The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-06-19

her. There intruded on her mind vague
feeling Of disquiet, as if the missive bore
unpleasant news to her husband. The
stamp showed it to be city letter. A
few times of late, such letters had come
to his address, and she had noticed that
he had read them hurriedly, thrust them
without remark into his pocket, and be-
came silent.
If the thoughts of Mrs. Whitman re-
Cured, as was natural, to the elegant silk
dress of which she was to, become the own
er on that day, she did not feel the proud
satisfaction her vain heart experienced a
little while before. Something of its
beauty had faded.
eff only knew what that letter con-
tanned" she said half an hour after il
came in, her mind, still feeling the pres
sure which had come down upon it SO
strangely, as it seemed to her. She went
to the mantle-piece, took up .he letter,
and examined the superscription. II
gave her no light. Steadily it kept
growing upon her that its contents were
of nature to trouble her husband.
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 had become for most of the time, at
last, presented itself with unusual vivid
ness. Sympathy stole into her heart.
"Poor Charles" she said, as the feel
ing increased. "I'm afraid something is
going wrong with him.
Placing the letter on the mantle piece,
where he could see it when he come in,
Mrs. Whitman entered upon some house
hold duties; but strange impression, as
of weight, lay upon her heart-a sense
of impending evil-a vague feeling that
all was not going we'll with her husband.
"He has been a little mysterious of
late," she said to herself. The idea affec-
ted her very unpleasantly. "He grows
more silent. and reserved" she added, as
though her mind was under kind of fe-
verish excitement, became active in new
direction. "More indrawn as it were e,and
less interested on what goes on around
him. His GOODNESS chills me at times and
his irritation hurts me.
She drew long, deep sigh. Then, with
an almost startled vividness, come before
her mind in contrast. her tender, loving,
cheerful husband of three years before,
and her quiet, silent ,sober-faced husband
of to-day.
Something is going wrong with himp'
she said aloud, as the feeling grew stron-
ger, "What can it be?'
The letter was in her hand.
"This may give me light" And, with
careful fingers, she opened the envelope,
not breaking the paper, so that she could
seal it again if she desired to do so. There
was bill of sixty dollars, and commu-
nication from the person sending the bill.
He was a jeweler.
eff this is not settled at once" he
wrote, II shall put the account in suit
1t has been standing fer over year, and
| am tired of getting excuses instead OF
money"
The bill was for lady's watch, which
Mrs. Whitman had almost compelled her
husband to purchase. "Not paid for? Is
it pocsible?" exclaimed the little woman,
in blank astonishment. while the blood
mounted to her forehead.
Then she sat down to think. Light
began to come into her mind. AS she sat
.thns thinking, second letter came in
for her husband. She opened it without
hesitation. Another bill, and another
dunning letter!
"Not paidl Isit possible2" she repeat
ed the ejaculation. Itwas a bill of twen-
ty-fye dollars for CATERS and slippers,
which had been standing for three months.
"This will never dol" said the awaken
ing wife, "neyer-no, never" and she
thrust the two letters into her pocket in
a resoluts way. From that hour until
the return of her husband at dinner, time,
Mrs. Whitman did an unusual amount Of
thinking for her little brain. She saw,
the moment he entered, that the morning
cloud had not passed from his brow.
"Here is the money for that new dress,
he said, taking small roll of bills from
his vest pocket, and handing them to Ada
as he came in. He did not kiss her, nor
smile in the old bright way. But his
voice was calm, if not cheerful. A kiss
and smile just then would have been
more precious to the young wife than .
hundred silk dresses. She took the mon
ey, saying
"Thank you dear. It is kind of you
to regard my wishes.
Something in Ada's voice and manner
caused Mr.. Whitman to lift his eyes, with
look of inquiry, to her face. But she
turned aside, so that he could not read
its expression.
He was grayer and more silent than
usual, and ate with scarcely an appear.
ance of appetite.
"Come home early, DEAR" said Mrs
Whitman, as she walked to the door with
her husband, after dinner.
care you impatient to have me admire
your silk dress?" he replied, with faint
effert to smile.
eyes; it will be something splendid,
she answered.
He turned off from her quickly, and
left the house. A few moments she stood
with thoughtful face. her mind indrawn
and her whole manner completely chang
cd. Then she went to her room anC
commenced dressing to 60 out.
Two hours later and we find her in {
Ijewelry store on Broadway.
Scan | say a word to you?" she ad