The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-08-20
NED MOXON'S GRIEVANCE


Alice Weldon, after a short visit to
Ply,npton, became engaged to Edward
Aoxon, of that place, and few months
later married him. All of her friends
xejoiced 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, siugularly handsome, gentle
and honorable; in word, q Christian
gentleman. He had inherited the fam
lily homestead, large mansion in the
midst of 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
Noxon will at, last be 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.
1.-The SCOTS in Plympton, I see, have
sent you a miserable pair of sugar
tongs. Now, what can that mean?
The SCOTS are among my nearest
friends; they know how much 1 have
done to serve them. Did you observe
these sugar tongs, Alice? Cheap and
light weight! Picked up at some auc-
!tion, no doubt?"
"Dear Edward, what does it mat
ter? What do we care for sugar tongs
&o-day?"
II 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
70 me. There is something underneath
this which do not understand"
do not let us think Of it now," said
Alice.
The guests were gathering in the par
lor below; the minister had conc. 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 immine nee of
the moment. But just before they
went down he drew her aside and said:
s'You wronged me, Alice, in surprising
that I cared for the sugar tongs as
sugar tongs. They express to me q
tack of friendship where I have right to
expect it. And your mistake shows a
lack of confidence in me which,"
"Oh, Edward, you are not angry with
me now?" she cried.
"Not angry" he said, in a tone of pa
'taent 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 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
.eugar tongs ranked in his mind.
"You wronged me, Alice" he told her.
>'How could you suppose that cared for
the money value of the wrctchcd
sthings?'
never ulu, Lu"dru! Sic pTOteSCeOs
with tears. "Neverl"
"Well, we'll, let us dismiss the subject.
Why do you cry? 1t 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. lam
only hurt. You do not apparently I'M
.13erstand nv character at all, Alice dear.
We will 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 Bos-
Ion the Purdys did not call upon Alice
4 Tor two days. They, too. were his dear
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