Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-07-30
piece, wnere he ccuiu


lay upon her heart--a sense of inn
pending evil-a vague, troubled dis
turbance of hel usual inward self.
satisfaction.
Ii the thought of Mrs. Whitman
REQUIRED, as was natural. to the ele-
CANT silk dress of which she was to
become the owner on that day, -he
did not feel the proud satisfaction
her vain heart experienced a little
while before. Something of its beau
ty had faded.
"1f | only knew what that letter
contained" she said, half an hour
after IL had come in, her mind still
feeling the pressure which had come
down upon it so strangely, as it
seemed to her.
She went to the mautcl- piece, took
up tl.e letter, and examined the su-
prescription. It gave her no light.
Steadily it kept growing upon her
that its contents were of nature to
trouble her husband.
He's been little mysterious of
late" she said to herself. This idea
affected her very unpleasantly. "He
grows more silent and reserved, ="
she added, as thought, under a kind
of fevcrish excitement, became ac-
tive in q new direction. "More in
drawn, as it were, and less interested
in what goes on around him. His
coldness chills me at times. and his
irritation hurts me.n
She drew long, deep sigh. Then,
with an almost startling vividness,
came before her mind, i'm contrast,
her tender, loving, cheerful husband
Of three years before, and her quiet,
sober-fa faced husband of to-day.
Something has gone wrong with
him." she said aloud, as feeling grew
stronger. What can it be?n
The letter was in her hand.
This may give mo light" And
with careful fingers she opened the
envelope, not breaking the paper,
so that she could seal il again If she
desired go to do. There was bill for
sixty dollars, and a communication
from the person sending the bill. He
was a jeweler.
IF this is not settled ut once" he
wrote, II shall put the account in
suit. 1t has been standing for over
year, and | am tired of getting ex-
cuses instead of my money"
The bill was for a lady's watch,
which Mrs. Whitman had almost
compelled her husband to purchase.
"Not paid for! Is it possible p"
exclaimed 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, q second letter
came in for her husband from the
penny'postman. She opened it with
out hesitation. Another bill and an
other dunning letter!
Not paid Is it possible? She re-
peated the ejaculation. 1t was q bill
of twenty-five dollars for CATERS and
slippers, which had been standing
for three or four months.
"This will never do?" said the
awakening wife" never--no, new.
er!n And she thrust the 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 morning cloud had not passed
from his brow.
Here Is the money for that new
dress" he said, taking a small roll
of bills from his vest pocket, and
handing them to Ada, as lie came in.
He did not kiss her, nor smile in the
old bright way. But his voice was
calm, IL not cheerful. A kiss and a
smile would have been more precious
to the young wife than q hundred
silk dresses. She took the money,
saying:
THANK you dear! 1t is kind of
you to regard my wishes"
| ypatl,inn, s. Il. n
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 graver aud more silent than
usual, and ate with scarcely an ap.
pearance of appetite.
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 new silk dress?" he re-
piled, with faint effort TO smile.
Yes. 1t 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 man.
ner 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
addressed herself to the owner of
the store, who knew her very well.
Certainly" he replied, and they
moved to the lower end of the long
showcases.
Mrs. Whitman drew from her pock-
ct lady's watch and chain, and.lay.
ing them on the showcase, said, at
the same time holding out the bill
she had taken from the envelope adj
dressed TO her husband:
81 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
to the opportunities of foolish
young wife. / say this to take blame