The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-08-07

She tried then to argue him out OF ms
morbid fancies. hut this was impossl-
bile. Concerning the tariff, or the last
discovery in science, or new book, no
body could be more rational than Ned
Moxon; but no reason, no arguhiehC
could touch his grievances.
It seemed to her that he gloated over
them. He woke her in the night to tel
her of his deep affection for her or ms
friends. and of the ingratitude With
which he was repaid. Every careless
word or trifing neglect was black
proof of that ingratitude.
Going up the Saguenay, Alice met on
the boat her old friend, Fraulein b
and the two girls chatted together
for an hour on deck, while MoXon, with
a heavy brow, paced up and down.
sYou know" he said, afterward, that
do not speak German. It is the lack
of consideration for me that hurts me.
"But she cannot speak English,
and"
''Pray, do not explain. Tt is a trif1e.
These things sting, however. We VIII
talk no more about it"
For two days of their homeward
Journey he held her aloof with the most
chilly courtesy, sitting silent by her
side, staring out of the car window with
the face of martyr. She found out at
last that a button was wanting on his
glove.
"No, did not tell you," he said, with
patient, injured smile. Glove has keen
eyes for these little services. All, won
der sometimes if you ever loved me,
dear? If it was not respect-esteem,
you bave me-"
"And all this" thought the tortured
Alice, ''to grow out of a button"
But she now neither joked nor argued
with him.
All Plympton, when they arrived,
watched them curiously. They knew
Ned and his grievances. ''She has sound
sense and fine tact, and she loves him
dearly" the older women said. "She
will cure him, if anybody can"
Her first effort at cure was to make
their home bright and cheerful, in
hopes that the innocent gayety might
drive away his moody suspicious. But
he became more melancholy each day,
telling her at last, with a sad patience:
81 do not like company. l had thought
our life would be a long, happy tete-a-
tete in our home"
81 am so sorry, Edward" she cried.
81 only brought these people here to
amuse you"
When the house was empty she babe
no more guests. Then Edward grew
more wretched than before.
"This is unllind of YOU. Alice. You
condemn yourself to solitude to please
me, as if ! were tyraj t and an ogre.
exact no such sacrifice. You are plac-
ing me in false position"
If Mr.. Moxon had been wicked or
malignant man his wife would probably
not have found this trait so difficult to
deal with It would have been in har.
nlony with his whole character But
he was an affectionate, generous fell
low, showering kindness upon his fam
lily, his friends and the poor. He was
liberal, philosophical citizen; he took
the delight of boy in picnics, fishing
parties or any other gayety among the
young people. 1t is true that at each
one some sting was given to what he
called his affections, but what really
was his self-love, and these stings fcs-
tered in his mind for years.
"Ned," one of his cousins said to
Alice, ''is the most lovable fellow il
the world; yet he has a grudge against
every family in Plympton."
As time passed and children began to
grow up around them the strain upon
their mother became almost intolerable
Edward loved his children passionate
w. ba hoo nod IIx-,1,iac ,,DOr
cretly, he believed them superior to all
other human beings; but he nagged
them necessarily, and each of their
petty faults he received as personal in
| suit and injury to himself
''Tom," he would exclaim, with a face
of despair, 'is biting his nails againi l
have spoken to him about it a thousand
times. 1t is open defiance! That boy
despises me, and he shows it," Or,
Rosa writes a wretched hand. She
Knows how ambitious l am that she
should excel in penmanship. She has
no affection for me, Alice-none what
ever!''
1t was in vain that his wife represent
ed that all children were fallible. or
begged him to let time and patience do
mo; make every sacrifice for them.
If they loved me they would not pain me
in this way" he would reply, with real
agony Of soul, when Rosa failed in her
geography or Bob came home bedaubed
with mud
Alice, beyond other women, possessed
sound sense and sweet, Joyous tenn
per; but as she neared middle age her
friends wondered why, blessed as she
was with wealth, good, loving chill
dren and husband whom his church.
party and state honored, she should
have the jadcd, watchful face of one
who has had long struggle with dis
ease or disgrace.
Bob, who was a fiery, excitable lad.
understood tae meaning of her look.
Poor mother!" he said. one dav
after he came home from college. talk
ing her head into his arms. "It would
be easier to fight wild beasts as Epbesus
than to keep guard over nv fathers
temper and mine. But I will make an
end of it, soon"
what do you mean, Robert?"