Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-12-01

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 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
"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 = q vague,
| troubled disturbance of her usual in
ward self-satisfaction.
II 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 not
feel the proud satisfaction her vain
heart experienced little while before.
Something of its beauty had faded.
'"If | only knew what that letter con-
tanned, she said, half an hour after it
had come in, her mind still feeling the
pressure which had come down upon it
so strangely, as it seemed to her.
She went to the mantel-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 nature to trouble her husband.
"He's been little mysterious of
late, she said to herself. This idea af-
fected her very unpleasantly. "He
grows more silent and reserved" she
added, as thought, under kind of
| feverish excitement, became active in a
new direction. More indrawn, as it
were, and less interested 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 vividness, came
| before her mind, in contrast, her tender,
loving, cheerful husband of three years
before, and her quiet, sober-faced hus-
baud of to-day. ,.--
Something has gone wrong with
him." she said aloud, as feeling grew
stronger. 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 so to
do. There was bill for sixty dollars,
and communication from the person
sending the bill. He was jeweler.
eff this is not settled at once" he.
wrote, "I shall put the account in suit
1t 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 % ex-
claimed the little woman, in blank as
tonishment, 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 for her husband, from the postman.
She opened it without hesitation.
Another bill and another dunning letter!
" Not paid Is it possible ?" She re-
peated the ejaculation 1t was bill of
twenty-five dollars for CATERS and slip
pers, which had been standing for three
or four months.
"This will never do" said the awak-
ening wife" -"never-no, never p And
she thrust the two letters into her pocket
in resolute way. From that hour until
the return of her husband atdinner time,
Mrs. Whitman did an unusual amount
of thinking, fer her little brain. She
saw, the moment he entered, that the
morning cloud had not 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, nor 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 hundred 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 look of inquiry, to her face. But
she turned aside, so. that he could not
read its expression.
He was graver and more silent than
usual. and ate with scarcely an appear
ance of appetite.
| "Come home early, DEAR" said Mrs.
Whitman, as she walked to the door with
her husband, after dinner.
care you impatient to have me admire
your new silk dress ?" he replied, With a
faint effort to smile.
eyes. 1t will be something splen-
did," she answered.
He turned. off from her quickly, and
left the house. A few moments she
stood, with a thoughtful face, her mind
indrawn, and her whole manner COM
pletely changed. Then she went to her
room, and commenced dressing to go out.
Two hours later, and we find her in @
jewelry store.
Can / say word to you? ?" She ad-
dressed herself to the owner of the store.
who knew her very well.
Certainly" he replied, and they
moved to the lower end of the long show
cases.
Mrs. Whitman drew from her pocket
lady's watch and chain, and laying
them on the showcase, said, at the same
time holding out the bill she had taken
from the envelope addressed to her hus.
band
~ cannot afford to wear this watch :
my husbands circumstances are too
limited. | tell you SO frankly. It should
never have been purchased but too
indulgent husband yielded to the impor-
tunitits of foolish young wife. say
this to take blame from him. Now, sir,
roaot tba ooaa 70 1n,, oo,, 1c .o -, S.,