Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-25

suspected herequivocafion. nor did she see
fit to attempt full exposition Of the mat
| ter.
Nothing was said ofthis incident after
wards; but for MANY weeks it occupied
Hamiltons mind All this time he was har-
rassed with cares Of business; and his
brow became more darkly shrouded in
gloom, as his perplex;ties thickened. AT
last the crisis camel Mr.. Burgess saw
the utter impossibilty of longer continuing
his almost pro6tless trade. under heavy
expenses, which not only absorbed his
small capital, but actually plunged him in
TO debt. But one honest course was left
for him to pursue; and be resolved to close
up his affairs, and sell off what stock he
had to pay his debts.
II was at this time that Mr.. Burgess
saw in its true light the error of which
he had been guilty, in opposing his wile's
desires to economize, and devote portion
of her time TO useful occupation.
Had allowed her TO tighten our ex-
penses in this way" thought he, II might
not have been driven to such cxtremities
And what has been the result ofmy folly2
Why, | have kept her ignorant Of our pow
erty until the very last, and now the sudden
intelligence that we are beggars, will well
nigh Kill herl"
Satisfied of lhe danger, if not the impos-
sibihty. Of keeping the secret from his
wife, Mr.. Burgess went home one day, re-
solved to break the intelligence to her
without hesitancy. Entering the house
viii his laich-key, he went directly to
Lizzie's room, which he entered uncere-
momously. To his surprise, he found on
the table a gentleman's cap, of that pecu-
liar fashion he had seen worn by postmen
and dandies about town. Anxious for an
explanation, he looked around for his wife;
but Lizzie was not in the room Then
hearing voices in another part ofthe house,
he left the room by a different door from
that which he had entered, and FASTENED to
the parlor, where he expected TO find Mrs.
Burgess in company with theowner Of tlat
cap. To his surprise he found the parlor
vacant, and meeting Margaret in the hall
moment after, he impatiently demanded
his wife
"She is in the room, SIR said the do
mcsiic.
Without saying a word, Hamilton a.
gain hastened to Lzze's room, where he
found her reading a late Magazine with af-
fected indifference
MADAM, cried he, angrily, "what does
this mean! Here | have been chasing you
all overthe house, without being able to
catch you. What company have you dis
missed!
"What companyl' asked Lizzie.
"fes madam, what company
"Do not speak so angrlly, dear Ammy.
Why are you SO INPATIENT
because wish to know what gentle
man has been favoring you with such
confidential visit"
Hamilton remembered other occasions
when, on his coming home unexpectedly, |
his wife had shown signs OF ctnbarrass-
meni; and, added to this, her present e.
quivocarion rendered him violently jeal-
Gus. She appeared to shrink from him in
fear and became alternately red and pale
as She answered.
"Therc has been no gentleman here to
see mel''
mo onel"
''No one, dear Ammy"
Mr.. Burgess was on the point Of de-
manding to know who was the owner Of
the cap which he had seen on his wfe's |
table, and which had now myslcriousIy
Disappeared; but emotion checked him,
and he paced the floor in silence.
"This is too much!" lie muttcred, at
length, in The bitterness Of his heart II
could endure poverty, without uttering a
complaint for myself; could endure any
thing but this!''
why, Ammy what is the matterl'
cried Mrs. Burgess in alarm.
Nothing-only we are beggars!' an
swered Hamilton, abruptly.
Have you been unfortunate" calmly
asked his wife, aliectionately taking him by
the arm.
"Yes-the most unfortunate Of men! /
am ruined-we are beggara-but"-
"Dear Ammy, you mnst not let this cast
you down. Business failures frequently
happen, but they ought never to destroy
domestic happiness. Come, how bad offare
we! are we really bcggars!'
MY creditors will take every thing"
answered Hamilton, gloomily.
"They will not take us from each other"
said Lizzie
Mr.. Burgess looked at his young wife
with bitter smile.
"Are you such deceiver" he muttered |
through his teeth. "Can youtalk thus when
you have Just dismissed a loverl"
"Sir, cried Mrs. Burgess. a glow ofindig-
nation lighting her fair face. "What do
you meant"
Don't deny what sayl" replied Ham
ilton. You were having an interview with
a gentleman when | came M
Lizzie trembled with Indignation
al saw his cap on the tablet"
Lizzie langhed outright Come here"
she said, leading her husband away.
Hamilton followed her. and she went to
bureau, unlocked a deep drawer, and
opening it, called hcr husbands attention to
It's contents.
1t was half full Of caps!
Hamilton looked at Lizzie IN perplexi-
ty. Lizzie looked at Hamilton and smil-
ed. --... ...f
Il Suppose that you will now declare
that there are twenty gentlemen in the
house" said Mrs. Burgess.
"Lizziei" cried her husband clasping
her hands, 81 am already ashamed of my
suspicious ask your forgiveness But
explain this matter to me. | am dying in
pcrplexity."
well" replied Lizzie, archly. 1 made
those caps"
"You!''
Certainly; that is, ! and Margaret. ]
kept my work secret from you, because
yoH We're opposed to my exerting myself.
and although ynn have come near surPri-
sing me more than once, Ihave carried on