The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-01-12
MOAT-GRANGE.
By MRs. HENRY WooD.

CHAPTER vI-CoST1SvEp
Mrs. Dalrymple was in her bedroom
when Alice entered, dressed. and wait
ing to go out; dressed with expensive
elegance. When the first moments of
meeting had passed, Alice sat down
and looked at her; her cheek was thin,
and its brilliant bloom told more Of
hectic than of healt'
SELMA exclaimed Alice. what is
the matter? You are much altered"
lam II 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; can see it. You look 10
if you had something proving on your
mind"
Nonsense" said Selma. starting
from her sister. "You are fanciful'
What is it," persisted Alice.
IF | have, your knowing ii would
do ME no good. and would worry you.
And vet" added Mrs. Dalr,mple. Il
think will tell you. | have felt late
IL, Alice. that ii | did not tell some
body | should 20 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 a contidant
in any grief. who so tit as your hus-
band?'
'.Hc!' shriekcd Selina-.he, 1t is
the dread Of his knowing it, the anxiety
! am at, daily and hourly. to keep it
from him. that is wearing me out.
Sometimes | think | 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
curdlc as she listened to the last words,
and her face turned Of CHASTITY white
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
happy home: if you could only see
what that home has been to me of
late!'
''Selina" exclaimed her sister, faint
~, you are trying me beyond nv
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 l can pay, thou
sands upon thousands; and they are
rendering my life al will not say
what-upon earth"
debts. thousands upon thousandsl''
confusedly uttered Alice Dalrymplo.
1T is so.
.How did you contract Them? Not as
-as-Charles did? Surely you have
not that infatuation upon you?"
NO answered Selma, gloumily,
mot that. As bad one, though.
owe it all for dress"
Il do not understand repeated
Alice, after a 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 Dallymple felt bewidered. She
did not quite understand, even yet.
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"
And SO they led you on!'
Something led me on. If one Ii in
the world. one must dress"
mo, Selma: not as You have done.
Not to ruin. The generality of people,
even those with a small income, as
yours is, do not dress beyond their
means
And make sights of themselves. l
don't choose to-
Better that. and have peace of
mind.' remarked Alice.
Peace of mind. peace of mind" re-
turned Mrs. Dalrymple: do not men,
ton it to me. shall never know it
again
'Oh, Selma, hope YOU will. l hope
some remedy may be found. How
much do you say you owe?'
Four thousand to Damereau,
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. Nine. Damereau' the grea.
mi!liner and dressmaker: every body
goes to her. You are As ignorant as a
child. Then owe for India shawls,
and lace, and Jewels. and furs and
things | owe six thousand pounds if
! owe farthing"
what sum- echoed Alice,
aghast six thousand poundsl'
lay. You may well repeat it. Which
of the Queens was it who said that
when she died the name of Calais
would be found engraven on her heart?
Mary think. Were | to die, those
two words. six thousand would be
found engraven on mine. They are
never absent from me. | see them
written up in figures in my dreams; !
see them Us | walk: in the ballroom.
in the theater. in the park, they are
buzzing in my ears; when wake from
my 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.
mo; 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 it was