The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-09-17
TIE SOBER SECOND TIOUGIIr.
ny T. S. AaT1uR.

husband, with an attempt to smile that was
anything but a success.
ayes, sober ms a man on trial for life -
Why, it's Ms long MS the moral law. There
dear, clear il up, and look at least As if you
had one friend in the world. What money
lovers YOU men are.
GLOW much will it coSt!' cnquircd Mr.
Whitman. There was another effort to look
cheerful and acQuesccnt.
About forty dollars was answered with
just a little ialterng in the lady's voice, for
she knew the sum would sound extravagant.
"Forty dollars! Why, Ada, do you think
am made of money" Mr.. Whitman'S
countenancc underwent a remarkable change
Of expression.
81 declare, Charles" said his wife little
impa,icn,ly, "you look at me as if | Was an
object of fear instead Of affection. ! don't
I'll nix that is kind of you, I've only had three
silk dresses since We were married, while Amy
Bright has had six or seven during the same
Rod, and every one Of hers cost more than
mine. | rather guess you'd find out the diff
ference before long.
"There, thee, ret, don't talk to me after
this fashion. Ill bring you the money at
dinner time, that is, it.
mo ifs or butts if you please. The sem
tencc is complete without ther. Thank you
dear! I'll 90 this afternoon and buy the
silk. SO don't fail to bring the money. i
was at Sik>kin's yesterday, and saw one Of
the sweetest patterns ever laid my eyes on.
Just suits NY style and complexion. shall
be inconsoahln ifit's gone. You wont dis
appoint me
And Mrs. Whitman laid her soft hand on
the arm of her husband, and smi'el with
sweet persuasion in his face.
go, no. You shall have the money!" said
Mr. Whitman, tur ing oil from Bis wife, as
she thought, a lttie abruptly, and hurying
from her presence. In his precipitation he
had forgotten the usual parting kiss.
"That's the way it is always" said Mrs
Whitman, her whole manner changing as the
sound of thc closing street door earnn jarring
upon her ears. "Just say money to Charles,
aud at once there is cloud in the sky"
She sat down, poutng aud half angry.
"forty dollars for new dress" mentally
calculated the husband Of vain, pretty, tho't.
less Mrs. Whitman, as he shut the door after
him. II promised to settle the coal bill to-
day-thirty three dollars but don't know
where the money is to come from. The coal
is burnt ny, and more must be- orderel.-
o, dear! I'm discouraged. Every year
fall behind hand. This winter did hope to
get \ little in advance, but if forty dollar
six dreSScs are the order of the day, there's
an end 20 that devoutly to DE wished f)r cir.
cumstance. D.ht-lebt how | ALWAYS
shrunk from it; but, steadily, now, it is closing
lis Brlarlan arms around me, and NY eon,trct.
lag chest labors in desperation. Oh, but if
could but disentancle myself now, while |
have the strength of early manhood and the
bonds that hold me are weak. Il Ada could
see as scc--if | could only make her under
et"nl rightly my position. Alas that is
hopeless | fear
And Mr. Whitman hurried his steps be
cause his heart beat quicker and bis thoughts
were unduly excited.
Not long time after Mr. Whitman left
the house, the city postmaster delivered a
letter to his address. His wife examined the
writing on the envelope which was in bold
masculine hand, and said t. herself:
IL wonder who this can be from"
Something more than curiosity moved her.
There intrude.l on her mind freln. OF dis
quiet, rs if the miS>vo bore unpleasant news
for her husband. The stamp shovel il to BE-
a city letter. a few times of late such let
tcrs bad come to his addr IS, and she had no.
ticcd that he read them hurridly, thrust them
without remark into his pocket, AMI became
silent aud sober faced.
Ms. Whitman turned the letter over and
over again in her hand in a thoughtful way,
aud as she did so the image of her husband,
soberfaced aud silent rs he had become for
most Of the time Of late, presented itself with
unusual viyiiness, awakening sympathy in
her beast.
"Poor Charles" she said as the feeling in.
creased. "Im afraid something is going
wrong with him.
Placing the letter on the mantle piece
whore he could sec it when he camc in, Mrs.
Whitman entered upon her household duties
but strange impression, rs of weight, lay
upon her heart-a sense Of impending evil
"a vague, troubled disturbance of her usual
self-sa,i>iacton.
If the thoughts Of Mrs. Whitman rccur.
red as 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 vain heart experienced little while be.
fore. Something of its beauty had faded.
"lf only knew what the letter contained"
she said, half an hour after the letter came
in, her mind still feeling the pressure which
had come down upon it SO strangely as it
seemed to be.
She wen to the mantlc-piece, took up
the letter, and examined the supor-crlption.
1t gave her no light. Steady IL kept grow.
ING upon her that its coHtcnts were of a ma.
turc to trouble her husband.
Hes been little mysterious of lac,
she said to herself. This idea affected her
very unpcasadtly. ale grows more silent
and reserved she added rs though under a
kind Of icvcrish excitement. "Morc with.
drawn as it were, and less interested in what
gees on around him. Ills coldncss chiIls me
at times. and his irritation hurts mo.
She drew long deep sigh. Then with
an almost startling viyiducss came before her
mind in contrast, her tender, loving, cheerful
husband Of three years before, and her quiet,
silent, sober.laced husband of to-day.
"Sornething has gone wrong with him.
she said soud as feeling grew strougcr.-
"What can it bc!'
The letter was in her hand.
"This may give me light And with