Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-06-24
MOAT-GRANGE.
BIZ Mrs. HENET Woon

meeting had passed, Alice sat down
ana looked at her; her cheek was thin,
and its brilliant bloom told more of
hectic than of health.
SELMA exclaimed Alice. what is
The matters You are much altered
Am I9 People do alter. You are
altered. You look ill.,
Not more so than usual" replied
Alice. Il get weaker with time. But
you are i'll, L can see it. You look as
you had something preying on your
Nonsense" said Selma, starting
from her sister. lyon are fanciful.'
What is it?" persisted Alice.
III have. your knowing it would
do me no good. and would worry YOU.
And YET" added Mrs. Dalrvmple. Il
think I will tell you. I have felt late
", Alice, that if L 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 10 sit together at the Grange.
when we We're really sisters. But
Selma. if You have wanted a contidant
IN any grief. who SO tit as your hus-
band?''
''Hei' shrieked Selina-.she! It is
the dread of his knowing it. the anxiety
L am at, daily and hourly. TO keep it
from him, that is wearing me out.
Sometimes L think L can no longer
wage the war;" she added. in dread
whisper. but must put an end to it
all. as Charles did"
Alice Dalrymple's blood seemed to
curdle as she listened to the last words.
nor fae tlIr Al of rrba "
ness! She could not answer them. she
did not dare to answer, or to remon-
strate.
What have you done?'' she shiv-
cred
Ruined him and ruined myself"
was Mrs. Dalrymple's reply. untying
her bonnet and Jerking it from her
head on to her lap. You think [ have
a happy home; if you could only see
what that home has been to me OF
latei''
''Selina!" exclaimed her sister, faint
Iy, you are trying me beyond my
strength. Why keep me in suspense?
Of what nature is your fault?''
debt. was Mrs. Dalrympie's curt
response. Il have contracted debts
that neither he nor 1 can pay, thou
sands upon thousands; and they are
rendering my life al will not sag
what-upon earth.
Debts thousands upon thousands"
confusedly uttered Alice Dalrymple.
1T is so.
How did you contract them? Not as
-as-Charles did? Surely you have
not that infatuation upon you?,'
No" answered Selma. gloomily,
mot that. As bad 4 one, though.
owe it all for dress"
L do not understand" repeated
Alice, after pause of establishment.
Il 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 vet.
1T is not possible for one person to
owe all that in year" she said.
Not possible?" repeated Mrs. Dali
rymple. Some ladies-and l could
tell you their names-spent double:
treble; four times what | did
land so they led you on!''
Something led me on. If one is in
the world. one must dress
No, Selma; not rs YOU have done.
Not to ruin. The generality of people,
even those with small income. rs
yours is. do not dress beyond their
means"
And make sights of themselves.
don't choose to.
Better that, and have peace OF
mindr' remarked Alice.
Peace of mind! peace of mind!'' re-
turned Mrs. Dalrymple; do not men,
ton it to me. L shall never know il
again.
.-Oh. Selma. hope you will. hope
some remedy may be found. How
much do you say you owe?'
- Four thousand to Damereau,
and
who is Damereau?'
Goodness. Alice. if you never did
come to town till this season. you
ought to know who she is. without ask
ing. Mime. Damereau' the great
milliner and dressmaker: every body
goes TO her. You are as ignorant is I
child. Then I owe for India shawls,
and lace. and Jewels, and furs and
things. [ owe six thousand pounds il
owe a farthing.
what sum-" echoed Alice.
aohast Six thousand pounds"
..Ay. YOU may well repeat it! Which
of the Queens was it who said thai
when she died the name of Calais
would be found engraven on her heart:
Mary I think. Were [ TO die, those
two words. six thousand would be
found engraveu on mine They are
never absent from me. [ see them
written up in figures in my dreams;
see them rs [ walk: in the ballroom
in the theater. in the park, they arr
buzzing in my ears; when l wake from
INV troubled sleep they come rushing
over me, and [ start from my bed. SICK
and terrified. and can not escape
them
You must have dressed in silver
and gold" uttered poor Alice.
No; only in what cost it: IN such
things as these said Mrs. Dalrymple
pulling at her bonnet with both hands,
in irritation so passionate. that 1t wa
torn in two.
.Oh, prayi pray!" Alice interposed,
but too late to prevent the catastrophe
..Your beautiful bonnet! Selma. i
must have cost three or four guineas'
What a waste!"
..Tushl" peeyishly replied Mrs. Dal
rvmple, fiinging the wrecks TO the mid
die of the room. "A bonnet more Oh
less. what does it matters?
Alice sat, in thought; looking very
grave, very panied. very perplexed
1T appears to me that you are on
wrong course altogether. Selma Ihe
imprudence already committed can moi
be helped. but you might strive to re
deem 1t.
eStriye AGAINST a whirpool?H sar