The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-08-31

thought, under a kind of feverish excite
ment, became active in q new direction.
''More indrawn, as it were, and less in
terested in what goes on around him.
His coldness chills me at times, and his
irritation hurts me"
She drew long, deep sigh. Then,
with an almost startling vividnes5, came
before her mind in contrast, her tender,
loving, cheerful husband of three years
before, and her quiet, silent, sober faced
husband of to-day.
Something has gone wrong with
him !" she said aloud, as feeling grew
stronger. s'What 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 again if she desired to Go
SO. There was bill of sixty dollars,
and q communication from the person
sending the bill. He was a jewcler.
elf this is not settled at once" he
wrote, 81 shall pat the account in suit.
It has been standing for over year, and
[ am tired of getting excuses instead of
my money" The bill was for lady's
watch, which Mrs. Whitman had almost
compelled her husband to purchase.
'.Not paid for - Is it possible 2" OK
claimed the little woman in blank aston
| ishment, while the blood mounted to her
forehead.
Then she sat down to think Light
began to come into her mind. As she
sat thus thinking, a second letter came
in from the penny postman. She opened
| it without hesitation. Another bill and
another dunning letter
'sNot paid Is it possible 2" she re-
/ IL L Ia, L.
! twenty five dollars for gators and slip
| pers, which had been standing for three
Or four months.
s.This will never do p said the awak-
ened wife-''never-no, never !" And
she thrust the two letters into her pock-
| ct in a regolute way. From that time
until the return of her husband at din
ner time, she did an unusual amount of
| thinking for her little brain. She saw,
the moment he entered, that the morn
| ing cloud had not yet passed from his
brow.
'Here is the money for that new
| Dress" he said, taking small roll of
bills from his vest pocket, and handing
| them to Ada, as he came in. He did not
kiss her, or smile in the old bright way.
| But his voice was calm, if not cheerful.
A kiss and smile would have been more
precious to the young wife than hun
| dred silk dresses. She took the money,
| saying
''Thank you, dear 1t is kind of you
| to regard my wishes.
Something in Ada's voice and manner
caused Mr. Whitman to lift his eyes,
with a look of inquiry, to her face. Bnt
she turned aside, SO that he could not
read its expression.
He was graver and more silent than
usual, and eat with scarcely an appear
ance of appetite.
s'Come home early, DEAR" said Mrs.
her husband.
care you impatient to have me admire
your new silk dress ~ he replied, with q
faint effort to smile.
Eyes. Il will be something splendid, !"
she answered.
He turned off from her quickly, and
left the house. A few moments she
stood, with thoughtful face, her mind
ind1awn, and her whole manner COM
pletely changed Then she went to her
room and commenced dressing to go
ont
Two hours later and we find her in
| jewelry store on Broadway.
"Can [ say word to you?' She ad
dressed the owner of the store, who
knew her very well.
"Certainly," he replied, and they NOV
| en- to the lower end of one of the long
| show cases.
Mrs. Whitman drew from her pocket
a lady's watch and chain, and laying them
on the show case, said, at the same time
| holding out the bill she had taken from
| the envelope addressed to her husband :
81 Cannot afford to wear this watch :;
my husbands circumstances are too linn
tied. tell you SO frankly. It should
never have been purchased, but q too
indulgent husband yielded to the impor-
tunities of a foolish young wife. I say
this to take blame from him. Now, sir.
meet tho case if you can do so in fair
ness to yourself Take back the watch,
and say how much I shall pay you be-
Sides
The jeweler dropped his eyes to think.
The case took him little by surprise.
He stood for nearly minute then tax
ing the bill and watch, he said
''Wait a moment" and he went to a
! desk near by.
'sWill that do ?" He had come forward
again, and now presented Aer with q re-
| ceipted bill. His faGe wore a pleased
/ expression.
Mrs. Whitman, drawing out her pocket
| book.
''Nothing. The watch is not defaced."
| 'sYou have done kind act. sir" said
| Mrs. Whitman, with feeling trembling
| in her voice. 81 hope you Will not think
| unfavorably of my husband. It's no fault
| of his that the bill has not been paid
Good morning, sir.
Mrs Whitman GROW her veil over her
face, and went, with light steps, and n
light heart, from the store. The pleas
ue she had experienced on receiving
the watch WAS not to be compared with
| that now felt in parting with it. From
| the jewelers. she went to the boot max
er's, and paid the bill of twenty fi-c dol
lars from thence to the miliner's, and
settled for her last bonnet.
81 know you're dying to see my new
dress,'' said Mrs. Whitman, esaily, rs
she drew her arm within that of her
husband, on his appearance that even
ing. ''Oome over to our bed room, and
let me show it. Come along. Don't
hang back, Charles, as if you were
afraid"
Charles Whitman went with his wife
passivelg, looking more Ike q man on
his way to receive sentence than in ek
pectation of a pleasant sight. His
thoughts were bitter.
''Shall my Ada become lost to me, he
said, in his heart-'flnst to me in world
Of folly, fashion, and extravaganza s''
ssSit down, Charles She led him to
large, cushioned chair. Her manner
had undergone change. The bright
ness of her countenance had departed.
She took something, in n hurried waT,