Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-09-02
| SOCIETY l MISFITSI
 By CLAUDIA ASHTON - < S-'
By CLAUDIA ASHTON
ss ITS very nice being so rich, John.
 don't you think so?"

the man replied. with every appear ance of heartiness:
 Yes. it's very nice, Sarah; none oi that scrimping and saving we had at Lavender Farm in the old days. Why, you hadn't silk dress to your back then, old woman, and now you've how many?" She smiled faintly, but did not answer, and he continued: ssYes, it was lucky day for us when Uncle Peter died out in Colorado and left us his money, and it was a fine day for us when we. left Lavender Farm and poverty for costly city home and everything we want."
 Sarah Platt sighed softly. Now that the first novelty and excitement of pos sessing fortune had worn off, she was most miserable, and she had asked the question to see if her husband felt the same How could she know that his cheery answer was only for her benefit; that he, too, longed for the days of poverty and freedom: and found the possession of palatial house and host of servants wearisome in the extreme? But he believed that lis wife enjoyed it all, and he would not for worlds have disturbed what he imagined was her condition of pleased contentment
 As matter of fact, the old couples sway over the house and servants was only nominal. A year ago, when the news of their accession to great wealth came to them, they had been living quietly and poorly on tiny Pennsyl- yania farm, and, when they moved from it to the metropolis, they realized that they were unfit to cope unaided with their altered circumstances. The wealthy never lack friends, and so many friends made their appearance that old John Platt and his wife were quite bewildered at all the conflicting advice they received. Eventually low, they hardly knew-they found themselves installed in house whose magnifcence frightened them, and where they never felt at home. and they and it were under the absolute control of Mrs. Dagleish and MT. Hutchinson. The first was Mrs. Platt's companion; the second Mir. Platt's sec retary; tLey both ruled their employ CTS with a rod of iron.
 It seems almost incomprehensible that the two old people could be so wretched, each enormously thinking it was for the sake of the other, but so it was, and the unhappy condition of affairs might have gone on indefin- itely, but for the growth of the seed of jealousy which 1t has been said is in every woman's heart
 It cannot be said what caused it's growth in the heart of Sarah Platt to torment and harass her in addition to the sorrows of wealth whick she al ready bore. Why she was jealous, of whom, or of what, she did not know. It may have been from joking re- mark made one day by Mrs Dagleigh; it may have been because John very rarely came into the parlor for tea with her; it may have been for any reason or for no reason; but the fact remains that a tiny seed of jealousy took root. and from 1t sprang slen- der stalk of suspicion and mistrust,
 And one day chance helped her and showed her where John Platt spent so much of his time. She and Mrs. Dag leish drove to Broadway to have Mrs Dagleish's watch repaired While she ,, was in the store and Mrs. Platt was idly waiting in the carriage and watch ing the passers-by, she saw her hus- band turn into a large office building on the other side of the street. He did not notice the carriage or her, and she. consumed with curiosity as she was, made no sign. Neither did she say anything to Mrs. Dagleish when that lady rejoined her, and she only men tioned casually at dinner that evening that she had been on Broadway. She watched her husbands face closely as she spoke, and to her excited imagina- ton he seemed uneasy and desirous of changing the subject
 But she had made up her mind, and the next day she only waited for, Mrs. Dagleish to retire to her room for her afternoon sleep, to start cityward. She went by the elevated, and was soon at the building she had seen her hus- | band enter. She asked the janitor if ' Mir. Platt Lad an office there
 "No such name in the place. ma'am." he replied. "It may be the queer old party whose name don't know, who comes at odd times. He's got an of5ee in No. IF. on the top floor. but, 90 far as one can see, he does nothing. He never has no letters. nor telegrams. nor visitors. and his ofnce is never cleaned. for he won't let no one inside ' the door"
 "Ts he here nowsT asked Mrs. Plat. her heart beating wildly, for she felt she was on the brink of some discoy- err, and, although she hated herself for being where she vas and her req san for being tEere, she determined 10 finish what she had begun.
 T couldn't say for certain. ma'am. but I think he came in about half an hour ago. I'll take you up in the elevator. if you like, ma'am."
 And in q moment or two Sarah Piatt was standing outside the door marked slz.s behind Ehich shs felt fay all she wanted so know.
 She tapped tiniclT; the door Hsw oven; her husband stood bsfors her.