The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-04-28
MOAT-GRANGE.
By Mrs. HENRY WooD.
CHAPTRR VI,-CONrINUEp,

CHAPTER VI.-CoNTIsUED.
Mrs. Dalrymple was in her bedroom
when Alice entered, dressed, and wait
ing to go out; dressed with expensive
elegance. When the first moments o.
meeting had passed, Alice sat dowr
and looked at her; her cheek was thin
and its brilliant bloom told more o.
hectic than of health.
"Selinar' exclaimed Alice, "what /:
the matterP You are much altered"
"Am IP People do alter. You are
altered. You look ILL.,"
mot more so than usual, replied
Alice. II get weaker with time. But
you are i'll; ] can see it. You look as
if you had something preying on your
mind"
Nonsense" said Selma, starting
from her sister. "You are fanciful."
what is itP" persisted Alice.
"If / have, your knowing it would
do me no good, and would worry you.
And yet" added Mrs. Dalrymple, II
think will tell you. have felt late
ly, Alice, that if / did not tell some
body should go mad"
Alice rose, and laid gentle hold Of
her ''Let us sit down on the sofa as
we used TO sit together at the Grange,
when we were really sisters. But
Selma, if you have wanted confidant
in any grief, who so fit as your hus-
bandP''
"Heln shrieked Selina-''he! II is
the dread of his knowing it, the anxiety
am at, daily and hourly, to keep il
from him, that is wearing me out.
Sometimes l think l can no longer
wage the war;" she added, in a dread
whisper, "but must put an end to il
all, as Charles did"
Alice Dalrymple's blood seemed to
curdle as she listened to the last words,
and her face turned Of a ghastly white
ness! She could not answer them, she
did not dare to answer, or to remon-
strate.
"What have you doneP" she shiv.
cred.
"Ruined him and ruined myself v
was Mrs. Dalrymple's reply, untyine
her bonnet and Jerking 1t from hel
head on TO her lap. "You think ] have
a happy home; II you could only se'
what that home has been to me o
later'
"Selna!' exclaimed her sister, faint
ly, "you are trying me beyond m,
strength. Why keep me in suspense
or what nature is your faultp"
Debt was Mrs. Dalrymple's cur
response. II have contracted debt
that neither he nor can pay, thou
sands upon thousands; and they ar,
rendering my life al will not sal
what-upon earth"
debts! thousands upon thousandsr
confusedly uttered Alice Dalrymple.
at is So"
"How did you contract themp Not a,
-as-Charles did? Surely you have
not that infatuation upon youP"
mo" answered Selma, gloOmily
mot that. As bad a one, though.
owe it all for dress"
II do not understand" repeated
Alice, after pause of astonishment.
II do. Damereau's bill for last sea.
son was between three and four thou
sand pounds. 1t is over four thousand
now"
Alice Dalrymple felt bewildered. She
did not quite understand, even yet.
at is not possible for one person to
owe all that in year." she said
"Not possibleP" repeated Mrs. Dal-
rymple. "Some ladies-and / could
tell you their names-spent double;
treble; four times what ! did"
"And so they led you on!'
Something led me on. II one is in
the world, one must dress"
"No, Selma; not as you have done.
Not to ruin. The generality Of people,
even those with q small income, as
yours is, do mot dress beyond their
means"
"And make sights Of themselves.
don't choose to-"
"Better that, and have peace oi
mindW remarked Alice.
"Peace Of mindl peace Of mind!'' re.
turned Mrs. Dalrymple; "do not men.
ton it to me. / shall never know 4
again"
"0h, Selma, ] hope you will / hope
some reEedy may be found. How
much do you say you owe"
Four thousand to Damereau
and"
"Who is Damereaup"
Goodness, Alice, If you never die