Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-05-12

ptl
"Why," in tone of surprise.
81 shall be otherwise engaged"
"Nonsense, Mark. You must not
be such a slave to business. Few
men are as prosperous in the world"
81 have been prosperous" dream
lily, "but" he never finished the SEN
tence.
"And the panic never affected you
in the least" inrfently remarked
Mrs. Shelton, Wht knew as much
about the subtle workings Of the tinan.
cial world as she did about the myth
ical inhabitants Of the moon.
Mr.. Shelton jumped up, slightly
flushed in the face.
"What idiots women are !" was the
complimentary exclamation that met
his wite's ears, as he went hurriedly
from the room needless of her excited,
"Mark-'
But Mark was out in the cold, sun
lit street before the little woman had
recovered from her astonishment -
his white, even teeth clinched tightly
together, as he hurried down to the
dim, musty Office, where so many
arduous duties demanded his atten-
ton.
Many of his business friends who
met Or passed him on the streets look
ed curiously at his downcast face for
his mind was too much preoccupied
to take any interest in passing occur
rences. He heard nothing, saw moth
ing, but the blue, numb hands of street
beggars, who seemed to beset his path
every few rods, for his characteristic
charity was well known, and few were
the palms that did not close on the
coveted penny.
For Mark was a good man, humane,
charitable and generous in all things,
and until year back the world had
gone we'll with him. But the panic
swamped dozens of his debtors; his
business was dead in a financial sense ;
and his creditors were clamorous for
bills he could not meet. He had new
er been careless, unwise or extrava-
giant in filling or discharging contra cts
and his business difficulties had come
upon him so swiftly and imperceptl-
bly, that the blow fell heavierthan ifhe
had been expecting some such catas-
trophe.
But Alice Shelton knew nothing Of
all this. The mental turmoil going
on in her husbands breast never found
vent in a dissatisfied word or look,
and until the previous day he had
kept his face and manner free from all
traces of anxiety. But the constant
excitement and'worry had been too
hard for him, and the dunning Of a
creditor who demanded the punctual
payment of note of four thousand
that fell due on the 21st of December
together with other unforeseen debts,
had SO upset him that he could not
cover his mental distresses with the
mask of carelessness he had worn for
weeks past.
His greatest trouble was for Alice.
Never very strong-and he had often
underrated her strength-he had en-
deavored to surround her with every
comfort and had carefully kept all har
assing business details or cares from
her ears. He had given her money
without stint, and he supposed she
spent it like other women, for she was
always well dressed, and his home was
model OF order and good taste. Be
that as it may, he never thought of
tracing the cause ofhis failure to home
extravaganza. For no woman was
more thoroughly economical. without
being miserly than Mrs. Shelton. Her
party toilets were always in exception
al taste, and her dress for Mrs. Aust
ms party was not designed for any un-
usual display of elegance, although the
gathering was to be one of unusual
brilliancy.
The night of the goth came-a dark
stormy December night, the air filed
with snowfakes, and the sky gray and
overcast with heavy clouds.
ut is going to be terrible night,
Mark" Mrs. Shelton said to her hus
band, who sat before the library fire,
evidently absorbed in the contents
of the evening paper. 81 have
thought once Or twice since l com
menced dressing, that would not go
out tonight"
"Go, by all means, Alice the car
riage is close" her husband replied,
glancing up at the trim little figure ar
l.