Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-12-04
"No.,' returned the wife, in her usua

[ sob, there's no trouble about that.
"Don't you remember the conversation
we had year ago on this subject2'' asked
Linnie.
Eyes; T remember that you talked about
saving money. but we amt any poorer now
than we would have been if / had stayed
at home."
| But tell me, Arson, have yon laid up
as much during the past year as you eA
pected to?'
"Why. as for that matter. havn't laid
up much of anything. The fact is, Linnie,
you have drawn rather harder on me than
| expected"
:'But | havn't spent any more money for
trivial affairs and amusements than yon
have, Arson, and don't think as much. :"
II didn't mean to blame you, my dear;
mentioned the circumstance to explain
why had not laid UP anything. But
never mind. there is lime eiougihyet, ami
besides, we've enjoyed ourselves. think
after this fishing excursion is over, how
ever, 1 shall begin to lessen my expenses n
little, for must lay up little something
the next year"
''We certainly have every chance to save
money! returned Linnie, ''for both the
house and shop ale ours without rent, and
we are free from debt"
Arson Kimbal started at that last re-
mark. and turned his face toward the Win
dow, but his wife did not appear to notice
his emotion.
''You know, Anson," continued Mrs
Kimball. "that yoss promised me / should
have five dollars when you went on another
excursion, and shall certainly hold you to
your PROMISE
s'Of course-that's fair" returned the
young man, 'sbut do you need it now?''
Yes. !"
s'What are you going to do with it?''
"You won't be offended
"No.''
THEN, to tell you the truth. / owe a lit
tie sum-
The young man looked earnestly at his
wife, and though he evidently wished to
say something about her running into debt,
yet for reasons best known to himself, he
kept quiet and handed over the five acllars9
Auson Joined his old shoplntstes~-1pi
their excursion, and when he returned he
thought some about beginning to cut off
some of his unnecessary expenses, buj he
introduced no new system of operations.
| Two OF three times he did refrain from in
duiging in some petty appetite, but he soon
settled back into the old track, and the
| o>e, cJi CT &c
ever.
Three years had passed away since the
young couple Were married, and few could
have wished fer mere social comfort than
they had enjoyed during the greater part
of that time. For Il month or two, how
ever, the young man had been gradually
growing more sober and thoughtful until
at length he had become really sad and
down hearted. His wife had eNdeavored
to cheer him up, though she Was unable to
learn the cause of his detection.
One evening, just before dusk, Iinnie
saw two men pass her window and enter
her husbands shop. One Of them She
knew to be the sheriff, and the circum-
stance troubled her not d little. She wait
ed half an hour for her husband to come
IT, supper, bit he did not appear, and her
suffering began to Ue acute. a thousand
conf lectures fitted through her mind, but
they brought her 10 consolation, aud at
/ length she determined to go to the shop
door aid see if she could not overllear
something of what what passing within,
| feeling That at least such Il course would
be paruonable.
Linnie stole out from her front door and
went toward the shop. She placed her ear
to the keylol+, and listened, but could only
hear all indistinct lummnlng OF voices,
among which was that Of her husband {.
The latter was evidently supplicating, for
his tones were earnest and impassioned
Soon there Wds Il movement OF feet toward
the door, AMI Linnie FASTENED back to the
house. Ere long her husband entered.
He looked pale and troubled, and with Il
nervous movement OF the muscles Of his
face. as though he would have concealed
the grief that bore him down, he took his
seat at the table.
Poor Linnie watched her companion with
a look that was almost agoniz!ng, but she
smoke not d VOID mt after Ansun had set
back from the table. The food remained
almost untouched upon his plate When he
moved away, and he would have left the
house had not his wife stopped him.
S.iIusband,' she said. i'll a soft gentle
tone, at the same time laying her hand
upon his arm, and g.,zing imploringly into
his face, ''wllat is it that troubles you -
''Nuthing, Linnie," half fretfully RETURN
ed he, and he made Il motion as if to re-
move his wife's hand from lis arm.
There is something, Arson, | know
there is. Come. do not keept from ne. y
"There is nothing that you neel know. "
''But Il wife need know all that can affect
her husband thus. What is it, Arson ~
lit is nothing but my own business, and
a wife need not know al that"
This answer was harsh, and tears gushed
to Linnie's eyes.
'My dear husoand," she said, in tender
accents, ''to whom, ., to whom should you
tell your sorrows if not to her Who loves
you better than life ITSELF
"Forgive me, forgive me, Linnie-I
meant not to wound your feeling, am very
miserable, and hardly know what Isaid. -
''Tnen tell me all. Come sit down in my
easy chair, for your brow is hot and fever
ish There now, tell me-"
After the young man had taken the
protfered seat, he gazed for moment into
the face of his wife, and Il lock OF deep
anguish rested upon lls features.
"Linnie," he said, II may as well tell
you all, but you must not chide me nor
JacnonI FAR MI ic .t II rr nc