Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-04-21

she gave for them. "Guess J" she re.
piled, trying to speak lightly. "Well,
twenty, or twenty-five dollars. perhaps" :"
"Say sixty.dve, and you'll come near.
er the thoh."
mo! you're jcstiug, surely! You
couldn't have been 50 imprudent, SO cx-"
but warning gesture from his wife re.
minded him they were not alosc, and he
resumed his writing with q shadow on
his face that did not escape the eyes Of
Mrs. Wyman, at least.
PLEASE ma'am will ysu scttle.this lit.
tie bill tonight My baby is quite i'll,
and I am sorely in need of food and
medicine; but haven't one penny to
buy with, in the world" She said this
in low, deprecating tone, as if in apollo.
gy for the liberty she had taken.
How much is it, Mary?"
"Three dollars and half, ma'am."
Mrs. Wyman made = show opening
her purse, knowing very we'll that she
had spent every cent. There was nc
help for it.
"Can you let me have the money
James ?" she asked at length, turning te
her husband.
"Why, l gave you fifty dollars thil
morning, Maria. Is it possible that you
have spent it all on those miserale fox
skins, or whatever they are 2"
II told you once what paid for them
James; and of course l have no money
left. II you can't let me have it, OF
spare it, Mary will have to come some
other time for her pay. That's all l car
say"
"And she with sick child. needing a.
she confcsses, both food and medicine
4ow can you put her off at such ;
time. Maria?"
Mr.. Wyman counted out some money
which he placed in the hands Of the poo
woman who vainly tried to conceal hel
emotion. But the blue eyes filed with
tears, and her voice trembled, when ris
ing from her seat, she said gently:
i" thank you sir. It is more than
have had at once, for long. long time,
and may help to save'my darling boy !!
Mr.. Wyman did not resume his writ.
ing after the young woman went out, but
he made turn or two across the room
and then stopped at the FIRE place where
with ono arm resting on the mantle, and
his head on his hand, he stood for : long
while without speaking. Now Mrs. Wy
man was by no means good reader o.
that most complex Of all things humar
heart. She saw that her husband wa.
yexed. if not indignant. Conscious that
she had acted in direct opposition to his
interest as we'll as her own, she was ye
unwilling to own that she ID been in tn,
wrong. and the more she thought Of it
the more she was disposed to find faul
with him.
1t is little thing to make such q
time about ; she said pecvishly. "One
would suppose had spent thousand
dollars to-day, instead Of sixty.fve.
guess you'll stand it though; and the firm
won't break down, either"
but told you Maria, that was moi
able to let you have even fifty dollars lol
such purpose, and knowing a. you did,
that l have made every eudeavor to meet
my expenses, and keep the firm from
bankruptcy for the last six months
can find no excuse for your extravaganza
Indeed it is lnexcusable."
"But you gave me the money, and
knew what it was for, James,"
True, but l thought you really had
too much good sense to spend such sum
on set Of fars, when so many things
essential to our comfort were positively
needed, to say nothing of the two girls
wages, which must be paid within week
1t is not my place or business to say ought
concerning your department, l know
Maria, but l cannot help seeing how it is
with as all. and seeing. forewarning you
Of the consequences of living beyond ou'
means. A bill was sent to my Office this
morning from Miss Harris, with re-
quest tor immediate payment; and before
the boy who brought it was not Of sight
another came with bill and note from
Mrs. Hall, who said in apology, that sht
had applied twice to my wife, but it was
not convenient for her settle it, and she
hoped l would excuse her for troubling
me about it, &C., &C."
Mrs. Wyman listened to all this with
feelings of vcxation and dismay. They
might have waited little longer anc
been none the worse off for it, sh'
thought; for. she fully intended to pay
them when convenient to do so: and al
she did not choose to tell her husbend, HI
of course, knew nothing about them til
they were presented for settlement.
CAS- didn't have money enough will
me, promised to call and settle the bill
this week. and hoped that you could pa!
one of these at least, but might as vel
have asked Charley to do so."
Dir. Wyman spoke in such tone o
bitterness, that his wife looked up in sur
prise, for Of all men he had ever beer
sertle and forbearing; and it was some
thing new 20 hear him talk thus. Blu
there are limits to human endurance, ant
this was not the FIRST time that Mr.. Wy
mans good nature had been as severely
taxed as his purse. More than this, i
panied him exceedingly to find that hi
wife, in her desire to excel her neighbors
had not only sacrificed many home com
forts, but involved him in debt to an ex
tent that TO say the least, was cmbarrass
ing, especially at this time, while he AM
his partner were making every effort t.
save themselves from impending ruin.