Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-05-22


of the previous evening escaped his lips.
He left her tortured with surprise. She
flew to Miss Jones for advice and sympathy.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.'
laughed Sarah Mr. Stowel has no more
notion that you went to the ball than that I
went to the club with him. He is angry be-
cause you refused to 60 to the theatre, that's
ALL
l wish could think So exclaimed Louisa:
my doubts make me very miserable
Three days passed. All this time Hiram
appeared the same as on that morning, calm
and reserved, as if oppressed by some great
sorrow. He spent his evenings at home now
with his wife but he conversed with her but
little, never addressing her but on the most
commonplace subjects.
Louisa was wretched her peace of mind
was gone, day and night she experienced the
punishment of remorse. Her own fault grew
more and more hateful to her every hour and
every minute of the day; and all the time her
husbands noble qualities appeared in bolder
relief, casting all his faults in the background,
and silently reproving her for the deception
she had practised towards him.
90, if he would only speak to me, and tell
me why he is offended, Louisa would say to
herself. 'An angry accusation of the worst
faults could endure better than this reserve,
this appearance of sorrowful displeasure, this
whitening coldness'
A week passed and there was no shadow of
change in Hiram manner towards his wife
not the least remarkable circumstance was his
newly formed habit of spending his evenings
with her at home, but his presence only made
her the more miserable now, as he seemed to
take no longer any pleasure in her society.
Many times Louisa resolved to 90 to him,
confess all, and ask his forgiveness, but her
courage always failed her, and she had not the
power even 20 ask him why he was offended
One evening, however, she broke the spell by
inquiring if he would not like to call on some
old friends.
If you desire it l will 60 replied Mr..
Stowell
But | would not have you 90 unless YOU
would enjoy it yourself, said Louisa.
Really, then, returned Hiram, Il am sure
| should not enjoy it; have no desire to see
any body
You are offended with me- Louisa found
courage TO murmur; something have done
Hiram smiled bitterly, but made no answer.
What have done!' pursued Louisa. DO,
do break this horrd silence. Tell me what is
my offence; why are you angry!'
am not angry said Hiram, calmly
Why then are vou SO serions.
Il am sad Louisa-sad to think have
wife in whom l can put no confidence
Louisa became deadly pale, and it was near
ly minute before she could speak; her voice
even then was tremulous and hollow, as if
there was sickness and sinking at her heart.
You Judge me seriously said she, / am
sorry-h-you can place no confidence in me-. ;
You sorry.' echoed Hiram; well, have
no doubt but you are. Without confidence on
one side, there can be no deception on the 9TH
err
Deception y gasped Louisa
Il pray Heaven it deserves no worse
namen exclaimed Hiram
Louisa trembled from head to foot, and her
face became ghastly white. Remorse and fear
and shame made her sufferings too intense for
endurance; and Hiram's cold, searching eye
dove her almost distracted
You love me no longer then = she exclaim-
ed, with wild vehemence Tell me sol had
rather you would, than kill me with those
looks. have forfeited your respect, your af
fection, your friendship! o, forgive me for
give me have deceived you, but have suf-
tered already as much as can bear will
confess all have tried to do SO before, but
your looks froze me-
Il know all, interrupted Hiram, in low,
hollow voice. Yet if you had frankly csn-
fessed your fault before, l might have for
given you. But you have concealed it, or
tried to conceal it too long. | could have for
given your going to the ball, even after refus-
ing to go to the theatre with me but the false
hood you invented, the long concealment, the
studied deception
i acknowledge the wrong!' interrupted
Louisa. 1T was all wrong. l can condemn
myself more than you can condemn me and
yet yon don't know how thoughtlessly | took
the first step which led TO such fatal termi-
nation. You were absent every evening, and
as you never took the trouble to tell me where
you went, fancled had as good right to 90
to ball without speaking of it to YOU II
promised to go, and then was afraid to tell you
and so deceived you, and used falsehood too,
which know you scorn. But you will for
give that fault-say you willard never will
| keep the most secret thought from you again
You forget too, pursued Hiram, sternly,
as if wholly unmoved by her prayer; you for
get how much you dishonor me in the eyes of
others. Or do you care So little for my honor
that you can coolly plot with another, to de-
ceive me! He who assisted you in your en-
terprise, must scorn US both-you as deceiver
me as one deceived
A sudden light flashed upon the mind of the
wretched and humbled Louisa. .u...
'And who do you think that man is she
cried.
81 am sure do not know, replied Hiram,
calmly. 4 saw him with you, but dared not