Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-07-01
er was four thousand aud TWENTY-FIVE

| He had an impossible face, rarely
showing emotion. 1t had probably mo-
been moved to it half a dozen times il
the course of his life. But now his lips
gradually drew away from his teeth
leaving the gums exposed, and a red
spot appeared upon each cheek.
"Whdt did you say? How muchP"
"Four thousand and twenty-five
pounds" equally answered Madame,
| who was not familiar with his counte.
nance. ''And there have been a few
trifles since, and her last order this
week will come to ninety pounds. Il
you wish for it, exactly, SIR" added
Madame. catching at an idea of hope.
81 will have it sent in to you when GO
home. Mrs. Dalreemp has the details
up to very recently"
-Four thousand pounds!" uttered
Mr.. Dalrymple, in sort of paralyzed
manner. when could she have con-
tracted it?n
Last season, sir. A little in the win.
ter she had, and little this spring; moi
much"
He did not say more, save a mutte1
which Madame could not catch. She
understood it to be that he would speak
| to Mrs. Dalrymple. The maid re-
turned, protesting that her mistress
was not in the house, and must have
changed her mind and gone out; and
Mime. Damereau, thinking she might
be gone out for the evening, and that
it was of no use waiting, made her adieu
to Mr.. Dalrymple with the remarkable
| courtesy several times repeated.
He was sitting there still, in the same
position, when his wife appeared. She
4 a. IL.
| she had left it, had taken off her
| things, and now came into the room
ready for tea, as if she had only been
| upstairs to wash her hands. Scarcely
| had she reached the middle of the room,
| when he rose and laid his hand heavily
on her shoulder. His face, as she
turned to him in alarm, with its drawn
| aspect, its glistening eyes, its mingled
| pallor and hectic, was so changed that
she could hardly recognize it for his.
A fear crossed her that he had gone
mad. Oscar, you terrify metz she
shrieked out.
''What debts are these that you
parted lips.
Was the dreaded moment come, then!
She shook in his grasp, and a low moan
| escaped her.
-Four thousand pounds to Dame
to others?''
''Oh, Oscar, if you look and speak
| like that, you will kill me-" she uttered
Forgive me this, and my life's repent
ance shall atone for it.
II ask how much more,' he repeat
| ed. passing by her entreaty as the idle
| wind. TELL me the truth, or 1 will
thrust you from my home and adver.
tise you
She strove to sink down to hide hel
face on the ground; she would certain.
ly have sunk there but for his powerful
grasp. He shook her roughly by the
arm. and repeated the question: '.How
much?'
''Six thousand pounds-in all
about that. Not more. think"
He flung her arm from him with
jerk, and she sank down on the carpet
with her face on the sofa, and sobbed
and moaned.
care you prepared to go out and
work for your living as l must do?' he
painted. 81 have nothing to keep you
on. and | shall not have for years. II
they throw me into a debtor prison
tomorrow, to languish there, can not
help it
do not reproach me- she moaned;
II have suffered much. You have told
| me | was restless, as one who had COM
United a crime; you know now what
the crime has been"
"You suffer-" he scornfully ejacu.
lated. "When up to this time, this
very week, you have been augmenting
your debt recklessly! Stop your dis
play of tears; crOcodiles can shed
them"
She only sobbed the more.
Il was a fool to marry into your
branch of the family" he went on,
stamping his foot, ''for a mania at
tends it. Your uncle gambled his
means away and then took his own
life; your father hampered himself
with his debts and remained poor; your
brother followed in his uncle's wake:
and now, madam, the mama Is upon
your'
Mr.. Dalrymple stopped. for the
servant appeared at the door with the
tea-urn. Mr.. Dalrymple motioned
him away. mo tea tonight he
authoritively exclaimed; 1--WE do moi
require it And he flung the door to.
after the man.
After a while Mrs. Dalrymple gath.
cred herself up. and left him. Some
time after, she heard the drawing groom
bell ring, and then her maid came UP
to her, tossing and indignant.
''Ma'am L must say this is very
sudden"
Mrs. Dalrymple buried her face over
drawer, which she pretended to be
looking in, and strove to command he1
voice to Indifference.
'What is sudden?"
master has ordered me to come ana
pack up. He says you must be off to
the Grange with morning light. /
asked him how l was to pack up to-
night, with you and him in the room
asleep, and he said L might settle that
with you, but that he should not be in
it,
Mrs. Dalrymple, conscience-stricken,
had nothing to answer.
He says, too, you will not want me
beyond the month, ma'am. And that
if like to leave at once, and stop in
town and look out for a place, he'll
give me months board wages. It's
the first time as l ever was dismissed,
in summonary way, like this added
the damsel, shaking with her wrongs.
Il am very sorry, Ann. Circum-
stances oblige US to make this sudden
change. 1t shall not affect your testi-
monials for any fresh place"
..No, 1 should hope it wouldn't
folks as didn't make sudden changes.
What's to be done about this packing
up? Am to be kept out of my bed to
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