompanied. isn't it
beautiful day? By the way, Miss
Miss Belmont seems so young, you
would never think she was married!
Indeed not" agreed the gentleman
addressed, most heartily. Then, in
surprise, Married? Married? Oh, no,
not married." And he disappeared
suddenly within.
"Poor man." they murmured, L am
afraid it will go hard with him."
And apparently it did go so hard
that the very next morning the "poor
man." without even waiting for the
IYrcf