The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-01
1 wonder who this can be from ?,

news for her husband. The stamp showed II
Ia be city letter. A few times, such let,
ters had come 10 his address, and she had
noticed that he read them hurriedly, thrust
them without remark into his pocket, and
became sOber and silent faced.
Mrs. Whitman turned the letter over and
over again in her hand, in thoughtful way
= and, as she did 50. the image Of her husband,
sober.iaced and silent Us he had become, Tor
the most of the time Of late, presented itself
with unusual yiyidncss. Sympathy stole In
10 her heart.
Poor Charles, she said as the feeling in.
cycased /: | am afraid something is going
wrong with him.'
Placing the letter on the mantle piece,
where he could see il when he came in, Mrs.
Whitman entered upon some household du-
ties, but a strange Impression. Us of weight
lay upon her heart-a sense of impending
ryil-a vague troubled disturbance Of her
usual inward selfsatisfaction.
II the thought of Mrs. Whitman recurrcd
as was natural, to the elegant silk dress OF
which she was Ia become the owner ON that
day, she did not feel the proud satisfaction
her vain heart experienced little while be-
fore. Something OF its beauty had faded.
.lfI only knew what that letter contain
ed she said. half an hour after it had come
in, her mind still feeling the pressure which
had come down upon il 50 strangely us 1t
seemed tO her.
She went To the mantle piece, took up the
letter and superscriptiOn. Ii gave her no
light. Steadily il kept growing upon her
that its contents were Ola nature to trouble
her husband.
4 Hes been very mysterious of lute,' she
said TO herself. This idea affected her very
unpleasantly. "a lie grows more silent and
reserved she added, Us thought, under
kind Of feyerish excitement, became active in
a new direction. More indrawn, as it were,
and less interested in what gees ON around
him. His coldness chills mo at times and
his irritation hurts me-
She drew long deep sigh. Then. with
an almost startling yiyidness came before
her mind in contrast, her tender, loving,
cheerful husband Of three years before, and
her quiet sober-taced husband of to-day.
Something must have SOne wrong with
him = she said aloud, rs feeling grew stron-
ger. What can il boz
| The letter was in her hand.
This may give me light said she, and
with careful fingers, size opened the envelope,
not breaking the paper, 81 that she could
seal it again il she desired to do 80. There
was bill for sixty-iye dollars, and a COM
munication from the person charging it. 1t
was jeweller.
If not settled at once he wrote. shall
put the account in suit. IL has been stand |
Ing Tor over year and am tired OF get |
ting excuses in stead OF my money
The bill was for lady w1tch Mrs. Whit |
man had almost compelled her husband to
purchase.
Not paid for ? Is it possible p exclaims
the little woman, in blank astonishment, the
blood mounting TO her forehead.
Then she sat down TO think. Light be-
gsln to come into her mind. As she sat down
thus thinking, u second letter came in from
the penny pOstman. She opened 1t without
hesitation. Another bill and another dun
ming letter.
Not paid is it possible p She repeat
cd the ejaculation. 1t was bill OF twenty |
i've dollars for gaiters and slippers, which
had been standing three or four months.
| This will never do y said the awakened
wile-' never, no, never = and she thrust
the two letters into her pocket in rcsolutc
way. Frum that hour until the return OF
her husband at dinner-time, Mrs. Whitman
did an unusual amount of thinking for her
little brain. She saw the moment hc enter
ed the morning cloud had NOT passed away
from his brow.
Hero is the money for that new dress,
he said, taking small roll Of bills from his
vest pocket, and handing them to Ada, rs he
came in. lle did not kiss her, nor smile in
the old bright way. But his voice was calm
| If not cheerful. A kiss and smile just
then would have been more precious to the
young wife than hundred silk dresses. She
took the money, saying
Thank you, dear it is kind of you to
regard my WISHES
Something ia Ada's voice and manner
caused Mr. Whitman to lit his eyes with
look OF inquiry, "a her face. But she turn
cd aside, ~ that he could not read its ex-
preston.
lie was grave and more silent than usual,
and eat with scarcely any appearance oi an
appetite. ,,, ,,,.
mau, as she walked to tho door with her
husband after dinner.
Arc you inpatient to have me admire
your new drcs< p he replied with h'int ei-
Tort 70 smile.
.Yc, il will be something splendid. she
answered.
lie turned OF from her quickly, and left
the house. \ few moments she stood, with
u thoughtiul face, her mind indrawn, and
her whole manner completely changed. Then
she went to her room and commenced dress |
ing 10 20 out.
Two hours later and we find her in jew
eller store ON broadway.
Can say u word 10 YOU ? She address
cd the owner of the store who knew her very
well.
Certainly he replied, and they moved to
the lower end Of one of the long show casss
Mrs. Whitman drew from her pocket la
dys watch and chain, and laying them on
the showcase, said. at the same time TAX
ing out the bill she had taken from the en-
velope addrvsscd to her husband
II cannot afford to wear this watch my
husbands circumstances are too limited. L
tell you So frankly. Ii should never have
been purchased, but too indulgcnt husband
yielded 10 the importunities OF foolish
young wife. say this to take the blame
from him. Now, sir meet the case II you
can do justice to yourself. Take back the
watch, and say how much shall pay be-
sides.
The jcwcller dropped his eyes to think
The case took him little by SURPRISE. lie
stood for nearly a minute thcn taking the
l bill and watch, he said
.Wait moment, and went to desk near
by.
gain, and now presented her with the oli
reccipted. His lace worea pleased express
I ion.
! How much shall pay You ? asked Mrs
. Whitman, drawing out her rocket book.