Middletown transcript., 1876-09-09
Mrs. Mellen. and now entered with
a1acr;tv into hor n1ons


Of Mrs. Benedict's parties, and you
position in society is settled at once
/ have cards myself; but, of course, s
soon after my poor brothers death
couldn't 60 out. And you're to 60 j
lilac moire antique. eh. my dear? II
tell you what want you to look nice
and IN lend you my diamonds"
Lottie's cheeks flushed exultantly a
she thought of Mrs. Parkerson's dia
mond necklace, with its glittering pen
dent, and the bracelets studded wit
gems, to say nothing of the great soil
taires. like drops of dew that hung iron
her earrings.
"Oh, Mrs Parkerson J" she exclaim
ed breathlessly, chow can I ever thanl
you?"
"Look as pretty as you can. m.
DEAR" said Mrs. Parkerson, good ma
turedly. "That's the way to thanl
me-"
Miss Mously, the dressmaker, ant
Mrs. Mellen were in deep consultation
as to whether the front of the dresl
should he cut la Pompadour, or will
corsage, the next day, when the lattel
was summoned down. stairs. There
stood Mr.. Pepper, the painter, in the
hall.
| "Begging you pardon, ma'am, fol
interrupting you," said he, humbly dof.
fng his cap; "but Mr.. Mellen told me
you would let me have the money on
my little ACCOUNT
| Lottie crimsoned
81 am very sorry, Mr. Pepper" said
she nervously; "but you must call
again next month %
"Mr. Mellen said you'd pay me
without delay. ma'am."
II can't help what Mr.. Mellen said, F"
exclaimed Lottie. II haven't the mo-
ney. That's enough !'
"But ma'am, was assured should
have it without any mistake. I need
it ma'am, to send my sick wife out
West to her mothers, and"
II have no time to stand here talk
ing any longer" said Lottie. mortified,
ashamed, yet still endeavoring to per-
suade herself that the man had no busi-
ness to be persistent II will let you
have the sum as soon as possible. In
the meantime you must waltz
Pepper went away with sad face,
which haunted Mrs. Mellen for many a
day, and Lottie returned to the dress
making operations.
The lilac moire antique was made
and fitted superbly. Sister Helen, who
had rich husband, lent the point lace
flounces and scarf, and Mrs. Parker
sons man-servant brought around the
satin casket of diamonds early in the
afternoon and Lottie Mellen went to
Mrs Benedict's ball, in the same car
riage with her sister and sisters hus-
band.
"For once, 1 am equal to any mil
lionaire's wife on the avenue" thought
Lottie, with thrill of. triumph at her
heart.
Her entrance made sensation She
was quite aware of that as she swept
through the brilliantly lighted rooms
and it was no small wonder, for she was
as beautiful as vision, with her golden
hair, deep blueeyes and queenly height,
while the lilac moire antique and dia-
monds set her off rarely.
Mr.. Bently Benedict leveled his eye
glass at her as she passed on, after the
usual presentation to her host and
hostess.
so that is the wife Of your confden-
tial clerk, eh, Joe? ?" said he to bis
brother IA silk gown for a royal
princess, point lace that couldn't have
cost less than one hundred dollars a
yard, and diamonds that blaze like
comets I don't exactly fancy that sort
Of confidential clerk myself! Let me
see-how much did you tell me you
paid him ? Fourteen hundred wear ?"
Mr.. Joe Benedict looked uneasily at
the brilliant vision
II can't account for it," said be
slowly. Il always supposed Mellen to
be reliable sort Of fellow, but must
say l don't like the looks of this. Pm
afraid we have trusted him too far, al
though the accounts seem straight
enongh. I'll look into them to-mor-
row."
He did looksnto them.
$50 far they are right" he said to
himself. 'sBut it's better to be on the
safe side A clerk whose wife dresses
like a duchess can't be altogether
straight. I'll discharge him"
So Clarence Mellen lost his situation,
at the beginning of the winter, with
hard times looking him gravely in the
face.
Mr. Benedict told him frankly why.
II saw your wife at my brother
Bentley's ball." said he, "dressed in
moire antique, costly lace and diamonds.
l bring no accusation-I have no COM
plant to make-only, in these days of
embezzlement, forgery and defalcation
one has to look out for himself. And
'straws show which way the wind
blows p"
When Mr.. Mellen went home he
found 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, I might have sent
her West, to her native air. 1t would
at least have been chance of life for
her. But she is gone now, and 1 have
only to say that if the bill is not settled
at once. l shall resort to the EXTREMIST
measures
This was the first Mr.. Mellen knew
that the fifty dollar bill had not been
applied to its rightful destination.
Il hope you are contented now, Lot
tie," be said, as he went up stairs to
the room where his wife lay sobbing on