Daily Republican., 1881-06-17

she, nervously; "but-but you must cal
again-next month";
"Mr. Mellen said you'd pay me with
out delay, ma'am.',
~ can help what Mr.. Mellen SAID, .
exclaimed Lottie. 81 havn't the money
That is enough.
"But ma'am, was assured should
have it without mistake. need it
ma am, to send my sick wife out west
to her mothers, and"
81 have no time TO stand here any lon
GER" said Lottie, mortified, ashamed,
yet still endeay oring topersuade herself
that the man had no business to be so
persistent. 81 will let you have the sum
as soon as possible In the mean time
you must wait.
Pepper went away with n sad face,
which haunted Mrs. Melen for many
day, and LOttie returned to the dress
making operations.
The lilac MORE was matle, and fitted
superbly. Sister Helen, who had rich
husband, lent the point lace hounces
and scarf, and Mrs. ParkerSOn man
servant brought around the satin caSket
of diamonds early in the afternoon; and
Lottie Mellen went to Mrs. Bentley
Benedict's bail in the same carriage
with her sister and her sisters husban |.
For once, | am equal to any million
aires wife on the avenue" thought Lot
tie, with a thrill of triumph at her
heart
Her entrance made sensation. She
was quite aware Of that as she swept
through the b,lliantly-lighted rooms;
and it was small wonder, 1or she was as
beautiful as a vision, with her golden
hair, ,deep-blue eyes and queeniy height,
while the lilac moire antique and dia-
monds set her off.
Mr.. Bentley Benedict leveled his eye
glass at her. as She passed on, after the
usual presentation to her host and hos
tess.
so that is the wife of your Conh1en-
tial clerS, eh, ,Joe?" sail he to his
brother ga silk gown tit for royal
princess, point lace that couldn't have
cost less than one hundred dollars ii
yard, and diamonds that blaze like
comets don't exactly fancy lIlat sort
of confidential clerk myself Let me
see-how much did you tell me you
paid him? Fourteen hundred a year,"
Mr. Joe Benedict looked unpaSly at
the brilliant vision.
81 can't account tor II" said, he slow.
ly. IL always supposed Me!Ien to be "A
rel able sort of u fellow, but | must say
| don't like the looks of this. I'm
afraid we have trusted him too far, al
th0ugh the accounts seem straight
enough III look into them tomorrow.
He did look into them.
$50 far they are right" lie said to
himself. "But it's better to be on the
safe side. A clerk whose wife dresses
like a duchess can't lie altogether
straight. I'll discharge him.
So Clarence Mellen lost his situation,
at the beginning of the winter, with
hard times looking him grimly in the
face.
81 saw your wife at my brother Bent
ley's ball, ," said he, "dressed i'll msirr
costly lace and diamonds.
bring no accuSation-l have no com
plaint to make against yol-
only, in these days Of enlightenment
forgery and defalcation, one has to ool,
Dut after himself, And "Straws show
which way the wind blows"
When Mellen went home, he found a |
awyer's clerk in the hall, With "A letter
from poor Pepper,
He wrote:
"My wife is dead God knows
it is your fault or not. Had
vnI paid the money you owed, might |
nave sent her west, to her native air.
1t would at least have been a chance
If life for her But she is gone now,
md have only 70 say that, if the bill |
IS not settled at once, shall resort 10
he el tremeSt measures"
This was the first Mr.. Mel|en knew
hat the fifty dJllar bill had not been
applied to its rightful destination.
Il hope you are contented now, Lot
.ie," he said, as he Went up stairs TO the
'oom where his wife lay sObhing on the
sofa, "YOu have ruined me -
Aud LOtlie knew at last how dear p |
,rice she had paid for her one night OF
rumph at Mr.. Benedict's bail.