The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-05-15
SOBER SECOND THOUGHT.
a STORY FOR THE TINES.

some iittle vile OF MIR. whitman. 80
don't put on that sober face" VII
"Did put on a sober face :" asked the
husband, with an attempt to smile that was
anything but a success.
"Yes, sober as man on trial for his life.
Why it's as long as the moral law. There,
dear. clear it up, aud look at least as if you
had one friend in the world. What money
lovers you men are!"
How much will it cosiP' inquired Mr..
Whitman. There was another effort 10 leok
cheerful and acquiescest.
!. About forty dollars"
Forty dollars! Why, Ada. do you think
| am made oI money!" Mr.. Nhitman's
countenance underwent remarkable change
OF expression.
:" | declare. Charles" said his wife, lit.
tie impalently. " you look at me as il ! were
an object Of affection. don't think this is
kind Of you. I've only had three silk dress
es since we were married, while Amy Blight
has had six or seven during the same peroi,
and every one of hee's cost more than mine.
know you think me extrayagant, but wish
you had a wife like some women | could
name. ! rather think you would find out
the difference before long"
"There, there. don't talk to me after this
fashion! Ill bring you the money at dinner
time, that is, if"
"No. IFS nor butts, il yeu please. The sen.
ience is complete without them. Thank
you, dear! III 20 this afternoon and buy
the silk. So don't fail to bring the money.
was in at Silksins yesterday. and saw one
Of the sweetest patterns ever laid my eyes
on. Just suits my style and complexion. |
shall be nconsolable if IT'S gone. You won't
disappoint me"
And Mrs. Whitman laid her soft. white
hand on the arm Of her husband. and smiled
with sweet persuasion 10 her. face.
20, no. You shall have the money" said
Mr.. Whitman, turaing of from his wife. as
she thought, a little abruptly, and hurrying
from her presehiee. In his precipitation, he
had forgotten the usual parting kiss.
That's the way il is alwaysp said Mrs.
Whitman, as the sound Of the closing street
door came jatFing on her ears. "Just say
money to Charles. and at once there is a
cloud in the sky"
She sat down, pouting and half angry.
"Fory dollars Tor new dress !'--Ren-
tally calculated the husband Of vain, pretty,
thoughtless Mrs. Whitman, as he shut the
door after him. 81 promised TO settle
Thompson's coal bill o.day-thirty- three
dollars-but don't know where the money is
to come from. The coal is burnt up, and
more must be ordered. d. dear! I'm dis.
couraged. Every year fall behind-hand.
This winter. / did hope to get little in adj
vance, but IL furiy dollar silk dresses are 70
be1the order Of the day, there's an end 10
i that devautly TO. be. wished for circumstance.
Debt. debt! How I have always shrunk
from IL. but steadily. now, il is closing it.
/ Briarian arms around me and my construct
Ing chest abors in respiration. Oh. il could
but diseniaugle myself now, while have The
strength Of my early manhoad, and the bond,
that hold me are weak. II Ada could see a.
see--ii | could only make her understand
rightly my positios. Alas that is hopeless
i | fear"
And Mr.. Whitman hurried bis steps. be,
cause bis heart beat quicker, and his though
was unduly exciled.
Not long time after Mr.. Whitman lef
home. the city postmaster delivered lettel
To his address. Ills wife examined the wri
ting on the esseiope. which was in bold
masculine hand, aud said 10 herself, as sh,
did So
81 wonder Who this can be from !"
Something more than curiosity moved her
There iniruded on her mind vague feelin,
Of ,iqui,tude. as il the missiye bure unplras
ant news for her hu .band. The stamp show
ed il 10 be city letter. A few times Of lat
such letters had come 70 his address, and sh
had noticed that he read them burriedly
thrust them without remark into his pocket
and became silent and sober.fseed.
Mrs. Whitman turned the letter over ant
over again in her hand in lhoughiful way
and as she did 50, the image Of her husband
sober.fared and silent. as he had becomc 81
most 81 the time of late, presented itself viii
unusual ,i,iJness. Sympathy stole into hel
heart.
I" Poor Charles" she said, a. the feeling
incressedI 81 an afraid something Is COINS
wrong with him."
Placing the letter on the ntel.piec'
where he could see il when hr came in, Mrs
Whitman entered upon some household du'
! ties, but strange impression, Of weight, IA,
upon her heart--a sense ol impending evil
a vague, troubled, disturbance Of her usua
inward self satisfaction.
II the thought Of Mrs. Whitman REQUIRED
as was natural, to the elegant silk dress q
which she was 10 become the nwner on tha
day, she did not feel the proud satisfaction
her vain heat experienced little while be-
fore. Something Of its beauty had faded.
"lf only knew what that letter contain.
ed" she said, half an hour after il had CONE
IN, her mind still feeling the pressure which
had come down upon Il 50 strangely. as 4
seemed 10 her.
She went TO The maptel el.piece, took up u,
letter, aud examined the superscripiion. i
gave her no light. Steadily il kept GROWN.
upon her that its contents were of a natur,
10 trouble her husband.
"iIes been little mysterious of late.
she said to herself. This idea affected hei
very unplsssantly. "IIe grows more silen
and reserved" she added, as thought unde'