The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-11-23

he at length had become really sad and
down hearted. His wife had endeavored
to cheer him up, though she was unable
to learn the cause Of his detection.
One evening, just before dusk, Linnie
saw two men pass her window and enter
her husbands shop. One of them she
knew to be the sheriff, and the circum.
stance troubled her not little. She
waited half an hour for her husband to
come to supper, but he did not appear,
and her sutfcrings began to be ACUTE
a thousand conjecturcs fitted through her
mind, but they brought no consolation,
and at length she determined to go to the
shop door and SEQ if she could not over
hear something Of what was passing with
in, feeling that such course would at
least be pardonablc.
Linnic stole out from her front door
and went towards the shop. She placed
her ear 20 the kcyhoIe and listened, but
she could only hear an indistinct hum of
voices, among which was that of her hus.
band. The latter WAS evidently suppl
eating, for his tones were earnest and
mpasslUncd. Soon there was move
mcnt Of feet towards the door, and I.inuic
FASTENED back To the house. Ere LONG
her husband entered. lie looked pal, and
troubled, and with nervous movement OF
the muscles Of his face, rs though he would
have concealed the grief thrt bore him
down, he took his scat ut the table.
Poor linnie watched her companion
with IN anxiety almost agoniz;rg; but
she spoke not Il word until after Arson
hal Sc, back rom the table. The food
remained almost untouched upon his plate
when he moved away, and he would have
left the house had not his wife stopped
him.
Husband" size said, in soft, gentle
tone, at the same time laying her hand
upon his aim, and gazing imploringly
into his face, What is it that trouble,
you'"
Nothing, Linnic," half frctfulIy return
cd he, ard he made motion as if to r..
move his wiCc's hand from lis arm.
"T ere is something, Anson, know
there is. Come do not keep it liom me-
There is nothing that you need know
"Buta wife need know all that can
affect her husband thus. What is it,
Ason"
1t is nothing but my own business and
Il wife need not know all that"
This answer WAS harsh, and tears gushcJ
TO Linnic's eyes.
my dear husband" ,hc said in tenhcr
accents, " to whom, "l, to whom should
You tell Your >orrows, il not to her whc
loves you better than lie itself"
"Forgive mo, forgive m", Linnic i
meant not to wound your feelings. am
very miserable, and harlly know what
! said"
"'Ihcn tell me alI. Come, sit lowm il
my casy chair, for your brow is hot and
fcyerish
Thcr. HOW tell nc.
Ahcr the young man had taken th,
prOiicrcd scat, he gard fnr moment
into the face Of lis wife, and look al
deep anguish rested upon his features.
'Linnic." he snih,"I may as well tel
you all, but YOU must not chidc me, MOI
must you despond, for all is not AS dark
as might be. Tam deeply in debt, and
tomorrow my shop, and all that it con
tains will be advertised by the sheriff FOL
sale"
ain debt" murmured the wife.
ayes. During the last two years have
been purchasing stock on credit, nj d
paying for it as il has been convenient
At first it seemed an easy way Of doing
business, but it has proved fatal; for When
] received the pay for my goods ! forgot
or at least did not sufficiently heed, that
all that money was not mine. / forgot
that more than half of all the money
received belonged to the men Of whom
had purchased stock. Two notes fell due
the day before yestrday, the tnan to whom
] gave them sold them in the way oi
business to Western firm, and now they
must be paid. Tomorrow an officer will
be placed at my shop, and nearly every
thing will have TO be sold. IL is not the
loss Of my stock and tools that care Sc
much about, for I have hcaItl, and
strength and can earn more, but III,
the disgrace ofthe thing. To think tina,
/ should fall like this me--a healthy
stout good mechanic"
"How much do YOU oweT asked LIN
ME, in trembling voice.