Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-03-18
her disturbed mind into . calmness that

,.
shelton to her seat and held her in the
questionable light of an eaves-dropper.
81 was astonished to see Mrs. Mark
Shelton out tonight" exclaimed the
elder of the two ladies, whose diamonds
flashed in the gas-light.
",Why?"
"Have you not heardn Why, Mrs.
Lamer! Shelton is on the verge OF bank
ruptcy.'
MARK Shelton' Impossible! Why,
he is considered one Of the staunchest
merchants in the city"
And was. But he has lost credit
somehow He has been on the streets
for days trying to raise money to cancel
most of his urgent debts; and wouldn't
be surprised if his wife did have to give
up her stylish home before the winter is
over"
She is a nobody, anyway. Her
father was only a soap handler and
have often wondered at Mark Shelton's
taste in choosing her for wife," re-
marked Mrs. Lamer, who had once de-
cided fancy for Mark herself.
" Soap-chandlers are as good as other
men, provided they are sober and re-
Specialize returned the lady with the
diamonds, whose father had once been a
peanut-vender, while Mrs Lamer's en-.
cestors were famous fer blue blood and
reckless dissipation.
Il don't pity Mrs Shelton, though"
went on Mrs. Lamer, politely ignoring
the elderly lady's home-thrust; "for |
expect she is just like other women in
the same situations; Mark made oceans
Of money and che Spppt it y
Doubtless. Just give any woman
that never had anything some money to
spurge on and see how fast she'll go
through it," laughed the elderly lady, as
she glided out of the library, her rich
silks sweeping after her like purple bill
lows, while Mrs. Lamer followed her like
a shadow, in her pale-colored tarletan
robes.
Poor Alice Shelton had heard every
word, and sat perfectly still, with her
slim, white fingers clasped tightly to-
gether. Every faculty of her nature
seemed paralyzed by the intensity of her
emotions. Her honest, conscientious
heart was shocked at the hypocrisy of
two of her most intimate society friends,
and with the bitterness was mingled a
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 a vain
show and those who love it but moths
huttering about its dazzling pleasures
only to have their wings singed by the
cruel tongues of flame that leap up from
envy, malice and deceit
MARK shall not fall" she said, rising
up with white, determined face. II
will show them his wife is worthy of him"
Needless of the gayety and warmth
around her, of the binding snow storm
that was raging without, or the long,
snow-bound walk that lay between the
Austin mansion and her husbands ware
house, she hurried up to the dressing
room and, wrapping herself up in cloak
and furs, went out into the storm and
bravely faced the bli, liag sheets of
snow that the wind das Az. 'ato her face
that fell SO swiftly and silently on the
half deserted pavements. The gas tlared
out through murky gas-lamps with dull,
sickly glare; hacks and carriages went
whirling by like sheeted ghosts, and once
in while some belated pedestrian al
most walked over her; but still Mrs.
Shelton walked on, her heart too hard
and anxious to think of fear or fatigue.
When she reached the warehouse the
clock on distant steepe was just Chin
ing eleven, and Mark was standing in the
dimly-lit office, putting on his overcoat.
The porter doZed in a chair before the
stove in the outer room, and Alice stole
softly past him and stood before her hus-
band.
"Alicem
His eyes dilated in establishment.
Alice dropped into a seat and looked up
at him, with a glitter in her blue eyes
that held him spell-bound.
MARK, do you think I'm foolW
Her voice had raspy ring that
startled Mark. He glanced at her snow
covered wraps, and then made dash
for the soaked boots peeping out from
under the edge of her bedraggled silken
skirts.
"Alice"- boot came off with a
jerk" what insane within drove you out
on the streets such a night as thsy" lie
flung its mate to the furthest end of the
room.
40 Mark" Mrs. Shelton's temporary
strength and courage was swiftly vanish
ing, "are you going TO fail?"
Mark instantly comprehended the sit
uation. She had heard the story of his
financial troubles, probably in some dis
torted form, and the knowledge had al
most crazed her. He blamed himsel
severely for keeping her in ignorance OF
the truth. He always had repugnance
to womanly interference in business
matters, but felt, in justice to his wife's
general worthiness, he should have
trusted her in this emergency.
+" Hush, Alice!"-for she was begin
ming to sob hysterically-"you must not
be alarmed. If can raise the Aoney tc
pay off a note that falls due tomorrow
may weather the panic yet"
" How much will YOU needt"