The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-09

late" she said to- herself. The idea
affected her very unpleassntly. He
grows more silent and reserved, she
added, as though her mind under a
kind of feverish excitement, became
active in a new direction More in
/ drawn. as it were, and less interested
in what goes on around him. His
GOODNESS chills me at times, and his
irritation hurts me- r ~
| She drew long, deep sigh. Then,
came before her mind in contrast. her
tender, loving, cheerful husband of
three years before, and her quiet, ST.
lent. sober faced husband of to-day.
Something is going wrong with
him." she said aloud, as the feeling
grew stronger. 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 de-
sired to do so. There was bill of
sixty dollars, and a communication
from the person sending the bill. He
was a jeweler.
IF this is not settled at once" he
wrote, Il shall put the account in
suit. 1t has been standing for over a
year; and l am tired of getting ex-
cuses instead of money"
The bill was for a lady's watch,
which Mrs. Whiteman had almost
compelled her husband to purchase.
mot paid for z. Is it possible?" ex-
claimed the little woman, in blank
astonishment, while the blood mount
ed to her forehead.
| Then she sat down to think. Light
began to come into her mind. As
she sat thus thinking a second letter
for her husband came in from the
penny postman. She opened it with
out hesitating. Another bill, and an
other dunning letter.
mot paid Is it possible?" She
repeated the ejaculation. 1t was
bill of twenty-five dollars for CATERS
and slippers, which has been stand
ing for three months.
''This will never do?" said the
awakening wife-"never-no, never"
and she thrustthe two letters into her
| pocket in a resolute 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 mourning cloud had
not passed from his brow.
Here is the money for that new
dress" he said, taking small roll of
bills from hissvest pocket, and hand
| ing 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 a smile
just then would have been more
precious to the young wife than
hundred silk dresses. She took the
money, saying
Thank you, dear. 1t is kind of you
to regard my wishes.
Something in Ada voice and man
ner 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 grave and more silent than
usual, and eat with scarcely an appe-
tite.
Come home early, dear said Mrs
Whitman, as she walked to the door
with her husband, after dinner.
Are you impatient to have me ad-
mire your silk dress?' he replied with
a faint effort to smile.
Yes it will be something splen-
did," she answered.
He turned off from her quickly, and
left the house. A few moments she
stood, with a thoughtful face, her
mind indrawn and her whole manner
completely changed. Then she went
to her room and commenced dressing
to go out.
Two hours later and we find her in
jewelry store on Broadway:
Can [ say word to you?" she ad
dressed the owner of the store, who
knew her very we'll.
Certainly" he replied, and they
moved to the lower end OF one OF the
long show cases.
Mrs. Whitman drew from her peck
| ing them on the show case, said, at
the same time holding out the bill she
had taken from the envelope address
ed to her husband
| Il cannot afford to wear this watch.
my husbands circumstances are too
limited. | tell you so frankly. 1t
should never have been purchased,
but too indulgent husband yielded
" 'no ~! poi tan,'i VI ioOiioh WIG
[ say this to take blame from him.
Now, sir, meet the case, if you can do
so in fairness to yourself. Take back
the watch aud say how much | shall
pay you besides
The jeweler dropped his eyes to
think. The case took him a little by
surprise. He stood for nearly min
ute: then taking the bill and watch