The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-12-19
SOBER SECOND THOUGHT.

SO don'tput on that sober face"
"Did put on sober face?" asked
the husband, with an attempt to smile
that was anything but success.
"Yes, sober as q man on trial for hif
life. Why, it's as long as the moral law
There, dear, clear it up, and look as
if you had at least one friend in the
world. What money lovers you men
are! p
"How much will it cost?" inquired
MIR. Whitman. There was another effort
to look cheerful and acquiescent.
"About forty dollars" was answered,
with Just little faltering in the lady &
voice, for she knew the. sum would
sound extravagant.
Forty dollars Why, Ada, do you
think I am made of money!" Mr..
Whitman's countenance underwent re-
markable change of expression.
81 declare, Charles" said his wife, q
little impati'ntly, "you look at me as if
were an object of fear instead of affec-
ton. I don't think this is kind Of you.
I've only had three silk dresses since we
we're married, while Amy Blight has had
six or seven during the same period,
and every one of hers cost more than
mine. 1 know you think me extrava-
CANT, but I wish you had vie like
some women I could name. I rather
think you'd find out the difference be-
fore long"
"There, there, pet, don't talk to me
after this fashion 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 60 this after
noon and buy the silk. So don't fail to
bring the money. Twas in at Silkskins
Yesterday, and saw one of the sweetest
patterns ever laid my eyes on. Just
suits my style and complexion. I shall
be inconsolable if it's gone. You won't
iisappoint me?"
And Mrs. Whitman laid her soft,
white hand on the arm of her husband,
and smiled with sweet persuasion in his
face.
"Oh, no. You shall have the money, -
said Mr.. Whitman, turning from his
wife, as she thought, 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 chang
ing, as the sound of the closing street
loors came jarring upon her ears. just
.ay 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 u
mentally calculated the husband OF vain,
pretty. thoughtless Mrs. Whitman. as he
shut the door after him.. II promised
to settle Thompson's coal bill to-day
thirty-three dollars-b but don't know
where the money is to come from. The
,.oal is burnt up, and more must be Or
>lered. Oh, dear! I'm discouraged.
Every year I fall behindhand. This
winter I 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
it's Briarian arms around me, and my
restricted chest labors in respiration.
Oh, if could but disentangle myself
now, while have the strength OF early
manhood, and the bonds that hold me
IRE weak. If Ada could see as see-if
LIQUID only make her understand my
position rightly. Alas that is hopeless,
I fear"
And Mr.. Whitman hurried his steps,
because his heart beat quicker and his
thought was unduly excited.
Not a long time after MIR. Whitman
left his house, the postman delivered a
letter to his address. His wife examined
the writing on the envelope, which was
in o bold, masculine hand, and said to
herself, as she did 80: II wonder who
this can be from?"
Something. more than curiosity
moved her. There intruded on her
mind vague feeling of disquiet, as il
the missive bore unpleasant news for
her husband. The stamp showed it to
qe city letter. A few times, of late,
such letters had come to his address,
and she had noticed that he had read
them hurriedly, thrust them without re-
mark into his pocket, and become silent
| and sober-faced.
Mrs, Whitman turned the letter over
and over again in her hand, in athought-
full way, and as she did 80, 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 he,
\ heart.
"Poor Charles p she said, as the
feeling increased; "I'm afraid some
thing 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,
as Of weight, lay upon her heart-a
sense of impending evil "A vague
troubled disturbance Of her usual in
ward dissatisfaction.
If the thought OF Mrs. Whitman re
CURED, as was natural, to the elegant
silk dress Of which she was to become
the owner on that day, she did no
feel the proud satisfaction her vai1
heart experienced little while before