Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-24


that afternoon, whose curt "cannot
spare a dollar, sir" rang in his ears
yet He rose from his seat near the
fire, and going over to his wiie's
side fastened the wraps closer about
her throat.
"Be careful OF yourself. little woman"
he said, with forced attempt at gay
ETY. "and enjoy yourself, for it is inn
possible for me to CO."
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 less liable to
soften the details. Ye. lie still hoped
that the morrow would bring some
chance OF redeeming his lost credit
although his efforts to raise the four
Thousand dollars due on the LIST were
still unsuccessful. He was almost worn
out with physical and mental labor,
yet he put on his hat and overcoat and
dragged himself YEARLY downtown
through the fast-falling snow and murky
darkness, to spend the dreary hours OF
his wife's absence in poring over ledgers
in his couDting-room.
Meanwhile Mrs. 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 the stylish guests. For
somehow she felt depressed and i'll at
ease among the fashionables who had
hitherto welcomed her as the wife OF n
prominent young merchant who was
steadily rising to emiuenca in the com.
mercial world There was an under cur
rent OF GOODNESS in their greetings that
her sensitive nature detected instantly,
and an angry flush rose to her cheeks
when she overheard remark relating
to Mrs. Skeletons old silk"
She slipped ont OF the gay, over
crowded parlors into the library, where
she found refuge in the haugings ofthe
bay window She dropped into low
seat and sat watching the streams OF
gaslight Pickering across the street, now
ankle deep with snow, wishing that
Mark would remember her orders and
send the carrisge early. The heavy
sensuous odors OF the tropical plants
filed the room with fragrance that al-
most took her breath ANY,. and in the
distance tho music Of popular waltz
rose and fell, the soft, voluptuous ca
dence soothing her N nd into calm
ness that was broken by the entrance Of
two ladies, whose first words chained
her to her seat, and held her in the IN
questionable light OF an eavesdropper.
II was astonished 10 see Mrs Mark
Shelf n out tonight" said the elder OF
the two ladies. whose diamonds flashed
in the gaslisht.
"whyT
"Have you not heard? Why, Mrs.
Lamar, Shelton is on the verge OF bank
ruptcy."
MARK Shelton? Impossible Why,
he is considered one of the shameless
merchants in the city"
"And was. But he has lost credit
somehow He has been on the treets
for days trying TO raise money to cancel
most of his urgent debts; and wouldn't
be surprised ii his wife had to give up
her stylish home before the winter is
over"
"She is nobody, anyhow. Her father
was only soap chandler, and / have
often wondered at Mark Shelton's choice
in choosing her for a wife," remarked
Mrs. Lamar, who had once a decided
fancy for Mark herself.
Soap chambers are as good as other
men. provided they are sober and re-
spectacle" returned the lady with dia-
monds, whose father had once been q
peanut vender. while Mrs. Lamar's an
cestors we're famous for blue blood and
reckl, IS dissipation.
81 don't pity Mrs. Shelton, though,
went on Mrs. Lamar, ignoring the elder
lady's home thrusts; "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
spinrse on, and see how fast she'll go
through with it, laughed the elder lady
as she glided ont of the library. her rich
silks sweeping after her like purple bill
lows, while Mrs. Lamar followed her
like shadow, in her pale-colored tarla.
tan robes.
Poor Alice Shelton had heard every
word, and sat perfectly still. with her
thin white fingers clasped tightly to-
eether. 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 some uncharitable
lips. Verify, she thought the world is
vain show, and those who love it are
but moths hutt. ring about its dazzling