The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-01-19
NOAT-GRANGE.
CHAPTER vI.-CONrINUEn
EY Mrs. HENRY WooD.

6Y MS HENRY WOOD
CHAPTER vI.-CONrINUEn
"The compact between us was that
you should not GO in debt" he said, in
a severe tone. You have behaved i'll
to me. Selma"
She bent her head. feeling that she
had; OIL, feeling it terribly, just then.
Is this al you owe? ALP"
.Ye-es." But the falsehood, as
falsehoods ought, trcmbled at her lips.
Without speaking another word. he
unsealed auaperin which were inclosed
some bank-notes, and handed several
to her, to the amount of two hundred
pounds. understand ME well, Selma,
this 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. Il wonder whether Alice could
lend it to me?'
She next applied to her sister, but
Alice could not assist her. And night
came on, and she went to rest, no fur
Their advanced than before.
To rest! 1t was mockery of the
word. Mrs. Dalrymple passed it, part
~ 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 feyered
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
now glance ut. That e7il seemed a
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
tanned She had heard of such things
rs pledging jewels; she was sure she
had heard that even noble ladies, driven
to q pinch, SO disposed of them. Mrs.
Dalrymple locked her bedroom door
q 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 tive hun
dred pounds. She supposed she might
be able to borrow four hundred upon
them; and she decided to do 1t. Then,
if that harry of French marchande
de modes was no. paciiied with small
sum, she should have q 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 similar strait, can
picture. 1t almost took away her
weight OF care. The job of pledging
them would not be a 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 a troubled
conscience sees shadows where nc
shadows are, and hers whispered tina,
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 sister.
voice who now asked for admittance
With hasty hand she threw a dress
I'D . H. ho, 4 ~
first, and then heavy one over all
The shining stones were hidden now.
CHAPTER VII
Oscar Dalrymple was sitting ovel
his after-dinner wine, and the street
lamps were lighted, when figure
looking as little like Mrs. Dalrymple a.
possible, stole out Of the house; stol,
stealthiiy, and closed the door stealthil,
behind her, so that neither master no
servant should hear. her. She hat
ransacked her wardrobe for plail
gown and dark shawl, and her straw
bonnet might have served as mode
for Quaker's. She had been out il
the afternoon, and marked the shol
she meant to 60 to. A renowned shol
In its line, and very respectable, evel
Selma knew that. She hurried alon,
the streets not unlike a criminal; ha.
she been going to rob the wareroom
of their Jewels, instead Of offering som
to add to their hidden stock, she coul,
not have felt more guilty. When sh
reached it she hesitated and could no
maze up her mind to enter; she took
tuln or two before its front, sh
glanced in At its door, and its window
crowded with goods. She had neve
been in pswnbroker's shop in he
life, and her ideas of ITS customer
Were vague; comprising gentlewomel
In distress, gliding in as she did, tips,
men carrying their watches in thei
hand, poor objects out of work, il
delapidated shirt-sleeves, and hall
starved women with pillows and fat
irons. 1t looked quiet, inside; SO ia
as che could See, there did not appea
to be soul. With a desperate effor
Of resolution she went in.
She stood at the counter, the chic
part Of the shop being hidden from her
A dark, vulgar-looking man came for
ward.
"What can we do for you, ma amp
Are you tho master?" inquired So
lima
mo"
i wish to SEQ him."
Another presently appeared. and
Mrs. Dalrympls was surprised. She
had expected = So common trades