The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-03-21
Two hours later and we find her in

"Can ! say a word to you ?" She
addressed the owner of the store, who
knew her very well.
"Certainly," he replied, and they
moved to the lower end of the long
show eases.
Mrs. Whitman drew from her pocket
a lady's watch and chain, and laying
them on the showcase, said, at the
same time holding out the bill she had
taken from the envelope addressed to
her husband
81 cannot afford to wear this watch !;
my husbands circumstances are too
limited. / tell you SO frankly. 1t
should never have been purchased, but
a too indulgent husband yielded to the
opportunities of foolish young wife.
| say this to take blame from him.
Now, sir, meet the case, if you can do
SO in fairness to yourself. Take back
the watch, and say how much / shall
pay you besides"
The jeweler dropped his eyes to think.
The case took him little by surprise.
He stock for near a minute; then TAX
ing the bill and watch, he said {:
"Wai a moment" and he went to a
desk near by.
"Will that do ?" He had come for
ward again, ,and now presented her with
the receipted bill. His face wore a
pleased expression.
'How much shall pay you ?" asked
Mrs. Whitman drawing out her pocket
book.
Nothing. The watch is not de-
faced"
"You have done kind act SIR" said
Mrs. Whitman, with feeling trembling
along her voice. 81 hope you will not
think unfavorably of my husband. It's
no fault of his that the bill has not been
paid. Good morning, SIR"
Mrs. Whitman drew her veil over her
face, and went, with light steps, and a
light heart, from the store. The pleasure
she had experienced on receiving her
watch was not to be compared with
that now felt in parting with it. From
the jewelers. she went to the boot
makers, and paid the bill of twenty five
dollars from thence to her milliner's,
and settled for her last bonnet.
4
81 know you're dying to see my new
dress" said Mrs. Whitman, gaily as she
drew her arm within that of her hus-
band, Oh his appearance that evening.
"Come over to our bedroom, and let
me show it. Come along! Don't hang
back, Charles, as if you were afraid -
Charles Whitman went with his wife
passively, looking more like man on
his way to receive sentence than in ex.
pectation of a pleasant sight. His
thoughts were bitter.
"Shall my Ada become lost to me- y
he said in his heart-''lost to me in a
world of folly, fashion and extrava-
gance?"
"Sit down, Charles" She led him
to large, cushioned chair. Her NJ an.
ner had undergone a change. The
brightness of her countenance had de-
parted. She took something, in a hur
ried way, from the drawer, and catch
ing up footstool, placed it on the floor
near him, and sitting down, leaned up
on him, and looked tenderly and low
ingly into his face. Then she handed
him the jewelers. bill.
"It is receipted you see." Her voice
futtered little.
"Ada? how is this? What does il
mean ?" He flushed and grew eager
81 returned the watch, and Mr.. R
receipted the bill. l would have paid
for damage, but he said it was unin
jured, and asked nothing"
"Oh, Adaw M
Sand this is receipted also; anG
this" handing the other bills which she
had paid. "And now, DEAR" she ad
ded, quickly, show do you like my
dress? Isn't it beautiful %
We leave the explanations and scene
that foil lowed to the readers imagina
ton. If any fair lady, however, who
like Ada, has been drawing too heavily
on her husbands slender income, fol
silks and jewels, is at loss to realize
the scene, let her try Ada's experiment
Our word for it, she will find a new
and glad experience in life. Costly
silks and jewels may be very pleasant
things, but they are too dearly bought
when they come as the price of hus
bands embarrassment, mental disqui
etude or alienation. Too often the gay
young wife wears them as the sign O
these unhappy conditions. Tranquil
hearts, and sunny homes, are precious
things; too precious to be burdeneG
and clouded by weak vanity and love
of show. Keep this in mind, oh "
fair ones, who have husbands in mode
rate circumstances. Do not let your
pride and pleasure Cypress them. Ricf
clothing, costly laces and gems, are
poor substitutes for smiling peace and
hearts unshadowed by care. Take The
lesson and live by it, rather than offel
another illustration, in your own exper
ience, of the folly we have been trying
to expose and rebuke.
A SENSIBLE LANDLoRD.-An ex
change says: "a little incident trans
pired some weeks ago, at one of ou1
Frankfort hotels, which is worthy o
notice. A little girl entered the bar
room, and in pitiful tones told the
koonor fb L L 80