Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-10-09

!. -e&~-t
j the utmost pains to conceal his eireulnsts -
! from his wife.
: Itwasin this state Of mind, that Mr RI,
CESS pne day lefehls business and went ham
unexpectedly, 1t was at an hour when II,
zie LEASE thoughtief seeing him, and on thi
occasion she appeared considerably embar
rasseds ner did Mr. Burgess fail to obsery,
that she was very tardy IN making her ap
pearance in the sitting room.
On another occasion. Mr. Burgess retprn.
ed home under similar circumstances an
going directly to his wifes reoai. found y
his establishment, that be could net gain al.
mittanee Aftersemd delay. however. IN.
ring which Hamilton heard footsteps hurrv.
Ting to and fro within, and whispering. Ms
Burgess opened the door. and binshing vprv
red, atssmpted to apologize for not admitting
him before 2
Il Mhow was with yon g demanded Hamilton
With me z cried Lizzie, much confused
Yes madam. | heard whispering, aud
am sure somebody just passed through that
side door
oh, that was HOSody but Margaret e1,
claimed Mrs Burgess hastily. liz
Hamilton could i'll conceal his gexatien.
but be did not intimate to his wife that he
suspected her Of equiFocation. no. did she
see ftEtO attempt d full exposition Of the
matter
Nothing was said OF this inciasns after
wards but for many weeks il occupied
hamiiton's mind All this time lie was har-
raised with cares Of business, ana his brow
eecame more darkly sRrodded in gloom, as
his perPiexities thiskened At last the crisis
came Mr. Burgess j w the utter impossi-
sstlty "a longer continuing his almost profit, \
less trade, under heavy expenses, which not
only absorbed his small capital, but actually
plunged him into debt But one honest
course was left for him tp pursue and ho
reserved 70 close up his affairs, and sell off
what stork he had to pay his debts.
It was at this time that Mr., Burgess saw
IN its trpe light the error Of which he hal
been gqIlty, II opposing his wife's desire to 1
ecsnOm mtg and devote 1 portion Of Ar time
to useful occupation
Had | allowedlher to tighten our *
Fpenses II this uay,'thopght he, might not
have been driven to sudh extremties And
what has been the result of my folly2 Why,
| have kept her Ignorant Of our poverty nm.
til the very last, and now the sudden intelIi-
gence that we are begg4 rs, eill well nigh Ill
her 7
Satisfied ofthe danger, if not the snpessi.
bility, Of keeping tile Setret longer Aom his
VIE, VI 4. burgess went home one Eay, re-
solved tpfbreak the intelligence 10 lsr with!
'ut hesitation Entering the Leuse5uitb bis
atch- key, he went directly to Lixzie's room
fhiea he entered uncerfmoniously To his
urprise' ne isund on the table gentleman's
ap, Of that peculiar fashion which lie had
cen worn BY postmen and dar.d; AA.=--l:--,.
different door from that BY which he had
ntercd. and fastened to the parlor, where
] expected to find Mrs. Burgess in company
nth the owner of hatc9P To bis SURPRISE
e found the parlor vacant, and meeting
,Iargardtin the hall moment after, he i'm
,atiently demanded his wife. ],
sShe Is in the room, sir, said the domestic
Without saving "a word, Hamilton again
fastened to Lizzie's room, where he found
ler reading late magazine with affected in
Inference.
J Madam, cried he angrily, what does
his mean? Here | have been chasing you
III over the house, without being able to
catch ybu. What company have you just
4
..What company A. asked Lizzie.
Yes, madam, what company :
fDo hot speak SO angrily, dear Ammy.-
Why are you 50 impatient
Because | wish to know what gentleman
has been favoring you with such conhden I
tial VISIT +
Hamilton remembered other occasions
when. Oh his coming home unex pectedly, has I
wife had shown signs of embarrassment I
and, added to this, her present equlyocation /
rendered him violently jealous she aap
peared IT'D shrink from him in fear, and be-
came alternately red and pale, as she an
swered
see meF II
No one?
sNo one, dear Amny
Mr.. Burgess was on the point of demand
ing to know who was the owners of the cap
which he had seen on his wife'sT table, and
which had now mysteriously disappeared
but motion checked him, and he paced the
floor in silence.
This is too m Ich I he muttered. atlengtn,
in the bitterness Of bis heart. could en-
dure poverty, without uttering complaint
far myself; l could endure anything but
WHY Ammy. what is the matter7' erred
Mrs Burgess, in alarm.
:. Nothing only we are beggars answer.
! 81 Hamilton, abruptly.
Have you been unfortunate calmly
askedIhis wife, afFecti6nately taking him by
/ the arm
yes-the most unfortunate Of men ]
am ruined I've are bfggars--but -
Dear Army. you must not let this cast
ron down. Business failures frequently
happen, bat they ough t never 70 destroy DO,
| mestic happiness Come how bad of are
wea Are we really beggaFs2'
Nv creditors will take everything, an
swered Hamilton, gldomily
They viii not take US from each other,
said Lizzie.
Mr.. Burgess looked at his young wife viii
bitter smile.
Are you such teceiver Z be mutteret
through his teeth. Can yen talk thus wheI
vou have Just dismissed lever?'
sSrr cried Mrs. Burgess, glow Of il
dignation lighting her fair face. What d
You mean = !,
Don't deny what I say l replied Hamil
ton! You were haTing al interview with
gentleman wnen came ih.
. Lizzie trembled with indignation
Il saw his cap on the table z
Lizzie laughed outright Come here
j she said. heading her husband away.
s Hamilton followed her, and she went to.
{ bureau. ualoekea deep drawer, and dpenin
: ii. called her husbands attention 70 It's CO..
) tents
i Ii vas half full of caps