The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-08-07
NED MOXON'S GRIEVANCE
BY kNeECCA HARDING DAVIS.

Alice NeeGon, after short visit to
Plymr ton, became engaged 20 Edward
MoXon, OF that place, and a 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 PIympton. He was man of high
integrity ana scholarly tastes; he was
young, singularly handsome, gentle
and honorable; in a word, Christian
gentleman. He had inherited the fam
ilv 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
Moxon 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.
"The SCOTS in Plympton, see, have
sent you a miserable pair of sugar
tongs. Now, what can that mean?
The SCOTS are among my Gearest
friends; they know how much L 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?"
81 hope, Alice" he said, gravely,
"that you do not suppose I care for the
sugar tongs? 1t 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 it now" said
Alice.
The guests were gathering in the par
Tor below; the minister had como. She
trembled and grew pale, while her sis
ters, sobbing and laughing, arranged
her veil. Edward soothed her tenderly,
He was quite alive to the imminence OF
the moment. Rut ] st "efcre they
went down he drew her aside and said:
"You wronged me, Alice, in supposing
that | cared for the sugar tongs as
sugar tongs. They express to me a
lack of friendship where have right to
expect it. And your mistake shows a
lack Of confidence in me which,"
ooh, Edward, you are not angry with
Inc now?" she cried.
"Not angry" he said, in a tone of pa
tient suffering, "but hurt. Come, dear,
they are waiting
Aide 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
sugar tongs ranked in his mind.
"You wronged me, Alice" he told her.
SLOW could you suppose that cared for
the money value of the wretched
things?''
II never did, Edward!" she protested,
with tears. "Never!"
well, well, let us dismiss the subject.
Why do you cry? It lis 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
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 were brought I'M
afresh, and the same weary round was
Travelled over again.
There were other grievances. In Ros-
ton the Purdys did rot call upon Alice
for two days. They, too, were his dear
friends, and the neglect Showed a lacl,
OF affection at which he was not angry
but hurt AtNiagara an overcharge in
the hotel bill made him blind to the
grandeur of the falls, the tawdrv col.
ored lights and the oddities of the l;ttlo
town, all of which gave Alice such l,~ N
endowment. "
Don't think of it, Edward" she satd
IL was only so cents, after ALL
lis it possible, Alice, that YOU think
l care for the money! tits the fact that.
nave been overreached which annovs
me-
Il know. But"
No. you do not know" he said. with
an air OF stern endurance. "You think
me mercenary. l am sorry. Let us talk
no more of it." - '''A
Allce' at first, tried to laugh awav
these grim and ugly suspicious in be,.
husbands brain; but that only made
'neir growth more rank. ssI am not :
sensatlse man." he would say. ST am
APT 70 imagine Sights. But when / am