River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-04-13

dence soothing her mind into a calm
ness that was broken by the entrance
of two ladies, whose first words at once
chained her to her seat, and held her
in the unquestionable light of an caves
dropper.
81 was astonished to see Mrs. Mark
Shelton out tonight" said the elder of
the two ladies, whose diamonds flashed
in the gaslight.
"Why?"
"Have you not heard? Why, Mrs.
Lamar. Shelton is on the verge of bank
lruptcy."
mark Shelton? Impossible He is
considered one of the staunchest mer-
chants in the CITY,"
"And was. But he has lost credit
somehow. He has been on the streets
for days trying to raise money to cancel
most of his urgent debts; end would
not be surprised if 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 MarkShelton choice
in choosing her for wife," remarked
Mrs. Lamar, vino 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 a
peanut vender, while Mrs.. Lamar's
ancestors were famous for blue blood
and reckless dissipation.
81 don't pity Mrs. Shelton, though"
went on Mrs. Lamar, ignoring the elder
lady's home thrusts; ''fer | expect she
is just like other women in the same sit
uation; 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 with it," laughed the elder lady
as she glided out 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-
gether. Every faculty of her nature
seemed paralyzed by the intensity of her
emotions. Her honest conscientious
heart was shocked at the hypocrisy of
two ofher 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. Verilj, she thought, this world is
vain show, and those who love it are
but moths huttering 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, rising
up with a white, determined face. Il
will show them that 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 loFg
snow-bound walk that lay between the |
Austin mansion and her husbands |
warehouse, she hurried up to the dress |
ing-room, 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 CHASTITY as the |
snow that fell so swiftly and silently on |
the half-deserted pavements. The gas |
fiared out through murky gas lamps |
with dull, sickly glare hacks and |
carriages went whirling by like sheeted
ghosts, and once in while some belated |
pedestrians 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 II, and Mark was standing in
the dimly lighted 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 establishment.
Alice dropped into a chair and looked
up at him with a glitter in her blue
eyes that held him spell-bound.
"Mark, do you think I'm fool?"
Her voice had a raspy ring that |
startled him. He glanced at her snow
covered wraps and then made a dash |
for the soaked boots peeping out from |
under the edge of her bedragled silken |
skirts.
"Alice zone boot came off with a
jerk-"what insane whim drove you
out into the street such night as this?'
He flung its mate to the furthest end of
the room.
"Oh, Mark" Mrs Shelton's Temporal
ry strength and courage was swiftly
vanishing, "are you going to fails"
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 him
self severely for keeping her in ignor-
ance of the truth. He always had a
repugnance to womaniy interference
in business matters, but felt, in justice
to his wifes general worthiness, he
should have trusted her in this emer
gency.
'Hush, Alice I" for she was begin
ming to sob Historically, "you must not
be alarmed. If / can raise the money
to pay off note that falls due to-mor-
NOV 1 may weather the panic yet"
Chow much will you need?"
Her little face was uplifted eagerly.
"Four thousand dollars p
lis that all ?" with little hysterical
laugh. Then you won't fail; for |
have five thousand all my own, saved
out of the money you gave me to spend
on the house and myself All, Mark,
you thought l spent it ALL.
''Alice !" Mark took the little shiv
ering form in his arms. "You are
worth your weight in gold !"
81 know it, slyly retorted Alice; but
it has taken you FIVE years to find it out.
And, Mark, if you cannot cancel the rest
of your debts we will sell the house and
live in a room or two until the panic is
yer, for you shall not fail.
Marx sent for carriage, and they
went home through the white, noiseless
streets, Alice recounting as she went the
story she had heard in Mrs. Austin's
perfllmed library. At the conclusion