The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-12-23

tayeft ths dreadful crash, returning home
every afternoon iaded and worn only ito
have to brace himself up to accompany
his wife to some gay scsne, sadly in dis
teordance with, their feelings, but neces-
sary effort to avoid suspicion, Matters,
| they yiain|y hoped, might yet be arranged,
aud they would be able 70 quietly, with.
drawIfrom, their present position without
the fiasco a;sudden collapse would entail.
They. must fulfill their engagements, and
worse still, allow a ball, for which MrS.
Vivian had, little dreaming That was
immsnent,. Issued iinnlnstable, invita-.
tons, Poor. Alice ..i No wonder that
her heart sank when abe thought OF what
limighh be in the future, or that she almost
brecolled from, the lovely robe held out for
inspection by, her maid, and which she
| had intended for that particular evening.
| Her husband had been most anxious to
have her go to the duchess of,--'8 ball,
and when an Invitation same, Alice, too,
had esnihighly delighted, and sent: an
acceptance; little dreaming what:an or.
deal would prove ,, <l''' ,ii'i ..','
Tired and miserably anxious as he was,
| Mr. Vivian decided that he; must CO.: if
ONLY for q short, tms.Il So they went.
What q scens. of 'splendor and magnif-
cencei 1t was, that brilliant throng, with
their! gorgeous dresses; glitering dia-
'mondss and their smiling, animated 70
eesf All, seemed happiness and ladi-
ancs. Every one was cordial, every one
was II kind. 4; ALICE was surrounded at
foncsi and aduring the Ghort time they
Eremained :! the. EEiyians only saw each
fother at q distance. klice's eyer were
constantly looking toward her husband,
while his as constantly sought ,hers. At
last, iheartsick and weary, they departed,
Efnding themselves rolling. rapidly home
ward! inlitheiri own luxurious: carriage.
The next day Mu. Atwood. came TO
ESperd the day with her sister, and hay
{ Ing announced her wish 70 retnain. until
dinner. time, Alice found; herself; alone
with her after, Mr. ViTian had set, of for
Ethe,eity. No sooner had the door closed
ON his retrsatihg figure thsn7 Mrs. Atwood
ffemanked:h - ~ . .'.....,...' -. -:
"Yoau'rs indeed 81 lucky girl, Aiics.
iOhalley ,sesmn to grow dsilly more deyo-
tod, and what honas you haye;p -;
"Charley is everything to me, y, replied
Mrs.. Vivian in q low:tone, at the same
moment bending over her embroidery, to
|ihids tie quick flush thst mounted over
her lair face at her slstars words. ..Gr
"tT'red says ,heiiis q perfect millionaire, /"
pursued Mrs. Atwood.
"Does he7" responded Alice, faintly.
Suppose we change the subject; Clara" "
"You are curious being, Alice, eI-
claimed Mrs. Atwood. 81 don't think
you kIow when you are well off; but l
WON'T enlarge upon your good fortune,
.tince you don't like. it.. We want you
and. Charley to spend; August with ua in
Scotland. Fred has secured the shooting
| he wrote, about, and hp would rather
have Charley with him than any one
else. +; Do yo'n yo'n,adhaE think you can promise to
fsaI must ask Charley" answ.rd Alice.
It is very kind of you, Clara, and you
know how much we should both snjoy
it'; :'.e'i ~" i',f'; - ~ - ~
a""Iben I'shall consider it settled said
Mrs. Atwood. 81 am, sure you need a
change, Alice. i. heard you were look
| ling shochngly pale last night, and even
Charley does not look as if7a gay life
| suited him! How nice hG is" she added,
reaectiyelI. :. :, y sia really very fond Of
him myself. Then ,sHe indulged in
many, 'selfeongratalator,r y remarks on
having been the. promotsr- OF Aice's
good fortune, whilst the latter quietly
acquissced; bearing The 'i1nmeant shafts
which Hrs. SAtwo0d's ailusioas so her
Husbands prosperity inflicted as best she
could. ~. !. s..,...,,..,f.,. -. ...L..ly
Two nights .afterward, the ViYians'
house was the scene Ola splendid en-
tertainment---Eioh and noble guests
thronged theiT brilliantly lit drawing
rooms, and anongst them ;thsir fair host
ess moved with glow on her cheak Of
Ealmost unearthIy radiance. Never had
she looked more lovely, .but never had
her heart. been senwrung as on that last
evening in the house in which;her brief
reign was now ovsrr'. for, before tho frat
quest had arrived, Mr.. Vivian had heard
fatal tidings, and his wife knew thit the
worst had come. IT, did NOT look like. it.
Those magnificent apartments, the signs
of wealth in every direction, surely did
not mean ruin, but the words rang in
tAfice's. ears. ::' AS each arrival 1sf' an
tnounced; she pictured their faces on the
morrow when they should hear OF the
Viyians'. ruin. ruin" was written on
the walls :. "tuin!,. rang out above the
voices of the maltituds; ruin" seemed
everywhere TO, .pooE ,Alcea Only ono
mortal eye guessed her secret-one hon
est heart felt for her, and that was good
John Upton, .hst fathers friend, who
had known her from Childhood, and had
tloyed, her. as though she had been bis
own, daughter John Upton had always
doubted and he resolved to watch over
the fate of one whose interests he always
tried to guard. With 'sad breboding
he regarded Alice and har, husband ll-
I ttrnately. But, ,ominouI a. hia fears
wore, the reality. far surpassed dis. worst
suspicious Alice had always been fond
iof, Mr.iUpton, but; now Bhe avoided his
kind and penetrating glance. t'She had
invited him frequently to her house, and
included, him on this OCCASION more be-
| Cause she did not wish to omit him, than
from any idea. thai, he would really come.
She was surprised to gee him: and if he
had known how keeIfy hi5 fatherly man
ner toward her touched the heart of the
unhappy girl he perhaps would have
been less gushing In his greeting. But
at last the entertainment ended: 20
"Ths lights were hed, the gaslands dead,
And all the guests departed
Mr.. Vivian and his wife. were alone
now, and in her ball dresa-such mock
ery it seemed-she sat beside him until
another June morning zhone proudly
forth, corroborating the fatal particulars
of the previour evenings information.
They wore ruined, utterly and complete
Hl . -
It was only nine days wonder, and
then it was forgotten, except by those
who had lost money by it, and who in
consequence heaped the strongest CEN