Wichita eagle., 1889-05-09
MOXON'S GRIEVANCES.
They Made Life a Burden to Him
self and Family.

Alice Weldon, after short visit to
Plympton, became engaged to Edward
Moxon, of that place, and few
nouths later married him All OF her
friends rejoiced in her good fortune
Mr. Moxon was one of the most lnf1u-
entail men in Plympton. He was
man Of high integrity and scholarly
tastes; he was young, singularly hand
some. gentle and honorable; in a word,
a Christian gentleman. He had inner
tied the family homestead. large
mansion in the midst of a great es-
tate, and he spared no pains nor cost
now in fitting and decorating it. being
resolved that every thing in her new
home should tell his wife of his love
and care.
People In Plympton said to each
other. gnihcantly: Now, surely,
Ned Moxon Will at last be a happy
mani
But on the morning Of the wedding
dav, while the sun was shining, and
Alice, in her white robes, her blue
eyes beaming with love, came to meet
him, his brow suddenly grew black.
He pointed to the wedding presents.
The SCOTS in Plynpton. see, have
sent you a miserable pair of sugar
tongsi Now. what can that mean?
The SCOTS are among my nearest
friends; they know how much | have
done 20 serve them. Did you observe
these sugar-tongs. Alice? Cheap, and
light weight! Picked up at some auc-
ton, no doubt"
Dear Edward, what does it matter?
What do we care for susar-tongs to-
day?"
81 hope. Alice" he said, gravely,
''that you do not suppose l care for
the sugar-tongs? 1t is the affection
which they represent, or rather. do
not represent. The SCOTS have been
very dear to me. There is something
underneath this which do not under
stand"
do not let US think of it now," said
Alice.
The guests were gathering in the
parior below; the minister had come.
She trembled and grew pale while her
sisters, sobbing and laughing. ar
ranged her vail. Edward soothed her
tenderly. He was quite alive to the
imminencc of the moment But just
before they went down, he drew her
aside and said: you wronged me,
Alice, in sapposing that I cared for the
sugar-tongs as sugar-tongs They ex-
press 10 NE lack of friendship where
i have right to expect it. And your
mistake shows lack of confidence in
me which"
.'Oh. Edward, you are not angry
with me no1OF" she cried.
Not angry" he said, in a tone of
patient suffering, ''but hurt Come,
dear, they are waiting"
Alice remembered with shame ever
afterward that the words OF the holy
rite were mingled in her mind with
the SCOTS and sugar-tongs.
On their wedding journey they Wis
ited New York and Boston, where
they were welcomed by hosts of
friends, VINO told each other that Ned's
cup of happiness was full He, him
self, was sure of il. Alice grew more
lovely and near to his soul with each
day. But the affair of the sUgar-tongs
ranked in his mind.
You wronged me, Alice" he told
her. How could you suppose that l
cared for the money-vAue of the
wretched things?"
II never did. Edwardr' she protest
ed. with tears. Never"
We'll. well. let us dismiss the sub
,ect Why do you cry? 1t is not you
who have suffered injustice"
How can you be angry at such d
paltry thing?" she exclaimed. indig-
nantly.
Angry You wrong ne again I
am only hurt You do not apparently
understand my character at all. Alice.
dear. We viii speak no more of it"
But the next day and the next the
Scott sugar-tongs were brought up
afresh, and the same weary round was
travelled over again
There were other grievances In
Boston the Purdys did not call upon
Alice for two days. They, too, were
his dear friends. and the neglect
showed q lack OF affection at which
he was not angry, but hurt" At
Niagara an overcharge in the hotel
bill made him blind to the grandeur Of
the Falls. the tawdry-colored lights
and the oddities of the little town. al
OF which gave Alice such keen enjoy
ineDt
Don't think of it, Edward" she
said at was only fifty cents, after
all
ais II possible, Alice, that you think
] care for the money, 1t is the fact
that have been overreached that
annoys me-"
81 know. But"
mo, YOU. ID not know he said.