Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-02-10
Whole No. 1873.


said," exclaimed Lottie. ~ haven't
the money. That is enough"
"But, ma'0m, ] was assured
should have it without mistake.
need it, ma'am, to send my sick
wife out West to her mother and
81 have not any time to stand
here talking any longer" said Lot
tie, mortified, ashamed, yet still
endeavouring to persuade herself
that the man had no business to be
so persistent. 81 will let you have
the sum as soon as possible. In
the meantime you must wait"
Pepper went away with a sad
face, which haunted Mrs. Mellen
for many a day, and Lottie return
ed to the dress-making operations.
The lilac moire was made and
fitted superbly. Sister Helen who
had a rich husband, lent the point
lace founces and scarf, and Mrs.
Parkerson's man servant brought
around the satin casket of diamonds
early in the afternoon; and Lottie
Mellcn went to Mrs. Bently Ben
edict's ball, in the same carriage
with her sister and her sisters
husband.
"For once, I am equal to any
millionaire's wife on the avenue"
thought Lottie, with trill of tri-
umph at her heart.
Her entrance made Q sensation.
She was quite aware of that as she
swept through the brilliantly-light-
ed rooms; and it was small won
der, for she was as beautiful as o
vision with her golden hair, deep
blue eyes and quecnly height,
while the lilac moire antique and
diamonds set her Off rarely.
Mr., Bently Benedict leveled his
eyc-glass at her, as she passed on,
after the usual presentation to her
host and hostess.
$50 that is the wife OF your con-
fldential clerk, eh Joe! said he to
his brother. "A silk gown fit for
a royal princess, point lace that
couldn't have cost less than one
hundred dollars a yard, and dia-
monds that blaze like cometsl +
don't exactly fancy that sort of
confidential clerk myself! Let me
see-how much did you tell me
you paid him? Fourteen hundred
a year"
Mr. Joe Benedict looked uneasily
at the brilliant vision.
81 cannot account for It," said
he slowly. 81 always supposed
Mellen to be reliable sort of a
but I must confess that
don't like the looks Of this. I'm
afraid we have trusted him too
far, although the accounts seem
straight enough, I'll look into them
tomorrow"
He did look into them.
$50 far they are right" he said
to himself. "But its better to be
on the safe side. A clerk whose
wife dresses like n duchess can't
be altogether .traight. I'll dis
charge him"
SO Clarence Mellen lost his sit
uation, at the beginning of winter,
with hard times looking him in the
face.
Mr. Benedict told him frankly
why.
81 saw your wife at my brother
ball." said he /" dressed in
moire antique, costly lace and dia-
monds. l bring no accusation-I
have no complaint to make-only
in these days of cmbezzlement, for
gerry and defalcaiion, one has to
look out for himself. And "straws
show which way the wind blows"
When Mellen went home, he
found n lawyers clerk in the hall,
with a letter from poor Pepper.
He wrote:
"My wife is dead. God knows
whether it is your fault or not.
Had you paid the money you owed,
| might have sent her West, to her
native air. 1t would at least have
been a chance of life for her. But |
she is gone now, and ! have only |
70 say that, IL the bin is not settled .
1t once, shall resort to the ex-
remest measures"
This was the first Mr. Mellen
knew that the fifty dollar bill had
not been applied to its rightful
destination.