The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-01-17

feeling of disquiet, as if the missive bore
unpleasant news for her husband The
stamp showed it to he city letter. A few
r times, OF late, such letters had come to his
D address, and she had noticed that he had
read them hurriedly, thrust them without
remark into his pocket, and become silent
and sober faced.
Mrs. Whitman turned the letter over and
over again in her hand, in thoughtful
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 heart.
poor Charles !" she said, as the feeling
increased "Im afraid something is going
wrong vita him."
Placing the letter on the mantel piece,
where fo could see it when he came in,
Mrs. Whitman entered upon some house.
hold duties; but strange impression as
of a weight, lay upon her heart-a sense
of impending evil-a vague, troubled dis
turbance of her usual inward self satsfac-
ton.
Ifthe thought OF Mrs. Whitman required,
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 salts
faction her vain heart experienced little
while before. Something of its beauty had
faded.
IF l 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 strange
ly, as it seemed to her.
She went to the mantel-pece, 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 affected her
and reserved" she added, as thought, I'M
der kind of feverish excitement, became
active in new direction. "More in
drawn, 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 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 oGay.
Something has gone wrong with him."
she said aloud, as feeling grew stronger
"What can it be 2"
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
a bill for sixty dollars, and communica-
ton from the person sending the dill. He
was a jeweler
"If this is not settled at once" he wrote,
II shall put the account in suit. 1t has been
standing for over year, and l 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.
mot paid for Is it possible2" ex-
claimed the little woman, in blank aston
ishment, Will. the blood mounted to her
forehead.
Then she sat down to think. Light be-
gan to come into her mind. AS she sat
thus thinking, second letter came in for
her husband from the postman. She opened
it without hesitation. Another bill and
another dunning letter
mot paid Is it possible ?" She repeat
ed 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 awaken
ing wite-"never no, never J" And she
thrust the two letters into her pocket in
resolute way. From that hour until the re-
turn of her husband at dinner time, Mrs.
Whitman did an unusual amount of think
ing, for her little brain. She saw, the mo-
ment 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 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 Adas 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 express
sion.
He was graver and more silent than usual,
and ate with scarcely an appearance of ap-
petite.
| SOlHC ubIlC Suiiy, ucdi, Shlu MTS.
Whitman, as she walked to the door with
her husband, after dinner
"Are you impatient to have me admire
your new silk dress ~ he replied, with
faint effort to SMILE
YES. 1t will be something Splendid"
she answered
He turned off from her quickly, and left
the house. A few moments she stood, with
| IL, Gal
her whole manner completely changed
Then she went to her room, and commenced
dressing to 60 out.
Two hours later, and we find her in
jewelry store
"Can / say word to you2" She adj
dressed herself to the owner of the store,
who knew her very we'll
Certainly" he replied, and they moved
to the lower end of the long showcases.
Mrs. Whitman drew from her pocket
ladys 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 husband:
II cannot afford to wear this watch my
husbands circumstances are too limited.
tell you so frankly. 1t should never have
been purchased; but a too indulgent hus.
band yielded to the opportunities of a fool
ish young wife. say this to take blame
from him. Now, sir meet the case, if you
can do so in fairness to yourself Take
back the watch, and say how much shall
pay you besides"
The jeweler dropped his eyes to think
The case took him little by surprise. He
stood for nearly minute; then taking the
bill and watch, he said: "Wait mo-
ment," and went to desk near BY
"Will that do 2" He had come forward
again, and now presented her with the re-