Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-09-29


ably emburrosseds nor did Mr.. Burgess iai
to observe thut she was very tardy in max
mig her appearance in the sitting room.
On another occasion, Mr.. Burgess return
ed home under similar circumstances, ait
going directly to his wi(e's room, found le
his astonishmeni, that he could not gain ad
miltance. After some delay, however
during which Hamilton heard footsteps
hurrying to and fro within, and whisper.
ing, Mrs. Burgess opened The door, ano
b!ushing very red, attempted to apologize
for not admitting him before.
e Who was with you! demanded Ham,
lIton. .s
"Wi.h me?" cried Lizzie, much confus
ed.
"Yes, madam hearG whispering, and
am sure somebody jus, passed through that
side door,"
"Oh, that was nobody but Margaret
exclaimed Mrs Burgess, hastily
Hamilton could i'll conceal his vexalion,
but he old not intimate to his y ife that he
suspected her Of equivocalior, nor did she
see fit to attempt full exposition Of the
matter.
Nothing was So d Of this incident aiter>
wards; but for many weeks it occupied
Hamilton's mind. 4 this time he was
| tanrrassed with the cares Of business, and
his brow became more darkly shrouded in
gloom, and his perpexiles thickened Al
last The crisis came! Mr. Burgess saw the
utter inpossiblity OF longer continuing his
almost pro6tless trade, under heavy expeu.
ses. which not onl ly absorbed his small cap
ital, but actualy plunged him into debt
But one honest course was left for him 10
| pursue; and he resolved to close up his af-
fairs, and sell off what stock he had to pay
| his debts.
It was at this time that Mr. Burgess saw
in its true light the error Of which be had
been guilty, in opposing his ~le's desire to
economize, and devote portion of her time
| to useful occupation.
"Had allowed her to Tighten our expen
ses in this way," thought he, IL might not
have been driven to such extrenities
And what has been the result o. my folly?
Why, have kept her ignorant of our pov.
erty until The very last, and now the sud-
den intelligence that we are beggars, will
nigh kill herP'
Satisfied Of the danger, if not the impos-
ibility, Of keeping the secret longer from his
| wife, Mr.. Burgess went home one day, re.
solved to break the intelligence to her wilh>
out hesitation. Entering the house with
his latch kev ne went directly to LiEzie's
room, which he entered unceremon iously.
To his surprise, he found on the table
gentlemon's cap. Of that peculiar fashion
which he had seen worn by postmen and
dandies abou, town. Anxious for an ex.
PLANTATION, he looked around for his wife;
but Lizzie was not in the room. Then
hearing voices in another pnrt ef the house,
he left the ropm by different door from
that by which he had entered, and hastened
to the parlor, where he expected to find
Mrs. Burgess in company with the owner
of that cap. To his surprise, he founG the
parlor vacant, and meeting Margaret in
the hall moment after, he impatiently de.
manded bis wife.
eShe is in the room, sir," said the do
mestic.
Without saying word, Hamilton again
fastened 10 Lizzie's room, where he found
her reading late magazine with affected
Indifference.
"Madam," cried he, angrily, "what does
this mean? Here have been chasing you
all over the house, without being able to
catch you. What company have you JUS,
dismissed"
"What company!' asked Lizzie.
Eyes, madam, what companys"
'Do not speak so angrily, dear Ammy,
Why are you so inpatient"
ssBecause | wish to know what gentle.
man has been favoring you with such
confidential visit!"
Hamilton remembered other occasions
when, on bis coming home unexpec sedly,
his wife had shown signs Of embarrassment;
and, added to this, her present equivocation
rendered him violently jealous. She ap.
peared to shrink from him in fear, ana be-
came alternately red and pale, as she an
swered-
"There has been no gentleman here to
see mel"
s.No onea''
''No one, dear Ammy!"
Mr.. Burgess was on the poiat of demand.
| ing to know who was the owner Of the cap
which he had seen on his wife's table, and
which had now mvsteriously disappeared;
but emotion checked him, and he paced the
| floor in silence.
"This is too much!'' he muttered, ut
length, in the bitterness of his heart. 81
could endure poverty, without uttering
complaint for myself; could endure any
thing but thisp'
"Why, Ammy, what is the ma,ter?''
cried Mrs. Burgess, in alarm.
"Nothing-only we are beggarsp' an
swered Hamilton. abruptly.s
"Have you been unfortunate?'' camly
asked his wife, affec.iona.ely taking him by
| the arm. r.-
"Yes-lhe most unfortunate Of men!
am ruined-we are beggars-bnt''-
''Dear Ammy, you must not let this cast
you down. Business failures frequently
happen, but they ought never to destroy
domestic happiness. Come, how bad off
p L