Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-04-25

uOOr us lie spoke.
The morrow came, and with it the expected
visitor but poor Mrs. Duncan felt no pleasure
in receiving her her thoughts were full of her
husbands displeasure, which, Though nothing
more was said than has been stately proved
upon her mind, and caused her much unhappi.
ness. Her troubles, however, had commenced.
Mrs. Peacock with the vaun,ing spirit com
mon to vulg minds) descanted at large on the
immense sums she had laid out in furnishing
her new house, making every now and then
remarks, meant to be, though not apparently
derogatory, upon the residence of her friend.
There was no "reminiscences Of her girlhood,
as Mrs. Duncan had antci pated indeed Mrs.
Peacock wished to forget what she had been,
and impress her hostess with profound respect
for what she now was. Mrs. Duncan sat and
stened-she could on the present occasion,
do very little more than lisen-ihough she was
not wont TO take that part only but Mrs. Pea
cock talked so fast, and so loud. that no other
voice could be heard. On her departure, she
expressed hope that Mr. Duncan would ac
company her on her next visit. She was sure,
she said, that Mr. Peacock would be pleased to
see the husband of her early friend and she
hoped the visit would be soon, for she had
some beautiful new purchases to show her.
Mrs. Duncan burst into pass ion of tears
the moment her guest left the house. Her
pent up feelings could find no other vent, and
she wept long and violently. Had she guess
toned herself as to the cause of her grief she
would have been at loss to explain it, even
to herself; but she felt her pride and her feel
ings wounded; and she was dissatisfied with
herself, with her friend, and with her home, and
and her husband.
1t was nearly a week subsequent to the visit
of the purse-proud citizens wife, that Mrs.
! Duncan, just after her husbands departure for
| business, received letter from distant rela
tive, informing her that legacy to the amount
of E200 had been bequeathed to her, adding
that, if she called on the senior partner in the
| firm of Messrs. B Il Co., bankers (who was
the executor to the estate,) the money would
be paid Immediately.
What revusion of feeling took place in
The bosom Of Mrs. Duncan at this Intelligence {?
Was she, then, the owner of so large a sum
independent OF her husband? A fortnight ago
she would have thought how it would assist
him in his business, but now her first idea was,
that it would enable her to vie with Mrs. Pea
cock in the furniture of her house. A desire
for uxuries once kindled in the breast is not
easily extinguished; and Mrs. Duncan's weak
mind had dweat upon her deficiencies so long,
that size had considered herself first an unfor-
tunate, and then an ill-treated woman. How
delightful il must be, she thought, to be able TO
order what she liked, without htZarding giving
Oliense to her husband, as Mrs. Peacock ap-
peared to do. But now the acquisition OF this
legacy would, she believed, make her really
happy, for she imagined that she had a right to
dispose of 1t as she pleased.
With beating heart she Immediately equip
ped herself, and bent her steps to the banking
house to which she had been directed but ups
on her arrival she found the business was not
quite so easily performed as she had antcpa-
| ted. The senior partner was so seriously i'll
that no affairs Of that nature could b, settled !;
she was told however, that there was no doubt
of the money being duly paid in the course of a
few weeks.
Mrs. Duncan was dinapponted but her fer
| tile invention formed plan to obviate, as she
thought, the difficulty arising from the delay as
| he money was shure, there could be no danger
she imagined, in giving the orders for some Of
the articles she was most in want Of and the
plan was put IN execution before her return
home. She must have, she sad entirly new fur.
| nlture for the drawing-room. On entering the
house, however, she could not but be struck with
the shabby appearance OF the passage and stairs.
She must have fresh oil cloth and carpets, and
a new lamp, or it was of no use to furnish her
drawing room and having decided upon this,
she stepped back to the upholsters to order
them. Her next thought was, whether she
would inform Mr. Duncan Immediately of the
| legacy, or leave it to surprise him when her
purchases arrived, and were placed in their re-
spective places and after some minutes hesi-
tatlon she decided upon the latter course; she
should so agreeaby surprise him, she attempt
ed to cheat herself by saying. But the truth
was, she (with the weakness attendant upon
| lndlscreet conducD desired TO put off as long as
possible the evil day; for she felt (though she
would fain persude herself otnerwise) it would
be when her husband came to knowledge Of
what she had done.
The new furniture was accordingly placed
in the drawing-room, the passage and stairs had
their fresh covering and lamps, and few ad-
dtional articles were added to decorate other
apartments, Mrs. Duncan sat waiting the ar
rival of her husband with more than usual in
terest. His we'll known knock was head, and
it was answered by Sally, to whom she had
now communicated her plans. Snc was tutored
Gf her ma ster should make an exclamation of
surprise upon obsrving the change which must
she thought, be obvious upon his entering the
house,) to say that Mrs. Duncan would explain;
but Sally had no need to make such remark, for
Mr.. Duncan was this night too much absorbed
to notice the alterations. His manner was
perturbed and hurried, and he threw open the
parlor door before she had time to close the one
at which he had entered, and presented to his
wite'o astonished gaze an aspect of the deepest
dependency
what is the matter with you, my dear VIII
liam,' the lady exclaimed, all her tenderness
reviving, at the idea Of his suffering surely
you are very III =?
NO. Janet | am not i'll in body, but my mind
is sick have sad intelligence Tor you,' he re-
piled.
What misfortune can have happened! in.
terrogated the wife in breathess agitation
"A misfortune which fear will be our ruin,
my love- was his answer nothing less than
the failure of house upon the credit of which
my success depended; fear shall become
complete bankrupt
Mrs. Duncan heard no more. Her feelings
were too powerful for endurance, and she sunk
fanting upon the floor. In great alarm her
husband rang the bell with violence, and the
faithful domestic hurried into the apartment