South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1867-04-19
A SOBER SECOND THOUGHT.
A MIRROR FOR YOUNG WIVES.

husband, with an attempt To smile that was
anything but a success.
EYES, sober as n man on trial for his life.
Why, your face is as long rs the moral law.
There, dear, clear it up, and look as il you
had at least one friend in the world. What
money-lovers you men are
GLOW much will it cost? inquired Mr.
Whitman. There was another effort TO look
cheerful and acquiescent. @
"About forty dollars" was answered with
Just little faltering in the lady's voice, for
she knew the sum would sound cxtravagant.
"Forty dollars! Why, Ada, do you think
| am made of money!" Mr.. Whitman's
countenance underwent remarkable change
of expression.
al declare, Charles said his wife, u
tie impatient, "you look at me rs if | were
an object of fear instead of affection. |
don't think this is kind of you. I've only
had three silk dresses since we were mar
ried, while Amy Bright has had six or sew
en- during the same period, and every one
of hers cost more than mine. | know you
think me cxtravagant, but wish you had
a wife like some men | could name. / rath-
er think you would find out the difference
before long"
There, there, pct, don't talk to me in this
fashion I'll bring the money at dinner
time that is, if
"No ifs nor butts ifyou please The SEN
tence is complete without them. Thank
you, dear. I'll 20 this afternoon and buy
the silk so don't fail to bring the money.
! was at Silkskiu's yesterday, and saw one
of the sweetest patterns | ever laid my eyes
on. just suits my style and complexion.
/ Il nd ba
laid her soft, white hand on the arm of her
husband, and smiled with sweet persuasion
in her face.
Oh, no, you shall have the MONEY!" said
Mr.. Whitman, turning off from his wife, as
she thought, little abruptly, and hurrying
from her presence. In his precipitation
he bad forgotten the usual parting kiss.
CHATS the way 1t Is always" said Mrs.
Whitman, her whole manner changing as
the sound of the closing street door came
Earring upon her ear. just say money to
Charles, * at once there is cloud in the sky"
'Forty dollars for a new Dress ejacu
lated the husband of the vain pretty, thought
less woman, as he shut the door after him
IL promised to settle Thompson's coal bill
to-day-thirty-thr dollars-but / don't
know where the money is to come from
The coal is burnt up, and more must be Or
dered o, dear, | aIn discouraged. Every
year | fall behind. This winter did hope
to get little in advance, but If forty dol
lar silks arc to be the order of the day, there's
an end to that devoutly to be wished con-
summation. Debt. debt! how | have shrunk
from 1t . but steadily now it is closing its
Brarian arms around me. So, if l could
but discntanglc myself now, while / have
the strength Of early manhood, and the bonds
that hold me are weak. If Ada could see
as | see if could make her understand
rightly my position. Alas, that is hopeless,
! fear And Mr.. Whitman hurried his
steps, because his heart beat quicker, and
his thoughts were unduly excited
Not a long time after he left home, the
city postmaster delivered a letter TO his adj
dress. The wife examined the writing on
the envelope, which was in a bold masculine
hand, and she said 10 herself as she did so :
81 wonder who this is from 2" Something
more than curiosity moved her. There in
truded on her mind vague feeling of dis
quiet, rs If the nissiyc bore unpleasant news
for 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 became silent
If the thoughts Of Mrs Whitman rccur-
red, as was natural, to the elegant silk dress
OF which she was % become the owner on
that day, she did not feel the proud satisfac-
ton her vain heart experienced little while
before. Something Gifts beauty had faded
eff ] only knew what that letter c0ntsin-
ed, she said half an hour after 10 came in,
her mind still feeling the pressure which
had come down upon it 50 stran gely, as il
seemed b her. She went to the mantle
/ piece took up the letter, and examined the
handwriting. It gave her no light. Steadi-
ly II kept growing upon her thatits contents
were Of a nature to trouble her husband.
Mrs. Whitman turned the letter over
again and again in her hand, in a thought
iul way, and as she did 80, the image of her
husband, sober faced and silent as ne had
become for most Of the time Of late. presen-
ted itself with unusual viyidness. Sympa-
thy stole into her heart
'Poor Charles ~ she said, AZ the feeling
increased, 81 am afraid something is going
wrong with him"
Placing the letter on the mantle, where
he could see twhen be came in, Mrs. Whit
man entered upon some household duties
but strange impression, as Of weight. lay
upon her heart--a sense Of impending evil
/ "a vague feeling thatall was not going well
with her husband
ole has bccn,a little mysterious ~ late "
she said TO herself The idea affected her
so HHaU.I.. q