The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-08-26

30 don put on that face.
Did | put on sober face ?" asked
the husband, with an attempt to smile
that was anything but success.
es, sober as a man on trial for his
life. Why it's as long as the mora law.
There dear, clear up. and look as if you
had at least one friend in tie world. What
money lovers you men are
How much will it cost p inquired
Mr.. Whitman There was another effort
to look cheerful and acquiescent.
about forty dollars, was answered
with Just a little faltering In the lady 5
voice, fer she knew the sum would sound
extravagant
Forty dollars! Why, Ada, do you
think l am made of money! Mr..
Whtman's countenance underwent re-
markabe change of expression.
Il declare, Charles" said his wife, a
little impatientll, you look at me as if L
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 extraYagant, but |
wish you had a wife like some women |
could name rather think you'd find
out the difference before long.
There, there, pet, DON talk to me
alter that fasnIon. I'll bring you the
money at dinner time that is, if
No ifs nor butts if you please. The
sentence is complete without them.
Thank you dear I'll go this afternoon
and buy the silk. SO don't fail to bring
the money. | was in at Silkskins yes
terday. and saw one of the sweetest pat
terms [ ever laid my eyes on. Just
suits my style and complexion | shall
be lnconsolable if it's gone You won t
dlsappoint me r.
And Mrs. Whitman laid her soft, white
hand on the arm of her husband, and
smiled with sweet persuasion In his face
oh, no. GU shall have the money.
said Mr. Whitman, turning from his wife
as she thought a little abruptly, and bur
rying rom her presence. In his precipi
tatlon, he had forgotten the usual parting
kiss.
That's the way it is always" said
Mrs. Whitman, her whole manner chang
ing, as the sound of the closing street
doors came Earring upon her ears Just
say money to Charles, and at once there
IS a cloud in the sky.
She sat down pouting and half angry
Forty dollars for new dress!" men
tally calculated the husband of vain,
pretty, thoughtless Mrs. Whitman, as he
shut the door after him. I promised
to settle Thompson coal bill to-day
thlrtytbree dollars-but don't know
where the money is to come from. The
coal Is burnt up, and more must be or
dered. Oh, dear m discouraged. Ev-
cry year | fall behindhand- This winter
! did hope to get little in advance, but
If forty dollar silk dresses are in order,
there san end to that devoutly to be
wish-for circumstance. Debt, debt !!
How have always shrunk from it: but
steadily now. it Is closing its Brierian
arms around me, and my restricted chest
labors in respiration. Oh, il | could but
disengage myself now, while | have the
strength Of carly manhood, and the bonds
that hold me are weak. If Ada could
see as / sce-if | could only make her
understand my position rightly. Alas
that i, hopeless. fear
And Mr.. Whitman hurried his steps,
because his heart beat quicker, ond his
thought was unduly excited
Not long time after Mr. Whitman
left his house. the postman delivered 4
letter to his address. Ills wife examined
the writing on the envelope, which was
in bold, masculine hand, and said to
herself as she did sol wonder who
this can be from p
Something more than curiosity moved
her. There intruded on her mind vague
feeling Of disquiet, as if the missiye
bore unpleasant news for her husband.
The stamp showed it to be a city letter.
\ few times of late, such letters had cone
t. his address, aud she had noticed that
lie hal read them hurriedly, thrust them
withou, remark into his pocket, and be-
como silent and sober faced
Mrs Whitman turned the letter over
AMI over again IN her hand, in a thought
ful way, and as she did so, the image OF
her husband sober faced and silent as he
had become for the most Of the time OF
late, presented himself with unusual viz
idness Sympathy stole into her heart.
Poor Charles!' she said, - the feel
lug increased; Il NJ afraid something Is
going wrong with him.
Placing the letter on the mantel piece
where he could see it when he came in,
Mrs. Whitman entered upon some house
hold duties; but strange impression, "a
of weight, lay upon her heart--a sense
Of impending evll-a vague, troubled dis
turbance Of her usual inward selfish sat,
isfaction.
If the thought of Mrs Whitman re-
CURED, as was natural, To the elegant silk
dress Of which she vas to become owner
on that day, she did not feel the proud
satisfaction her vain heart experienced a
little while before. Something of it
beeuty.had faded.
IF [ only knew what that letter con
timed" she said, half an hour after il
had came III, her mind still feeling the
pressure which had come down upon il
50 strangely, a it seemed to her
She went to the mante piece took up
the letter, and examined the superscrip-
ton. 1t gave her no light. Steadily it
kept growing upon her that its contents
were Of a nature to trouble her husband
He been a 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 kind of feveri,h excite
ment, became active in new direction.
More indrawn, as it were, and less in
terested in what goes on around him.
His GOODNESS chills me at times, and his
irritation hurts me.
She drew a long deep sigh. Then,
with an almost startling vividness, came
before her mind, in contrast, her tender,
loving. cheerful husband Of three year;
before. and her quiet. sober-faced hus
band Of to-day.
Something has. gone wrong with him,
she said aloud, a feeling grew stronger
w hat 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 ngain if she desired 50 to
do, There was bill for sixty dollars,