Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-07-01
MOAT-GRANGE.
BIZ Mrs. HENRY WooD.

She bent her head, feeling that she
mad; oh, feeling it terribly, just then.
Is this all you owep Alp"
4e-es. But the falsehood. as
1alsehoods ought, trembled at her lips.
without speaking another word, he
unsealed apaperin which were inclosed
some bank-notes, and handed several
TO her, to the amount of two hundred
pounds. Understand me well, Selma.
TINS must never occur again. These
notes had different and urgent desti-
nation.''
What an idiot was not to ask for
the other hundredr' was her mental
comment, as she escaped from the
room. 81 wonder whether Alice could
lend it to me?"
She next applied to her sister, but
AIlce could not assist her. And night
came on, and she went to rest, no fur
ther advanced than before.
10 rest! 1t was a mockery of the
word. Mrs. Dalrymple passed it, part
ly in tossing and turning from side to
side, partly in pacing another room
as her husband had told Alice he had
known her to do; and when morning
came and she arose, it was with tremb-
ling limbs, parched throat and fevered
brain.
Her whole anxiety was to make up
this money, three hundred pounds; hop
ing that it would prove stop-gap for
the milliner, and persuaded that it would
be useless to offer less. What was to
come afterward, and how further stop
gaps would be supplied, she did not
rlannn or hot evil
hundred and fifty miles off, compared
with this.
Afaint idea had been looming through
her mind. At the commencement it
had neither shape nor form. but by mid
day it had acquired one and was enter
tained. She had heard of such things
as pledging jewels; she was sure she
had heard that even noble ladies, driven
to pinch, SO disposed of them. Mrs.
Dalrymple locked her bedroom door
and reached out hers, and laid them in
heap on the bed.
She began to estimate their value:
she reckoned up what they had cost to
buy; as nearly as she could remember
and judge, it amounted to full five hum
dred pounds. She supposed she might
be able to borrow four hundred upon
them; and she decided to do it. Then,
if that harpy of French marchande
de modes was no. pacifieu with small
sum, she should have a larger to offer
her. Yes, and get the things for the
wedding breakfast besides.
The relief this determination brought
to the mind of Selma Dalrymple few,
never reduced to a similar strait, can
picture. 1t almost took away her
weight of care. The job of pledging
them would not be 4 pleasant one, but
she must 90 through with it herself,
she had no one to trust. The glittering
ornaments were still displayed upon
the bed when she heard footsteps APP
preaching the room, and some one
Knocked and called to her. She grew
scared and terrified; for troubled
conscience sees shadows where no
shadows are, and hers whispered that
curious eyes, looking on those Or
naments, must divine what she meant
to do with them-whether the eyes
were those of husband, maid or sister;
and she thought it was her sisters
voice who now asked for admittance.
With a hasty hand she threw a dress
upon the bed, and then another upon the
first, and then heavy one over all.
The shining stones were hidden now.
CHAPTER VII
Oscar Dalrymple was sitting over
his after-dinner wine, and the street
lamps were lighted, when figure,
looking as little like Mrs. Dalrymple as
possible, stole out of the house; stole
stealthily, and closed the door stealthily
behind her, so that neither master nor
servant should hear her. She had
ransacked her wardrobe for a plain
gown and dark shawl, and her straw
bonnet might have served as a model
for a Quaker's. She had been out in
the afternoon, and marked the shop
she meant to go to. A renowned shop
in its line, and very respectable, even
Selma knew that. She hurried along
the streets not unlike a criminal; had
she been going to rob the warerooms
of their Jewels, instead of offering some
to add to their hidden stock, she could
not have felt more guilty. When she
reached it she hesitated and could not
make up her mind to enter; she took
turn or two before its front, she
glanced in at its door, and its window.
crowded with goods. She had never
been in a pawnbroker's shop in her
life, and her ideas of Its customers
were vague; comprising gentlewomen
in distress, gliding in as she did, tipsy
men carrying their watches in their
hand, poor objects out of work, in
delapidated shirt-sleeves, and half
starved women with pillows and flat
irons. 1t looked quiet, inside; so far
as she could see, there did not appear
to be soul. With desperate effort
of resolution she went in.
She stood at the counter, the chief
part of the shop being hidden from her.
A dark, vulgar-looking man came for
ward.
'What can we do for you, ma amp"
care you the master?' inquired Sc
lima.
s..No."
81 wish to see him.
Another presently appeared, and |
Mrs. Dalrymple was surprised. She |
had expected to see common trades i
man, of manners like the first, and he |
who now accosted her had the appear
ance and address of gentleman; and
of sensible one, too.
81 am in temporary need of little |
money, and wish to borrow some upon
nv Jewels" began Mrs. Dalrymple, IN
a hoarse whisper; and she was really |
so agitated as scarcely to know what
she said.
..Are they of valued" he inquired.
ssSome hundreds of pounds. have
them with me-"
He requested her to walk into a
private room, and placed chair. She
sat down and laid the jewels on the Ia
4