The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-04-21
WHAT SHE FOUND
BY NETTIE 3. TANNING

ciety, Mrs. Fleming was finishing the
decollete gown which she had planned
to wear on that occasion. 1t was be-
fore the time of backless bodices and
she was afraid she had been almost
too daring in planning that kind of
gown when most Of the ladies' would
wear a "V" neck, and their long
sleeved "undies" would probably show
through their chiffon or crepe de chine
sleeves
Although not fashionable as to
clothes, the club was very exclusive,
and so old that its charter members
had grown white-haired or bald-head-
ed according to their respective sex.
1t was COMPOSED of doctors, lawyers,
ministers and their wives, school
teachers OF varying ages and few
others, Mrs. Fleming was one OF the
others. There were two bachelors, Mr..
Black and Mr.. Tilden the always inn
maculate principal OF the grammar
school, thirty-fiye, pink-cheeked and
six feet two
Young Mrs. Fleming sighed as she
sewed. SHE wished she could do some
thing to wake up the club. They were
too SNUG and complacent. They had
had the same president for 10 years.
A telephone call interrupted Mrs
Fleming's musings. 1t was the chair
man Of the banquet committee, who
said that Mrs. Worden would be UNI
able to be at the banquet and would
Mrs. Fleming please fill in her place on
the program.
Mrs. Fleming promised to see what
she could do, put on her things and
started for the library. On her way
she met Miss Davids, club member,
and stopped to chat with her. As they
parted few torn scraps of paper
slipped unnotlced from Miss Dayid's
notebook and fell at Mrs Flemlng's
feet. She looked down at them, then
picked them up, tucked them into her
purse and hastily turned toward horne,
where she spent some time In neatly
patching the pieces together, picture
puzzle fashion.
Two nights later the banquet pro
crossed from fruit cocktails to deml.
tasse, Then the tables were cleared
and speeches were In order.
When Mrs Fleming was called on
she arose, looked steadily at Mr.. TIL
den until he blushed, then unfolded a
disreputable looking paper, laid II on
the table face down and began gravely:
Two days ago started for the IL
brary TO search for something to read
tonight. little thinking that | would
soon be unrayellIng battling mystery
concerning three of our prominent club
members To say that / have been
alternately interested, curious, aston
ished and shocked at what ! have
learned. family expressed my emo
lions. Before reaching the library
stopped to chat a moment with Miss
Davlds. After we parted / noticed
some bits OF paper on the walk. They
must have fallen from her notebook
as we were talking. On one Of the
pieces I saw the words. exceedingly
shocking
Miss Daylds' face showed blank
amaZement.
Mrs. Fleming continued "Now, any.
thing shocking is apt to be interesting,
particularly II II concerns those with
whom one is we'll acquainted"
Several people stirred uneaslly in
/ their seats.
1T CHANGED that other bits OF paper
had fallen, with the writing up After
hasty glance simply had to know
what 1t oil meant. and gathered up the
papers You viii begin TO understand
why did this when repeat TO you
the words I saw IN the order in which
! first saw them on the ground. ZEN
CEEDINGLY SHOCKING-TILDEN-
ROCKING MISS PENNY 30 OPEN.
WORKED SToCKING-MIsS ROSS
SAD"
Her audience was now listening
breathlessly, and CONSERVATION showed
In the faces OF the two middle-agel
school-teachers mentioned Mrs Elem.
Ing went on;
"There were other scraps with words
on them, After gathering them up |
at once returned home and spent the
afternoon In pleclng them together.
She looked soberly at the paper on
the table and all eyes followed her
gaze.
Il thought at first I would say moth
Ing about Il but as the matter SO In
tlmately concerns us ALL felt that
YOU too should be told" Every eye
was fixed upon her as she took the
paper from the table.
"Isten." she said "Could anything
be more dreadful than thlS?"
Said Miss Ross to Miss Penny. while
rocking,
I'm sure It's exceedingly shocking
Indeed Il Is sad
But 1Ilden. poor lad.
Is wearing an openworlSed stocking"
"Pretty clever" murmured the Judge
In Mrs Fleming ear, MS she sat down,
you certainly had our undivided at
tentlon all right
Someone else must have dropped
those papers ] never wrote that
said Miss Daylds, a\bit snapplshly
Isn't that your writing2" Mrs. Elem.
ing smiled innocently and handed the
paper to her. Though deliberately
pleced together, II was blank on both