To be plain about the matter, the Reverend Warren Holbrook had put his great progressive ideas into practice during the night by leaving the town, and also by taking with him the young woman to whom he had been paying such marked attentions.

The Tappan Zee had never been more troubled in a storm than was the moral sensibilities of Nyack at this news.

The very atmosphere was rank with scandal.

The men laughed and jeered, and the women shook their heads and talked of nothing else.
"After that," said the women, "who can we trust." "Served you right," replied the men, "for making much of such a fellow.
Women never take such men into their confidence without bringing dirty water to their own doors." It was fortunate for Holbrook that he left during the night, for, seeing the temper Nyack was in during that day, there would have been some stones thrown had he remained.
The Chapmans took the matter very cool, however, counted the profits, and put up the church shutters.

Such things had happened before, Chapman said.