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

once been peanut vender, while Mrs.
Lamer's ancestors were famous for
blue blood and reckless dissipation.
81 don't pity Mrs. Shelton, though"
went on Mrs. Lamer, politely ignoring
the elder l9dy's home-thrust; "for |
expect she is just like other women in
the same situation Mark made oceans
of money, and she spent it.
"Doubtless. Just give any woman
that never had anything some money
to splurge on, and see how fast she'll
go through it," laughed the elder
lady, as she glided out of the library,
her rich silks sweeping after her like
purple pillows, while Mrs. Lamer
followed her like shadow, in her
pale-colored tarleton 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, conscien-
tious heert was shocked at the hypocr.
isy of two of her most intimate
society friends, and with the bitter
ness was mingled a feeling ofintense
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 VAN show,
and those who love it but moths t1ut-
tering 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 fail, "she said, ii
sing 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 be-
tween the Austin mansion and her
husbands warehouse, she hurried up
to the dressing-reom and, wrapping
herself up in cloak and furs, went out
into the storm and bravely faced the
binding sheets of snow that the wind
dashed into her face-a face almost
as ghastly .as the snow that fell SO
swiftly and silently on the half desert
ed pavements. The gas tared out
through murky gas-lamps with dull,
sickly glare hacks and carriages went
whirling by like sheeted ghost, and
once in n while some belated pedes-
trian almost walked over her; but
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 steeple was just
Ginning eleven, and Mark was stand
ing in the dimly-lit office, putting on
his overcoat. The porter dozed IN
chair before the stove in the outer
room, and Alice stole softly past him
and stood before her husband.
'Alice !"
His eyes dilated in astonishment.-
Alice dropped into a seat and looked
ur at him, with q glitter in her blue
eyes that held him spell-bound.
MARK, do you .hink I'm 4 fool !"
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 bedraggl-
ed silken skilts.
"Alce !'-one boot came off with a
icrk-''what insane whim drove you
out on the street such night as this 2"
He flung its mate to the turthest end
of the room.
90 Marx" Mrs. Shelton's temporary
strength and courage was swiftly van
ishing, "are you going to fail 2
Mark instantly comprehended the
situation. She had heard the story Of
his financial troubles, probably in some
distorted form, and the knowledge
had almost crazed her. He blamed
himself severely for keeping her in
ignorance of the truth. He always
had a repugnance to womanly inter
ference in business matters, but telt,
in Justice to his wife's general worthl-
ness, he should have trusted her in
this emergency.
"Hush, Alice for she was be-
ginning to sob hysterically-'you
must not be alarmed. If | can raise
the money TO pay off a note that falls
due tomorrow, / may weather the
panic yet"
"How much will you need ?"
Her little face was uplifted EAGERLY.