South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-10-29

the Winter Is ovcrf
"She is nobody anyway. Her father
was only . soap chandler, and I have
often wondered at Marx Shelton's taste
in choosing her foe . wife," remarked
Mrs. Lamer. who Oh had decided fan.
cy for Mark herself
"Soap chandler 9 are Is good rs any
other men provided they are sober and
respectable" returned the lady with the
diamonds. whose father had once been a
peanut vendcr, while Mrs. Lamer's ances.
tors we're famous for blood and reckless
dissipation.
II don't pity Mrs. Shelton. though"
went on Mrs. Lamer. politely ignoring
the elder lady's home thrust "for I ex.
pect she Is just like other women in the
same situation. Mark made oceans Of
money, and she spent It."
Doubtless. Just give any woman
that never had anything some money to
splurge on and just see how fast she'll
so through it." laughed the elderly lady
rs size glided out ofthe library, her rich
silks sweeping after her like purple bill.
lows, while Mrs .Lamer followed her like
shadow in her pale-colored carleton
robes,
Poor Alice Shelton had heard every
word, and sat perfectly still. with her
slim. white fingers claspcl tightly to.
gether. Every faculty Of her nature
seemed paralyzed by the intensity OF
her emotions. Her honest, conscien.
tioas heart was shocked Mt the hypocri.
sy OF her two most intimate society
friends, and with the bitterness was min.
gled feeling Of intense pity for Mark,
who had Kept all this from her ears that
she might hear it from such uncharitable
lips Verify. she thought, the world is
vain show, and those who love it but
moths huttering about its dazzling plea.
sure, only to have their wings singed by
the cruel tongues Of flame that leap from
envy, malice and deceit
MARK shall not fail, she said. rising
up with white, determined face, II viii
show them his wife is worthy Of him."
Needless Of the gayety aud warmth
around her, OF the binding snor.storm
that was raging without. or the long snow
bound walk that lay between the Austin
mansion and her husbands Warehouse,
she hurried up the dressing.room, and.
wrapping herself in cloak and furs, went
out into the storm and bravely faced
the binding sheets Of snow that the
wind dashed into her face-a face al.
most rs ghastly rs the snow that fell so
swiftly and silently on the half.deserted
pavement. The gas hared out through
murky gas lamps with . dull, sickly
glare; hacks and carriages went whirl-
ing by like sheeted ghosts, and once in
n while some belated pedestrian almost
walked over her; but still Mrs. Shelton
walked on, her heart too hard and anx.
ious to think Of fear or fatigue.
When she reached the warehouse the
clock on adistant steeple was just chin.
ing eleven. and Mark was sitting in the
dimly-lit Office, putting on his ovcrcoat.
The porter dozed in a chair before the
| stove in the outer room, and Alice stole
softly past him and stood before her
husband.
Alice 70
His eyes dilated in a.tonishment. AL.
ice dropped into a sent and looked at
him with glitter in her blue eyes that
held him spellbound.
MARK, do you think I'm fool?"
Her voice had raspy ring that start.
led Mark. lie glanced at her snow GOV.
cred wrappers, and then made dash for
the soaked boots peeping out from un.
der the edge OF her bedraggled silken
skirts.
alice w-one boot came off with =
jerk-"what insane within drove you ont
on the street such night as this?" lie
flung its mate to the other end Of the
room.
30 Mark" Mrs. Skeletons temporary
strength and courage was swiftly van.
ishing, ''are you going to fail?"
Mark instantly comprehended the
situation. She had heard the story of
his financial trouble, probably in some
distorted form. and the knowledge had
almost Crazed her. He blamed himself
severely for keeping her in ignorance Of
the truth. He always had repugnance
to womanly interference in business mat
tiers. but felt, in Justice to his wife's ge.
neral worthiness, he should have trusted
her in this emergency.
Hush Alice for she was beginning
70 sob Observation-Disclosures must not be
alarmed. If can raise the money TO
pay off note that falls due tomorrow.
1 may weather the panic yet"
How much will you rieed?'
Her little face was uplighted eagerly.
-Four thousand dollars"
us that alp" with n little hysterical
laugh. "Then you won't fail for have
five thousand. all my own. saved out Of
the money you gave me to spend or tue
house and myself. All, Mark, you
thought / spent IT,"
alice MARK took the little shiver.
ing form in his arms-"you are worth
your weight in gold"
81 know it, slyly retorted Alice, but
it took you five years 10 find it out. And
Mark, IL you cannot cancel the rest
Of your debts. we'll sell the house and
furniture and live in room or two until
the panic is over; for you shall not
fail"
Mark sent for carriage. and they