The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-07

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o,s; his business was dead in a tinan-
cial sense; and his creditors were
clamorous for bills he could not meet.
He had never been careless, unwise or
extravagant in filling or discharging
contracts, and his business difficulties
Lad come upon him so swiftly and i'm.
perceptibly 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 the dissatisfied word or look,
and until the previous day he kept his
face and manners free from all traces
Of anxiety. But the constant excite
ment and worry had been too hard for
him, and the dunning of a creditor
who demanded the punctual payment
of 4 note of four thousand that fell due
on the 2lst of December, together
with unforeseen debts, had so upset
him that he could not cover his men,
tai distresses with the mask of care
lessness he had worn for weeks past.
His great trouble was for Alice.
Never very strong-and had often un-
derrated her strength-he had endeav-
ored to surround her with every com.
fort. and had carefully kept all har-
assing business details from her ears.
He had given her money without stint
and he supposed she spent it like other
women. for she was always well dress.
ed, and lis home " as a model of good
order and taste. Be that as it may, he
never thought of tracing the cause of
his failure to home extravaganza. Fur
no woman was more thoroughly econ
omical without being miserly than
Mrs. Shelton. Her party toilets al.
ways in exceptional taste, and her
dress for Mrs. Austin's was not de-
signed for any unusual display of ele.
gance, although the gathering was to
be one of unusual brilliancy.
The night of the goth came-a dark
stormy December night, the air filled
with snow fakes. and the sky gray and
overcast with heavy clouds.
sit is going to be a terrible night,
Mark Mrs. Shelton said to her hus-
band. who sat before the library fire,
evidently absorbed in the contents of
the evening paper. 81 have thought
once or twice since I commenced dress.
ing that l would not go out to night. :"
''Go by all means, Alice; the carriage
is close" her husband replied, glanc-
ing up at the trim little figure arrayed
in 4 dark silk retrimmed, with pale blush
rosesin her purrlish black hair, and
| at the white throat half yelled with
fimy lace. He smiled bitterly as he
saw her going out in happy. childlike
| innocence, as she might never go
again among people who have no
sympathy for failing merchants, and
| who would not give his wife thought
if she were not rich in this world s
goods.
81 wish you would CO., she said be.
seechingly, lingering at the door to ad
just her cloak. '''Mr. Austin will be
expecting you"
Mr.. Shelton smiled thinking perhaps,
| of the forbidding face of Man of
whom he had begged a loan that afte.
| noon, whose curt ''Cannot spare dol.
lar, SIR rang in his ears yet. He
| arose from his seat by the fire, and.
going over to his wife's side, fastened
| the warm wraps closer around her
| throat. -, -,
BE careful of your self, little
woman" he said, with a forced at
tempt at gaety, land enjoy yourself
for it is utterly impossible for meto
go.'' ~ s"l|
He accompanied her to the carriage,
and, as he closed the door on the placid
little face, he inwardly mathematical
the weakness that prompted him to
withhold the story of his difficulties
from her, when she daily ran the risk
of hearing it from lips not liable to sof.
ten it's details. Yet he still hoped that
the morrow would bring some chance
of redeeming his lost credit; although
his efforts to raise the $4,000 due
on the 2lst were still unsuccessful.
He was almost worn out with physical
and mental labor, yet he put on his
hat and overcoat and dragged himself
wearily downtown, through the fast.
| falling snow and murky darkness, to
spend the dreary hours of his wife's
| absence in porting over ledgers in his
counting-room. 49,. ....,
Meanwhile Mrs. Mark Shelton, not
satisfied with Marks strange freak, as
she called her husbands refusal to
| attend the party, was zealously trying
to feel at ease among Mrs. Austin s
| stylish guests. For somehow she felt
depressed and i'll at ease among the
fashionable who had hitherto vel
coined her as the wife of prominent
vOnno morchont u,h0 uoo otoo1ilv r; a.