Connecticut western news., 1878-11-06
VOL. VII.

sober-faced.
 Mrs. Whitman turned the letter over and over in her hand, in thoughtful way, and as she did so, the image of her husband, sober-faoed and silent as he had become for the most of the time, of late, presented himself with unusual vividness. Sympathy stole into her hea1t.
 "Poor Charles !" 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 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 on that day, she d1d not feel the proud satisfaction her vain heart ex. perienced little while before. Some thing of it's beauty had faded.
 If only knew what that letter con- tained," 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- tion. It gave her no light. Steadily it kept growing upon her that it's con- tents were of a nature to trouble her husband
 "He's been little mysterious of late, " she said to herself. This idea affected her very unpleasantly. "He grows more silent and reserved" she added, as thought, under kind of fever1sh ex- citement, became active in 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 a 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 husband of to-day.
 "Something had 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 a ieweler.
 If this is not settled at once," he wrote, "I shall put the account in suit. It has been standing for over year, and am tired of getting excuses instead of money"
 The bill was for a lady's watch, which Mrs. Whitman had almost compelled her husband to purchase.
 "Not paid for Is it possible ]" ex-
  astonishment, 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, second letter came in for her husband from the penny. postman. She opened it without hesita. tion. Another Jill and another dunnine letter
 "Not paid Is it possible?" She repeated the ejaculation. It was bill of twenty-five dollars for gaiters anG slippers, which had been standing fol | three or four months. "This will never do 1" said the awakening wife" never-no, never !! , And she thrust the two letters into he1 pocket ln 8 resolute way. From tha hour until the return of her husband al dinner time, Mrs. Whitman did al unusual amount of thinking, for he1 little brain. She saw, the moment ht entered, that the morning cloud had no passed from his brow.
 "Here is the money for that nev dress" he said, taking small roll O bills from his vest pocket, and handing them to Ada, as he came in. He did no kiss her, nor smile in the old bright way But his voice was calm, if not cheerful A kiss and smile would have been nor preclous to the young wife than hun dred silk dresses. She took the money saying:
 "Thank you, dear It is kind of yol to regard my wishes."
 Something in Ada's voice and manne caused MT. Whitman to lift his eyes with look of inquiry, to her face. Bu she turned aside, so that he could no read it's expression.
 He was graver and more silent thal usual, and ate with scarcely an appear ance of appetite.
 "Come home early. dear," said Mrs Whitman, as she walked to the doc with her husband, after dinner.
 "Are you impatient to have me ad mire your new silk dress?" he replied with faint effort to smile.
 "Yes. It w1ll be something splendid, she answered.
 He turned off from her quickly, an left the house. A few moments sh stood, with thoughtful face, her min indrawn, and her whole manner con pletely changed. Then she went to he room, and commenced dressing to g , out.
 Two hours later, and we find her in l jewelry store on Broadway.