Indiana State sentinel., 1861-01-16


disquiet, as if the missive bore unpleasant news
for her husband. The stamp showed it to be
city letter. A few times, of late, such letters
have come to his address, and she had noticed
that he read them hurriedly, thrust them into
his pocket and became silent and sober faced.
Mrs. Whitman turned the letter over and over
again in her hand in thoughtful way, and as
she did so, the image of her husband, sober faced
and silent, as he had become for most of the time
of late, presented itself with unusual viyidness.
Sympathy stole into her heart.
''POOr Charles" she said, as the feeling in
creased, "I'm afraid something is going wrong
with him.
Placing the letter on the mantle piece. where
he could see it when he came in, Mrs. Whitman
entered upon some household duties, but strange
impression, as of weight lay upon her heart-a
sense of impending evil-a vague troubled dis
turbance of her usual inward sef-satisfaction.
If the thought of Mrs. Whitman required, as
was natural to the elegant silk dress of which she
was to become the owner on that day, she did not
feel the proud satisfaction her,yain heart expert
enced a little while before. Something of its
beluty had faded
IF only knew what that letter contained"
she said half an hour after it had come in, her
mind still feeling the pressure which had come
down upon it, so strangely, as it seemed to her
She went TO the mantel-piece, took up the let
ter, and examined the superscription. ltgave her
no light Steadily it kept growing upon her that
its contents were of nature to trouble her hus-
band.
''He's been little mysterious of late, she said
to herself. This idea affected her mpleasantly.
"He grows more silent and reserved" she added,
thought, under a kind of feverish excitement,
became active i'm new direction. "More indrawn,
as it were, and less interested in what goes on
around him. His coldness chills me mt times, and
his irritation hurts me-"
She drew long sigh. Then, with an almost
startling vividness, came before her mind in con-
tst her tender, loving, cheerful husband of three
wears before and her quiet, silent, soberfaced
husband of to-day.
Something has gone wrong with him,'' she
said aloud, as the feeling grew stronger. "What
can it be?'
The letter was in her hand.
4" This may give me light" And with careful
fingers she opened the envelope, not breaking the
paper. so that she could seal it again if she de-
sired to do SO. There was bill for sixty dol
lars, and communication from the person send
ing the bill. He a jeweler.
g If this is not scttle1 at once he wrote, %
shall put the account in suit. 1t has been stand
ing for over year; and am tired of getting ex-
cuses instead OF my money"
The bill was for the Iady's watch which Mrs.
Whitman had almost compelled her husband to
purchase.
Not paid for Is it possible?' exclaimed the
little woman in blank astonishment, while the
blood mounted to her forehead.
Then she sat down to think. Light began to
come into her mind As she sat thinking, a
second letter for her husband came in from the
penny postman. She opened it without hesita-
ton. Another bill and another dunning letter
"Not paid! Isit possbleg" She repeated the
ejaculation. 1t was a bill of twenty five dollars
for CATERS and slippers, which had been standing
for three or four months.
''This will never do.' said the awakening wife
-'never-no, never!" And in resolute way,
she thrust the two letters into her pocket. From
that hour until the return of her husband at din
ner time, Mr.. Whitman did an unusual amoun-
of thinking for her little head. She saw the very
moment he entered, that the morning cloud had
not passed from his brow
"Here is the money for the new,dress, he said
taking small roll of bills from his vest pocket
and handed them to Ada, as he came in He did
not kiss her, nor smile in the oil way. But his
voice was calm, if not cheerful. A kiss or
smile Just then would have been more precious to
the young wife than hundred silk dresses. She
took the money, saying,
THANK you, dearl 1t is kind of you to regard
my wishes"
Something in Ada's voice and manner caused
Mr.. Whitman to lift his eyes with look of inquiry
into her face. But she turned aside, so that he
could not read its expression.
He was graver and more silent than usual, and
eat with scarcely any appearance of appetite.
"Come home early, dear" said Mrs. Whitman
as she walked to the door with her husband after
dinner.
"Are YOU impatient to have me admire youl
new silk dressg" he replied with faint effort to
smile.
"Yes. 1t will be something splendid" she an
swered.
He turned off from her quickly, and left the
house. A few moments she stood, with thought
full face, her mind indrawn, and her whole man
ner changed Then she went to her room and
commenced dressing to 30 out
Two hours later and we find her in jewelry
store on Broadway.
"Can | say a word with you!" She spoke
to the owner of the store, who knew her very
we'll
Certainly" he replied; and they moved to
the lower end of one of the long showcases.
Mrs. Whitman drew from her pocket a lady's
watch and chain, and laying them on the show
ease, said, at the same time holding out the bill
she had taken from the envelope addressed to her
husband
4" | can not afford to wear this watch; nv hus
bands circumstances are too limited. tell you
so frankly 1t should never have been purchased
but too indulgent husband yielded to the impor
tunities of very foolish young wife. say this
to take the blame from him. Now, sir, meet the
case, ii YOU can dc so in fairness to yourself
Fake back the watch, and say how much shall
pay YOU beside
The jeweler dropped his ewes to think. The
took him a little by surprise. He stood fol
nearly minute; then taking the bill, and watch
he said:
wait moment" and went to desk neal
by.
=" VIII that do?" He had come forward again
4; a
His face wore a pleasant expression.
" How much shall pay your" asked Mrs
Whitman, drawing out her pocket book.
" Nothing. The watch is not defaced."
"You have done kind act, sir, said Mrs
Whitman, with a feeling trembling in her voice
al hope you will not think unfavorably OF m,
husband. It's no fault of his that this bill has no
been paid. Good morning, sir"
Mrs. Whitman drew her veil over her face ant
went, with light step and light heart, from th'
store. The pleasure she had experienced on re
ceving her watch was not to be compared witt
( that now felt at parting with it. From the jewel
er's she went to the bootmaker's and paid the bill
of twenty five dollars; from thence to the millin
! er's, and settled for her last bonnet.
Il know you're dying to see my new dress,
said Mrs Whitman gaily, as she drew her arm
within that of her husband, on his appearance
that evening. Come over to our bed room, am
let me show il. Come along! Don't hang back
Charles, as if YOU were afraid.
"Shall my Ada become lost to me, ," he said, il
his heart-"lost to me i'm world of folly, fashion
and extravaganceg"
"St down, Charles" She led him to a larg
cushioned chair. Her manner had undergone
change The brightness of her countenance hat
departed. She took something, in a hurried way
from drawer, and catching upa footstool, places
it on the floor near him, and sitting down, letne
upon him. and looked tenderly and lovingly int
his face Then she handed him the jewelers. bill
"lt is a receipt, you see" Her voice futtere
little.
Ada! how is this What does it mean?" II
flushed and grew eager.
81 returned the watch, and Mr.. II - re
ceipted the bill. l would have paid for damage
but he said it was uninjured, and asked nothing.
.'0h, Adai"
''And this is receipted also; and this, handin
the other bills which she had paid. And now
dear" she added, quickly, chow do you like m
dressg Isn't il beautfuig"
!, We leave the explanation and scene that FOL
lowed, to the readers imagination. If any fa
lady, however, who, like Ada, has been drawin