The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-27
MARK Shclton's wife,



shelton, ESQ.,, and his wife sat down to
breakfast In one of the coolest of dining
rooms Mark with cloud on his naturally
pleasant face, and his wifes placid coun-
tenance wearing a puzzled and sorrowful
look, for when had he been angry at her
before?
He had scarcely spoken to her the pre-
vious evening, and he looked sullen and
gloomy still. What had she done2 She
had pondered the thought over and over,
yet she had not dared to ask him.
The morning sunlight streamed into the
room as they silently drank their coffee
and abstractedly nibbled their mullins and
broad stripes of yellow gold lay on the sea-
green ground or the carpet, mingling soft
ly with the bright tnts of the autumn
leaves that sprinkled ii ; and lighting up
the pictures on the vanished walls, until
they stood out vivified into lfc-like per-
lection in the mellow light The fire burn
ed cheerfully in the polished CRATE, the ca
nary chirruped blithely in his gilded cage.
while the trailing vines that fcstooned the
recesses of every window turned each deli
cate tendril TO the warm sunlight, as if
thankful for the warmth and comfort and
hallowcd glow that filled that pleasant
room.
Mr.. Shelton finished his breakfast and
took up his morning paper. Mrs. Shelton,
a pale little woman, whose chief beauty
lay in her eyes, which were so blue and
trustful one could not help loving their
owner, watched his moody face uneasily.
Her smooth, purplish black hair was coiled
up in loose double twist, with here and
there tiny curl peeping out, giving her a
girlish look that Mark had often admired.
Her morning dress of navy blue cashmere,
with snowy lace at the throat and wrists,
was simply elegance itself and better than
all was the work of the slim fingers that
were nervously twirlng the silver teaspoon
in her dainty coffee cup.
But Mark was too much engrossed in his
own moody thoughts to find any interest in
wife or paper, for, after a vain attempt at
reading, he laid the latter down and sat ST
lently staring into the fire.
'Mark, burst out his wife, who felt as
il she were under the influence of n night
mare, "what on earth is the matter with
you ?"
Aud Mlrk answered her with that sensi-
BILE masculine evasion, Nothing.
II know there is something wrong some
where, went OH Mrs. Shelton, desperately
"Are you angry with me, Mark p
mo, Alice, I'm not angry with you.
Then tell me your trouble | never saw
You 80 depressed before, and we are mar
red five years to-day, Mark"
BLESS me SO we are | had entirely
forgotten it. Mr.. Shelton looked up for
the first time, and glanced across the table
ut the little woman in blue, whose cheeks
had lost the peachy bloom they had worn
that day five years ago. But the dear face
was as fresh as ever IN his partial eyes, and
his heart ached more for her THAI Tor him
self, for he knew she would suffer kccnIy
in the crisis he was dreadng so much. IF
the children had been spared to us" he
said, mentally, thinking of the two little
graves in Greenwood, ''they would have
been comfort to her." But he kept his
thoughts to himself, and said, instead
''Will you attend Mrs. Austn's party,
Alice q
son the Goth ! Yes" The uneasy light
left Alice Sheltons loving eyes, for since
he was not angry with her she did not care
to pry INTO his secrets. And yet, if he
only would confide in her, she would feel
SO relieved! "Will you go, Mark y
Il think not A curious smile parted
his lips.
why 2 in a tone of surprise.
Il shall be otherwise engaged"
Nonsense, Mark. You must not be
such a slave TO business. Few men are as
prosperous in the world"
Il have been prosperous dreamily,
but he never finished the sentence.
And the panic never affected you in
the least" innocently remarked Mrs. Shell
ton, who knew as much about the subtle
workings of the financial world as she did
about the mythical inhabitants of the
moon.
Mr.. Shelton jumped IN, slightly flushed
in the face.
"What idiots women are :" was the com
pllmentary exclamation that met his wife's
ears, as he went hurriedly from the room,
needless of her excited, "Mari-'
But Mark was out in the cold, sunlit
street before the little woman had rccov-
cred 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 attention.
Many of his business friends who met or
passed him on the streets looked curiously
at his downcast face for his mind was too
much preoccupied to take any interest in
passing occurrences. He heard nothing
saw nothing, 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 good man. humane, char
table and generous in all things, and until
year back the world had gone well with
him. But the panic swamped dozens of his
debtors -; his business was dead in finan-
cal sense and his creditors were camor-
GUS for bills he could not meet. He had
never been careless, unwise or eXtravagant
in filling or dischargng contracts, and his
business difficulties had come upon him so
swiftly and imperceptibly that the blow
fell heavier than if he had been expecting
some such catastrophe.
But Alice Shelton knew nothing of all
this. The mental turmoil going on in her
husbands breast never found vent in dis
satisfied word or look, and until the pre-
vlous 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 pay
ment of note OF four thousand that fell
due on the 2lst of December, together with
other unforeseen debts, had so upset him
that he could not cover his mental dis
tresses with the mask of careessness he had
worn for weeks past
His greatest trouble was for Alice. Never
very strong-and he had often moderated
her strength-he had endeavored to sur
round her with every comfort and had care
fully kept all harassing business details or
cares from her ears. lie had given her
money without STINT and he supposed she
spent it like other women, for she was al
ways well dressed, and his home was a
model of order and good taste. BE that as
itmay, he never thought OF tracing the cause
OF his failure to home extravaganza. For
no woman was more thoroughly economi-
cal, without being misery than Mrs Shell
ton. Her party toilets were always in ex-
ceplional taste, and her dress for Mrs
AusIlns party was not designed for any un-
usual display of elegance, although the
gathering was TO he one of unusual bril-
liancy.
The night of the Goth came-a dark,
stormy December night, the air filed with
snowflakes and the sky gray and ovorcast