Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-07-30
sober Second Thought.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "TEN NIGHTS IN
A BAR. ROOM

IL must Lave it, Charles" said the
handsome little wife of Mr.. Whit
man. $50 dou't put on that sober
face"
"Did put on sober face ?" asked
the husband, with an attempt to
smile that was anything but sue
cess.
"Ies, sober as q man on trial for
his life. Why, it's as long as the
moral law, There, dear, clear It up.
and look as if you had at least one
friend in the world. What money
lovers you men are!n
"How much will it cost?" INQUIRED
Mr.. Whitman. There was another
effort to look cheerful and acquies-
cent.
about forty dollars" was answer.
ed, with just little faltering in the
lady's voice, for she knew the sum
would sound extravagant
"forty dollars! Why, Ada, do you
think 1 am made of money!" Mr..
Whitman's countenance underwent
a remarkable change of expression.
81 declare, Charles" said his wife,
little impatiently, "you look at me
as 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 married,
while Amy Blight has had six or
seven during the same period, and
every one of hers cost more than
mine. / know you think me extrav-
agant, but l wish you had a wife like
some women could name. rather
think you would find out the differ
ence before long"
There, there, pet, don't talk to
me after this fashion! III bring the
money at dinner time; that IL, if"
mo ifs nor 'buts,' If you please.
The sentence is complete without
them. Thank you, dear! I'll go
this afternoon aud buy The silk. So
don't fail to bring The money. Twas
In at Silkskins yesterday, and saw
one of the sweetest patterns ever
laid my eyes on. Just suits my style
and complexion. / shall be inc0n-
solablo If it's gone. You won't dis
appoint me?"
And Mrs. whitman laid her soft,
white hand on the arm of her hus-
band, and smiled with sweet persua~
sion in his face.
"Oh, no. You shall have the mon
ey," said Mr.. Whitman, turning
from his wife, as she thought little
abruptly, and hurrying from her
presence. In his precipitation, he
had forgotten the usual parting kiss.
That's the way it is always ~ said
Mrs. Whitman, her whole manner
changing, rs the sound of the closing
street doors came jarring upon her
ears. "Jnst say money to Charles,
and at once there is cloud in the
sky" .... ....
She sat down pouting and half
angry.
Forty dollars for new dress -
mentally calculated the husband of
vain, pretty, thoughtIess Mrs. Whit
man, as he shut the door after him.
II promised to settle Thompson's
coal bill to-day-thirty- three dollars
but don't know where the money
is to come from. The coal is burnt
up, and more must be ordered. Oh,
dear! I'm discouraged. Every year
| fall behindhand. This winter /
did hope to get little in advance,
but if forty-dollar silk dresses are i'm
order, there's an end to that devoutly
to be wished-for circumstance, Debt,
debt! How / have always shrunk
from it; but steadily, now, it is clos
ing its Briarian arms around me,
and my restricted chest labors i'm
respiration. Oh, if could bot disen-
tangle 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
only make her understand my posi-.
tion rightly. Alas! that is hopeless,
/ fear.n
And Mr.. Whitman hurried his
steps, because his heart beat quick
er, and his thought was unduly ex-
cited.
Not a long time after Mr.. Whitman
left his house, the postman delivered
a letter to his address. Ills wife ex-
amined the writing on the envelope,
which was in bold, masculine hand,
and said to herself, as she did so--"I
wonder who this can be from ?'
Something more than curiosity
moved her. There intruded on her
mind vague feeling of disquiet, as
IL the missive bore unpleasant news
for her husband. The stamp showed
1t to be city letter. A few times,
OF late, such letters had come to his
address, and she had noticed that he
haI rood fha,, hrprfaIIx, tls,,,at tf.a