Year: 1861

Why; as for that matter, / haven't
laid up much of anything. The fact is
Linnie, you have drawn rather harder
on me than I expected.


But | havn't spent any more money
for trihes and amusements than you
have, and I don't think I have as much.


I didn't mean..to blame you, my dear
only mentioned the circumstances to ex
plain why hadn't laid up anything.
But never mind, there's time enough
yet: and besides we've enjoyed ourselves
I think after this fishing excursion is
over, however, I shall begin to dock my
expenses little for l must lay up
something the next year.


We certainly have every chance to
save money, returned Linnie; for the
house and shop are ours without rent
and-we are free Of debt.


Anson Kimball started at that last
remark and turned his face toward
the window, but his wife did not ap-
pear to notice his emotions.


You know, Anson, continued Mrs.
Kimball, that you promised me should
have five dollars when you went on an
other excursion, and l shall certainly
hold you to that promise.


OF course, that's fair, returned the
young man, but do you need it now?


yes l do.


What are you going to do with it!


You won't be offended!


NO, not the least.


Then to tell the truth, l owe a little
sum.


The young man looked earnestly at
his wife and though he evidently wish
ed to say something about running in
to debt, yet for reasons best known to
himself, he kept quiet, and handed
over the five dollars. .-Anson joined
his old shop matesson their excursion:
and when he returned he thoug ght some
about beginning to cut off some of his
unnecessary expenses, but he introdu-
ced no new system of operations
Once or twice he did refrain from in
dulging some petty appetite, but he
soon settled back into the old track,
and the small bits of money slipped
away as fast as ever.


Three years had passed away since
the young couple were married; and
few could have wished for more social
comfort than they had enjoyed during
the CRATER part of that time. For a
month or two however, the young man
had been gradually more sober and
thoughtful, at length he had become
really sad and down hearted. His wife
had endeavored to cheer him up though
she was unable to learn the cause of
his detection.


One evening, just before dusk, Lin
ME saw two men pass her window and
enter her husbands shop. One of
them she knew to be the sheriff, ana
the circumstances troubled her not a
little. She waited half an hour for her
husband to come to supper, but he did
not appear and her sufferngs began to
be acute. A thousand conjectures fit.
ted through her mind but they brought
her no consolation and at length she
determined to 90 to the shop door and
see if she could not overhear something
Of what was passing: feeling that such
a course would at least be pardonablc.


Linnic stole out from her front door
and went toward the shop. She placed
her ear to the key hole and listened,
bat she could OILY hear an indistinct
hum Of voices, among which was that Of
her husband. The latter was evident
ly supplicating, for his tone was earn
est and impassioned. Soon there was
a movement of feet towards the door
and Linnie hastened back to the house
and ere long her husband entered. lie
looked pale and troubled, and with q
nervous movement of the muscles o.
the face, he thought he would have con
cealed the grief that bore him dcwn, he
took his seat at the table. The fool
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