Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-08-25
NED MOXON'S GRIEVANCE
BIZ knBEccA HARDING DAVIS.

BIZ HNBECCA HARDING DAVIS
Alice Weldon, after short visit to
Plympton. became engaged to Edward
Moxon, of that place, and few months
later married him. All of her friends
rejoiced in her good fortune. Mr.. Mox-
on was one Of the most influential men
in Plympton. He was man Of high
integrity and scholarly tastes; lie was
young, singularly handsome, gentle
and honorable; in word, a Christian
gentleman. He had inherited the fam
lily homestead, large mansion In the
midst of a great estate, 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, significantly: "Now, surely, Ned
Moxon will at last be a happy mani"
But on the morning Of the wedding
day, 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 Plympton, see, have
sent you O. miserable pair of sugar
tongs. Now, what can that mean?
The SCOTS are among my nearest
friends; they know how much have
done to 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 mat
ter? What do we care for sugar tongs
to-day?"
"I hope, Alice" he said, gravely,
that you do not suppose care for the
sugar tongs? It is the affection which
they represent, or, rather, do not rep
resent. The SCOTS have been very dear
to me. There is something underneath
this which do not understand"
do not let us think Of 1t now" said
Alice.
The guests were gathering in the par
Tor below; the minister had como. She
trembled and grew pale, while her sis
tiers, sobbing and laughing, arranged
her veil. Edward soothed her tenderly.
He was quite alive to the imminence Of
the moment. nut j .st nefore they
went down he drew her aside and said:
"You wronged me, Alice, in supposing
that I cared for the sugar tongs as
sugar tongs. They express to me o
lack of friendship where have right to
expect 1t. And your mistake shows o
lack Of confidence In me which"
"Oh, Edward, you are not angry with
me now?" she cried
Not angry" he said, in tone of pa
tient suffering, ''but hurt Come, dear,
they are waiting"
Alice remembered with shame ever
nfterward that the words Of the holy
rite We're mingled in her mind with the
SCOTS and sugar tongs.
On their wedding journey they visited
New York and Boston, where they were
welcomed by hosts of friends, who told
each other that Ned's cup Of happiness
was full. He, himself, was sure of it
Alice grew more lovely and near to his
soul 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 cared for
the money value of the wretched
things?"
81 never did, Edward!" she protested,
with tears. "Never!"
"Well, well, let us dismiss the subject.
Why do you cry? It is not you who have
suffered injustice"
"How can you be angry at such a pal
try thing?" she exclaimed, Indignantly.
Angry? You wrong me again. 1 am
only hurt. You do not apparently I'M
derstand my character at all, Alice dear.
We will speak no more of it,
But the next day and the next the
Scott sugar tongs We're, brought up
afresh, and the same weary round was
travelled over again.
There were other grievances. In Bos-
ton the Purdys did not call upon Alice
for two days. They, too. were his dear
friends, and the neglect Showed a lack
of affection at which he was not angry,
but hurt" AtNiagara an overcharge in
the hotel bill made him blind to tina
grandeur of the falls, the tawdry col
ored lights and the oddities Of the little
town, oil Of which gave Alice such keen
enjoyment.
k.y
Don't think of it, Edward" she said.
ut was only SO cents, after ALL"
us it possible, Alice, that you think
I care for the money! tits the fact that
! have been overreached which annoys
me-"
II know But
mo, you do not know" he said, with
nm air of stern endurance. "You thinl;
he mercenary. am sorry. Let us talk
no more of it,"
Alice, at first, tried to laugh away
these grim and ugly suspicious in her
husbands brain; but that only made
their growth more rank. II am not q
sensitive man." he would say. ~ am