Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-03-29


Vague feeling of disquiet; as if the mis-
lsive bore unpleasant news for her hus.
band. The stamp showed it to be q
: city letter. A few times, of late, such
letters had come to his address, and she
had noticed that he read them hurriedly
thrust them without a remark into his
pocket, and became silent and sober
faced.
Mrs. Whitman turned the letter over
and over again in her hand, in thought
full way, and as she did so, the image Of
her husband, sober faced and silent as he
has become for most Of the time of late
presented itself with unusual vividness
lSympathy stole into her heart.
"Poor Charles'' she said, as the feel,
ing increased; II am afraid something
sSgoing very wrong a'.as-asSs'-'''
Placing the letter on the mantle piece,
so he could see it when he came in, Mrs
Whitman entered upon some household
duties, but strange impression, as of a
weight lay upon her heart-a vague
troubled disturbance of her usual in
ward self satisfaction.
If the thought Of Mrs. Whitman re-
Cured, as was natural, to the elegant
silk dress which she was to be possessed
of on that day, she did not feel the
proud satisfaction her vain heart expe-
rienced little while before. Something
of its beauty had faded.
eff only knew what the letter con-
tanned" she said, an hour after it came
in, her mina still feeling the press
ure which had come down upon it. so
strangely, as it seemed to her.
She went to the mantle-piece, and
took up the letter end examined the su-
prescription 1t gave her no light
Steadily it Kept growing upon her that
the contents were of nature to trouble
her husband.
"He's been little mysterious of late, y
she said to herself This idea affected
her very unpleasantly. "He grows
more silent and reserved" she added,
as though, under kind of feverish ex-
citement, she became active IN new
direction. ''More indrawn as it were,
and less interested in what goes on
aroun | him. His coldness chills me at
times, and his irritation hurts me-
She drew a long deep sigh. Then,
with an almost startling vividness, came
before her mind in contrast her tender,
loving, cheerful husband of three years
before, and the quiet, silent, sober faced
husband Of to-day.
''Something has gone wrong with
him." she said aloud, as feeling grew
stronger. 'sWhat can it be?''
The letter was in her hand!
This may give ME light" And
with careful fingers she opened the en-
velope, without breaking the paper, SO
that she could seal it again if s1e de
sired to do so. There was communi
cation from the person sending the bill
He was jeweler.
''If this is not settled at once," he
wrote, Il shall put the account in suit
1t has been standing for over year
. and am tired Of getting excuses in
stead of money
The bill was for lady's watch, which
Mrs. Whitman had almost compelled
her husband to purchase.
"Not paid for! Is il possible?" ex
. claimed the little woman, in blank as
: tonishment, the blood mounting to hel
forehead
Then she sat down to think. Ligh
began to come into her mind. As sht
sat thus thinking, second letter for he
husband came in from the penny post
master. She opened it without hesita
ton Another bill, and another dun
ming letter.
"Not paid! as it possible?" she re
peated the ejaculation. 1t was bill o
twenty five dollars for CATERS aud slip
pers, which had been standing three O.
four months.
"This will never do'' said the awaken
ing wife-''never-no, never!" And sht
7 thrust the two letters into her pocket il
resolute way From that hour unit
3 the return of her husband at dinner time
: Mrs. Whitman did an unusual amount
of thinking for her little brain. Sh,
: saw, the moment he entered, that the
-, morning cloud had not passed from hi
brow.
''Here is the money for the new
dress, he said, taking small roll o
: bills from his vest pocket, and handin!
them to Ada, as she came in. He die
, not kiss her, nor smile just then, which
J, would have been more precious to tn
+ young wife than hundred silk dresses
She took the money, saying:
y "Thank you, dear!. 1t is kind of yo,
S to regard my wishes
:, Something in Ada S voice and manner
n caused Mr. Whitman to lift his eyes
e with look of inquiry, to her face. Blu
she turned aside, so he could not rea,
d its expression.
!. He was graver and more silent tha
+ usual, and eat with scarcely an appear
ance of appetite.
t "Come home early, DEAR" said Mrs
Whitman, as she walked to the door wit
:. her husband, after dinner.
i "Are you impatient to have me admir-
/, your new silk dress?' he replied, with
IS faint effort to smile.
l. Eyes, it will be something splendid,
y she answered.
t He turned off from her quickly, an
A. left the house. A few moments sh
e stood, with a thoughtful face, her min
indrawn and her whole manner, CON
is pletely changed. Then she went to he
n room and commenced. dressing to g
IS out.
% "Can [ say a word to you?" She ad
l. dressed the owner Of the store, VIII
l. knew her very we'll.
v, "Certainly," he replied, and they re
Id moved to the lower end of one of tn
in long show cases.
n Mrs. Whitman drew from her pock1
lie lady's watch and chain, and layin
le them on the show case, said, at the san
If time holding out the bill she had take
Id from the envelope, addressed to her hui