The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-06-19

Placing the letter on the mantel-
piece, where he could see it when he
came in, Mrs. Whitman entered upon
some household duties but Il strange
impression, as of a weight, lay upon her
hoart-a sense of impending evil-a
vague, troubled disturbance of her usual
inward self-satifaction.
If the thought of Mrs. Whitman re-
Cured, rs was natural to the elegant
silk dress of which she was to become
the owner on that day, she did not feel
that proud satisfaction her vain heart
experienced little while before. Some
thing of its beauty had faded.
IF / only knew what that letter con-
tanned" she said, half an hour after it
had come III, her mind still feeling the
pressure which had come down upon it
so strangely, as it seemed to her.
She went to the mantelpiece, 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 aaid to herself. The idea affected
her very unpleasantly. "He grows more
silent and reserved she added, as the
thought, under kind of feverish ex-
element, became active in II new direc-
ton. "More indrawn as it were, and
less interested in what goes on around
him. His GOODNESS chills me at times,
and his irritation hurts me-"
She drew long, deep sigh. Then
with IN almost startling vividness, came
before her mind, in contrast, her tender,
loving, cheerful husband of three years
before, and her quiet. sober-faced nus
band of to-day,
Something has gone wrong with him,
she said aloud as feeling grew stronger.
"What can it be q
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 Go.
There was bill for sixty dollars, and u
communication from the person sending
he bill. He was a jeweler.
If this is not settled at once" he
wrote, Il shall put an account in suit.
1t has been standing for over a year, and
| am tired of getting excuses instead
of money"
The bill was for Il lady's watch, which
Mrs. Whitman had almost compelled her
husband to purchase.
Not paid for! Is it possiblel' eX-
claimed the little woman, in blank as
constituent, while the blood mounted to
her forehead.
Then she sat down to think Light
began to come into her mind. AS she
was thus thinking, second letter came
in for her husband from the penny post
man. She opened it without hesition.
Another bill and another dunning letter !
Not paid Is it possible y She re-
repeated the ejaculation. 1t was bill
OF twenty-five dollars for CATERS and
slippers, which had been standing for
three or four months.
This will never do" said the awak-
ening wife, never-no, never And
she thrust the two letters into her pocket
in a resolute way. From that hour
until the return of her husband at dinner
time, Mrs. Whitman did an unusual
amount of thinking, for 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, ii not cheerful.
4 kiss and a smile would have been
more precious to the young wife than a
hundred silk dresses. She took the
money, saying:
Thank you, dear! 1t is kind of you
u regard my wishes
Something in Ada's voice and manner
caused Mr.. Whitman to lift his eyes,
with look of inquiry, into her face.
But she turned aside so that he could
not read its expression.
Come home early, dear, said Mrs.
Whitman as she walked to the door with
her husband after dinner.
A re You inpatient to have me adj