Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-05-05

bh Af1E AZ Or LEN n Dan
ROOM"
81 must have it, Charles" said tn
handsome little wife of Mr.. Whitman
80 don't put on that sober face"
did put on a sober face?" asket
the husband, with an attempt to smil,
that was anything but a success.
"Yes, sober as man on trial for hi
life. Why, it's as long as the mora
law. There, dear, clear it up, and loOl
as ifyou had at least one friend in tn,
world. What money lovers you mer
are!'
How much will it cost?" inquired
Mr.. Whitman. There was another eff
fort to look cheerful aud acquiescent.
about forty dollars" was answered,
with just little faltering in the lady'i
voice, for she knew the sum woulC
sound extravagept.
Forty dollarsl Why, Ada, do you
thiL am made of mOney?n Mr.. Whit
mau's countenance underwent remark,
able change of expression.
II declare, Charles" said his wife, q
little impatiently, you look at me as il
1 were an object of fear instead of affec-
ton. | don't think this is kind of you
I've only had three silk dresses since
we were married, while Amy Blight ha:
had six or seven during the same period
and every one of hers cost more than
mine. l know you think me extrava
CANT, but wish you had wife like
some women l could name. l rather
think YOU'D find out the difference before
long,
There, there, pet, don't talk to me
after this fashion! "I'i bring YOU the
money at dinner time; that is, if"
Motifs nor butts, if you please.
The sentence is complete without them
Thank you, dear! I'll go this after.
noon and buy the silk. So don't fail to
bring the money. 1 was in at Silkskins
yesterday, and saw one of the sweetest
patterns ever laid my eyes on. Just
suits my style and complexion. L shall
be inconsolable if it's gone. You want
disappoint me?n
"And Mrs. Whitman laid her soft,
white hand on the arm other husband,
and smiled with sweet persuasion in his
face.
"Oh, no. You shall have the money!
said Mr.. Whitman, turning from bis
wife, as she thonght 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, as the sound of the closing
street doors came jarring 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 a new dress!n men,
tally calculated the husband of vain.
pretty thoughtless Mrs. Whitman, as he
shut the door after him. 81 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 Or
dered. Oh, dear! I'm discouraged.
Every year / fall behind-hand. This
winter l did hope to get little in ad-
vance, but if forty-dollar silk dresses
are in order, there's an end to that de-
voutly to be wished-for circumstance.
Debt, debt! How [ have always shrunk
from it; but steadily, now, it is closing
its Brierian arms around me, and nv
restricted chest labors in respiration. Oh
if could but disentangle myself now,
while have the strength of early man
hood, and the bonds that hold me are
weak. If Ada could see-if I could
only make her understand my position
rightly. Alas! that is hopeless, L fear"
And Mr.. Whitman hurried his steps,
because his heart beat quicker, and his
thought was unduly excited.
Not long time after Mr.. Whitman
left his house. the postman delivered a
letter to his address. His wife exam
ined the writing on the envelope, which
was in bold masculine hand and said
to herself, as she die SOL wonder who
this can be from?"
Something more than curiosity mov-
ed her. There intruded on her mind a
vague feeling of disquiet, as if the mis-
slve bore unpleasant news for her hus-
band The stamp showed it to be a city
letter. A few times, of late, such letters
had come to his address, and she had
noticed that he had read them hurried
ly,thrust them without remark into his
pocket, and become silent and sober
faced
Mrs. Whitman turned the letter over
and over again in her hand, in a
thoughtful 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 vividness. Sympathy stole into
her heart.
Poor CharlesW she said, as the feel
ing increased; I'm afraid something is
geing wrong with him."
Placing the letter on the mantelpiece,
where he could see it when he came in,
Mrs. Whitman catered upon some
household duties; b ut strange impress
sion, as of weight, lay upon her heart
a sense of impending evil, vague.
troubled disturbance of her usual in ward
self satisfaction.
If the thought of Mrs. Whitman re-
Cured, as was natural, to the elegant
silk dress of which she was to become
the owner OH that day, she did not feel
the proud satisfaction her vain heart
experienced little while before
Something of its beauty had faded.
''If only knew what the letter con-
tained," she said, half an hour sfter it
had come in her mind still feeling the
pressure which had come down upon it
so strongely, as it seemed to her.
She went to the mantel-piece, took up
the letter, and examined the su perscrip-
ton. 1t gave her no light
Steadily it kept growing upon her
that its contents were of a nature TO
trouble her husband.
"He's been little mysterious of late,n
she said to herself. This idea affected
her very unpleasantly. HE grows
more silent and reserved" )" she added,as
thought, under kind of feverish ex-