The Glenwood post., 1923-12-27

harmfully," she retorted, mot quite
80 soonl"
Young Mr.. Sperry rose again. do
you think that's as bad as using the
epithet small to your husbandT
"'Epithet'?" she echoed. "Yeu
charge me with using 'epithets'1'
"Well. but didn't your"
81 think I'll ask you to excuse mer
Bella said, with an aspect of nobility
In suffering. And she proudly betook
herself from the room.
1t was a tiff Next day they wers
as polite to each other as If they had
just been introduced, and this cere-
monial formallty was maintained be-
tween them until the third evening
after its installation, when calamity
caused them to abandon 1t. After q
stately dinner in their hundred square
feet of dining room. Bella had gone
out into the twilight to refresh her
strips of Iris with fair water from the
garden hose, and William reclined
upon his lounge, solitary with
gloomy pipe. Unexpectedly, he was
summoned: Bella looked in upon him
from the door and spoke hastily.
"Uh-AIr. and Mrs. Sullender," she
said "Uh-" And as hastily with
drew
Perturbed, he rose and went out to
the little veranda, where, with
slightly nervous hospitality, Bella was
now offering chairs to Mrs. George M.
Sullender and her husband. Mrs. Sui
lender smilingly, and in her angelic
voice, declined the offer.
"Oh, no." she said; 1--WE came In a
moment to admire your lovely irises
at closer range; we're just passing on
our way to some friends in Waverley
place"
WED be so glad" Bella f1uttered
mo, no, no." Mrs. Sullender muir
INJURED caressingly. "Weve only q
momentum so sorry you disturbed
your husband-we're just going over
for bridge I suppose you know most
of the people in Waverley placer?
mo, don't know any,"
"Well, of course we don't think II
compares to Highland place." Mrs
Sullender said, with little depreca-
tory laugh. I'm afraid It's rather
well, gossipy."
ooh" Bella said. "Is it?"
"Tm afraid So" the gentleman
nered lady returned. "Of course that's
great pity, too, in such a new little
community, where people are bound
to be thrown together a great deal.
Don't you think it's a great pity, Mra
Sperry?"
"Oh-naturally," Bella acquiesced
"Yes, indeed"
81 knew you would. OF course it's
just thoughtlessness. Most Of the
people who live there are so young.
But we heard a really dreadful story
only yesterday. 1t came from a very
young newly-married couple, and my
husband and | we're so sorry to hear
they'd started in by telling such
dreadful things about their neighbors.
Don't you think it's most unwise,
Mrs. SperryY'
Mrs. Sullender's voice, wholly un-
ruffled, and as indomitably tender as
ever, gave no intlmatlon that she
spoke with peculiar Significance;
but William Sperry was profoundly
alarmed and, with a sympathy that
held no triumph In 1t, he knew that
Bella was in a similar or worse con-
dition.
"Ye-es," Bella murmured. "Of-of
course I do"
'I knew you would feel that way"
said Mrs Sullender, soothingly. "Its
unwise because gossip travels 80. It
nearly always goes straight back to
the people It's about. In fact, don't
believe I ever knew of one single case
where 1t didn't. Did you, MrA
Sperry?"
IL don't-that is, well, n-no,"
Bella stammered.
mo. It's so unwisel' Mrs. Sullen-
der insisted, with little murmur Of
tender laughter. Then she took tho
arm of her solemn and silent husband,
and they turned together toward the
gate, but paused. "Oh, I meant to
tell you. Mrs. Sperry-H
"Yes?"
"That dear little boy Georgie-ths
little boy you were chatting with the
other morning when called him In
to play with my little girl-you re-
member. Mrs Sperry?'
Eyes" Bella gasped.
IT thought you made such friends
with him you'd be sorry to know you
won't see him any more"
"NoT'
mo" Mrs. Sullender cooed gently.
Poor little George Goblet"
"Georgie-whoT
"Georgie Goble," said Mrs. Sullen-
der. HE was Goble, our chauffeur'A
little boy. They lived over our garage
and had quite a distressing time Of It,
poor things. The wife finally per
suaded Goble to move to another town
where she thinks chauffeurs' pay 10
higher. I was sure you'd be sorry to
hear the poor dear little boy had gone
They left yesterday. Goodnight
Good-nirht Mr. Sperry."