Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-04-15
MOAT-GRANGE.
BIZ MIRA HENRY WoonI

Mrs. Dalrymple was plunging into its
vanities headlong, when Mr.. Dalrym-
plc, in quitting the house one after
noon, encountered young lady who
walked lame.
':Ah. Alice" said he. "Have you
come to LondonP"
1--WE arrived yesterday" replied the
young lady. who was the sister of Mrs.
Dalrymple and the cousin of her hus-
band. "Is Selma at home?"
''She is, for a wonder Waiting for
somebody she intends to go out with. "
''How is she?"
II can not tell how she is. Very
strange. it seems to me!'
II have been anxious about her, re-
Piled Miss Dalrymple, ''for in letter
l received q few weeks ago from Mrs.
Cleveland, she said she thought Selma
any thing but we'll. -
''Take my arm, Alice, and walk
with me few paces," said Mr.. Dali
rymple. There's something the mat
ter with Selma, and can not make it
out" he continued. "She acts, for all
the world, as if she had committed
murder. told her so the other day."
Committed murder!' echoed the
astonished Alice Dalrymple.
"She's frightened at her own shadow.
When the post used to come in at the
Grange she would watch for the boy,
dart down and seize the letters, as Il
of hers. When she was recovering
that fever, and would take her letters
into her, she became blanched and
scared. Often ask her questions, or
addressed remarks to her, and she is
buried in her own thoughts and can not
hear me. She starts and means in her
sleep; and more than once l have
awoke in the middle of the night and
found her gone from the bed and pac-
ing the dressing-room."
you alarm me-" exclaimed Alice.
"What can it bep'
II have thought that she was pi, ing
after London fooleries. but"
"Oh, no." interrupted Alice, "that
could not cause her to start from her
bed at night"
Il was going to say so. And now
that she is in the midst of them again,
she is no better. Alice. she is mad after
these gayeties and follies, worse than
she was last year; and that need not be.
l wished not 10 come this season, and
told Selma the expense, last, had been
| such that / could not afford, but she
| would. She Uould, Alice. l wonder
| what it is that chains her mind to this
| Babel of city. hate it,
| 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 ID
hectic than of health.
"Selinar' exclaimed Alice, ''what Is
the matterp You arc much altered"
"Am 1? People do alter. You are
altered. You look ill.,"
"Not more so than usual" replied
Alice. II get weaker with time. But
you are ill; 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 it?" persisted Alice.
eff l have, your knowing 1t would
do me no good, and would worry you.
And vet" added Mrs. Dalrymple, 81
think will tell you. l have felt late
ly, Alice, that if 1 did not tell some
body 1 should go mad"
Alice rose, and laid gentle hold q
her. LET us sit down on the sofa Il:
we used to sit together at the Grange
when we were really sisters. Blu
Selma, if you have wanted a contidan
in any grief, who so fit as your hus
band?'
"He!" shrieked selina-"he! 1t 1
the dread Of his knowing it, the anxiet,
am at, daily and hourly, to keep /
from him, that Is wearing me out
: Sometimes 1 think 1 can no longe
wage the war;" she added, in a dreat
whisper, ''but must put an end to i
all, as Charles did"
Alice Dalrymple's blood seemed t.
curdle as she listened to the last words
and her face turned of CHASTITY white
pess! She could not answer them, sh
did not dare to answer. or to remon
strate.
What have you donep" she shiv
cred.
"Ruined him and ruined myself,
] was Mrs, Dalrymple's reply, untyin
her bonnet and Jerking 1t from he
:. head on to her lap. "You think hav
+ happy home; if you could only Sc
q what that home has been to me {
= late!''
''Selina!" exclsimed her sister, fain
ly, 'you are trying me beyond M
strength. Why keep me in suspense
OF what nature is your faultP'
a ..Debt," was Mrs. Dalrymp1e's cu1
U response. II have contracted deb
that neither he nor I can pay, tho'
sands upon thousands and they al
rendering my life al will not so
what-upon earth"
''Dehts! thousands upon thousands!
oonfusedly uttered Alice Dalrymple.
eft is So"
"How did you contract them? Not
-as-Charles did? Surely you ha1
not that infatuation upon you?"
"No," answered Selma, gloomil,
mot that. AS bad a one, though.
owe it all for dress"
II do not understand" repeate
Alice, after pause of astonishment.
II do. Damereau's bill for last Sc
son was between three and four tho
;, sand pounds, 1t is over four thousar
pow.'
Alice Dalrymple felt bewildered. 81