Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-04-19
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 a
gown when most of the ladies would
wear '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 a few
others. Mrs. Fleming was one Of the
others. There were two bachelors, Mr.
Black and Mr.. Tilden, the always i'm
maculate principal of the grammar
school, thirty-f1ve, 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 Is 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 I'M
able to be at the banquet and would
Mrs. Fleming please fill in her place on
the program.
Mrs. Flehing 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 unnoticed from Miss Davids
notebook and fell at Mrs. Fleming's
feet. She looked down at them, then
picked them up, tucked them into her
purse and hastily turned toward home,
patching the pieces together, picture
puzzle fashion.
Two nights later the banquet pro-
crossed from fruit cocktails to demi-
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, xhen unfolded
disreputable looking paper, laid it on
the table face down and began gravely:
1.-TWO days ago 1 started for the IL
brary to search for something to read
tonight, little thinking that l would
soon be unravelling battling mystery
concerning three of our prominent club
members. To say that l have been
alternately interested, curious, aston
ished and shocked at what l have
learned, family expressed my emo
tons. Before reaching the library
stopped to chat moment with Miss
Davids. After we parted l 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 Davids face showed blank
amazement.
Mrs. Fleming continued: "Now, any
thing shocking is apt to be interesting.
particularly If 1t concerns those with
whom zone Is well acquainted"
Several people stirred uneasily in
their seats
ut CHANGED that other bits of paper
had fallen, with the writing up. After
a hasty glance I simply had to know
what 1t all meant, and gathered up the
papers. You will begin to understand
why I did this when I repeat to you
the words I saw In the order in which,
I first saw them on the ground. 'EX-
CEEDINGLY SHOCKING-TILD
ROCKING = MISS PENNY - OPEN
WORKED STOCK1NG-MISS ROSS
SAD"
Her audience was now listening
breathlessly, and CONSERVATION showed
in the faces Of the two middle-aged
school-teachers mentioned. Mrs. Elem.
ing went on:
"There were other scraps with words
on them. After gathering them up
t once returned home and spent the
afternoon in piecing them together"
She looked soberly at the paper on
the table and all eyes followed her
gaze.
II thought at first would say moth
ing about it; but as the matter so in
timately concerns us all. felt that
you, too. should be told" Every eye
was fixed upon her as she took the
paper from the table.
"Listen," she said "Could anything
be more dreadful than this?"
Said Miss Ross to Miss Penny, while
rocking,
I'm sure it's exceedingly shocking
Indeed. II Is sad.
But Tilden, poor lad.
Is wearing an openworked stocking
"Pretty clever" murmured the Judge
In Mrs. Fleming ear. as she sat down:
"YOu certainly had our undivided at