Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-04-18
MOAT-GRANGE.
BIZ MRS HENRY Woon.

r. ady fol tea, as If che had only been
Upstairs to wash her hands. Scarcely
had she reached the middle of the room,
when he rose and laid his hand heavily
on her shoulder. His face, as she
turned to him in alarm, with its drawn
aspect, its glistening eyes, its mingled
pallor and hectic, was so changed that
she could hardly recognize it for his.
A fear crossed her that he had gone
mad, Oscar, you terrify mel" she
shrieked out.
What debts are these that YOU
oweP he hissed, from between his
parted lips.
Was the dreaded moment come, then!
She shook in his grasp, and a low moan
escaped her.
"Four thousand pounds to Dame
reau,. the milliner! How much more
to others?''
"Oh, Oscar, if you look and speak
like that, you will kill me- size uttered.
Forgive me this, and my life's repent
ance shall atone for it.
II ask how much MORE" he repeat
ed, passing by her entreaty as the idle
wind. Tell me the truth, or l will
thrust you from my home and adver-
tise you"
She strove to sink down to hide her
face on the ground; she would certain
ly have sunk there but for his powerful
grasp. He shook her roughly by the
arm. and repeated the question: How
muchp'
"Six thousand pounds-in all
about that. Not more. think
He flung her arm from him with a
Jerk, and she sank down on the carpet
with her face on the sofa, and sobbed
and moaned.
care you prepared to go out and
work for your living as must dopn he
painted. II have nothing to keep YOU
on. and shall not have for years. If
they throw me into a debtors prison
tomorrow, to languish there, can not
help it."
'Do not reproach me-" she mOaned;
IL have suffered much. You have told
me was restless, as one who had COM
mitted crime; you know now what
the crime has been
"You suffer-" he scornfully ejacu-
lated. when up to this time, this
very week, you have been sugmenting
your debt recklessly! Stop your dis
play of tears; crocodiles can shed
them"
She only sobbed the more.
Il was a fool to marry into your
branch of the family" he went on,
stamping his foot, flor mania at
tends it. Your uncle gambled his
means away and then took his own
life; your father hampered himself
with his debts and remained poor; your
hvsot f01l -, L. ~
and now, madam, the mama IS upon
you'll"
Mr.. Dalrympie stopped. for the
servant appeared at the door with the
teacurn. Mr.. Dalrymple motioned
him away. ''No tea tonight" he
authoritively exclaimed; I'VE do not
require it" And he flung the door to,
after the man.
Mrs. Dalrymple did not move. But
every now and then she sobbed out en-
treaties to her husband for forgiveness
It was just as though he heard her not.
His first explosion of passion over, he
smothered it in silence and never
spoke, but he paced the room with
angry strides.
After a while Mrs. Dalrymple gath
cred herself up, and left him: Some
time after, she heard the drawing groom
bell ring, and then her maid came up
to her, tossing and indignant.
"Ma'am! 1 must say this is very
sudden"
Mrs. Dalrymple buried her face over
a drawer, which she pretended to be
looking in, and strove to command her
voice to indifference.
"What is suddenP"
master has ordered me to come and
pack up. He says you must be off to
the Grange with morning light. I
asked him how l was to pack up to-
night. with you and him in the room
asleep, and he said might settle that
with you, but that he should not be in
it,
Mrs. Dalrymple, conscience-stricken
had nothing to answer.
"He says, too, you will not want me
beyond the month, ma am. And that
If like to leave at once, and stop in
town and look out for a place, he'll
give me months board wages. It's
the first time as l ever was dismissed,
In a summonary way, like this" added
the damsel, shaking with her wrongs.
II am very sorry, Ann. Circum-
stances oblige us to make this sudden
change. 1t shall not affect your testi-
monials for any fresh place"
mo, L should hope it wouldn' t,
ma'am. I've always served gentle
folks as didn't make sudden changes.
What's to be done about this packing
upp Am to be kept out of my bed to
do itp And is it to be dono by candle
light?"
Eyes. if Mr.. Dalrymple said so. I
did not know" she added, recollect-
ing herself, ''that he meant to 90 so
early"
THE boxes will get full of candle
grease, and consequently the dresses,
even should no sparks get in and burn
'em up, if that will be any consolation
to him, said the indignant Abigail. in
tone which implied that it would be a
very great consolation to her.
Mr.. Dalrymple did not go to rest
that night. When the servants at
length went to bed they left him in the
OlninO-rOOm. writinc and surrounded