News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-10-21

hunting SET. 0ne was an ardent horse
woman and rode and drove admirably
She had been received by some very
smart people of the younger set in
the hunts at Hampstead ana Meadow.
brook and if she had pursued these ac.
quaintances, might have found an en-.
tering wedge to the sacred sphere.
But the Brands lived on Little Rock
Bay and 1t was something of hard.
ship for Mrs. Brand to shift her
mounts from her stable half way
across the island An ambitious WON
an would not let such little matter
as that stand in the way of social pre-
ferment, but she found the effort irk-
some. She entered a few of her favor
ties in the horse show, but more from
pride for her horses than in social
quest. In fact, Mrs. Brand was not
society mad. She courted comfort
and liked her own amusements.
When Jane came upon the scene the
situation changed. What Mrs Brand
lacked in way of aspirations, Jane sup
piled, and what young Mrs. Reynolds
lacked in matter of means was amply
furnished by her new friend. And
Jane wanted all or nothing. She craved
not only entree to the circle, but ad-
mittance to it's most sacred confines
She urged Mrs. Brand to seek every
possible avenue of approach to social
recognition and Influenced her to at
tempt lavish entertainments. Brand
was agreeable enough. He rather en-
ioyed the energy and zeal that Mrs.
Reynolds displayed and approved Of
the effect it had on his wife. He as
sisted with a supply of unlimited cash.
James only sesame to her goal was
through her friend and by the means
of her own personal attraction. She
bills from her modiste and milliner
caused Bob many misgiving, despite
the abandon with which he made and
spent his money. He liked to see his
wife look as good as the best and he
plunged harder and deeper SO that he
could crafty her every wish without
the semblance Of question. Economy
was word that he had banished for
ever and if their house had permitted
it he would have urged her to attempt
some of the prodigious affairs that she
shared at the Brands.
Yet while Reynolds INDUCED and
encouraged his wife he found himself
often assuming a care free spirit that
6n did
when the false glamor of his life palled
and he gave way to deepest melan-
choly. More and more he resorted to
the bracing influence of stimulants
and a cessation from this practise only
accumulated his morbidness.
For long time he kept the real
state of his mind from Jane and the
necessity for the deception carried him
farther and farther away from her. In
this life of wealth and gaiety the words
of Brand now came home to him with
poignant sting. He was, indeed, on the
outside looking in. He saw his wife,
through his apostasy, mount higher to
the goal of her ambition while he sank
lower and lower. The metamorphosis
of soul began to take on physical eX-
preston The candor of his express
sion changed to cunning and craftiness
and an inherent frankness of manner
gave way to constraint. At the club
the change became noticeable. His
vivial sort as before. He sought only
one form of amusement-gambling. He
played heavily and lost oftener than
he won. His speculations in the street |
also went awry. Within year from
the date of his ill-gotten prosperity, !
Reynolds had begun paying the price.
He paid heavily and alone.
His thoughts often turned to Dick |
and the happy hours they had spent
in the little bungalow. And Jane had |
seemed happy, too, for the reporters
boyish nature and lovable ways had |
him to both. Reynolds for
got all the difficulties of their life !
across the bay and dated every ele-
ment of discomfort and unrest from |
the time of Brands coming. Brands |
COulluS JuOuSuI VI IL llduO lhO
blood surge through his veins-he |
cursed the day that he had ever made
the millionaire's acquaintance and the
day it had been renewed; and he
cursed Brand himself. What had Brand
ever done or intended to do for him?
He had used him as a pawn in the
game of spoil! A cat's-paw to drag
chestnut from the fame, and then he
had thrown him the shell. And for
such little gain as was his he had suf-
'ered an incompatible loss. He was
burned and scared forever. In the bit
.erness of these moments Reynolds
very soul was racked and torn and in
ais heart, at times, there was murder.
He wondered what Dick knew of
lis actual deal with Brand. He longed
sometimes to look up the reporter and
1are the whole story. But confession
o another would do no good now; it
would not repay the municipality he
lad robbed and it would not renew the
bond of friesdship with the man he
lad cast aside.
When Reynolds rushed after his
wife that night he stopped for Dick
4