The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-03-24

pause.
"What, Bess2 l am no hand at rid
dies, and cannot guess. Out with it,
old lady"
Why, met poor woman to-day
with her two children; she had ust
come from England, and her fool of
husband had left her on board, while
he went to look for lodgings for them.
He left her so long that she was obliged
to clear out before he came back. She
IS nice, pretty, respectable young
thing, and | was glad TO serve her
Besides s"-and that genial voice took
such a tone of womanly Tenderness, it
made Janers heart ache to think how
sadly misplaced =" she was a country
woman of yours, dear, and | could not
hel p thinking somehow of your sister,
or-or-your first sweetheart"
When she said this, it seemed to
Janet as if She kissed him.
You shall see her tomorrow, dear.
perhaps you may know something of
her, By the bye, dare say she came
over in your ship! | never thought to
ask her the name. How stupid of me
but how lucky that | met her. You
may be able to do something for her
perhaps find her loat of husband, and
teach him not to Lose his wife again
Poor young creatuIe! 1t so went to my
heart to see her lock so pale and desc
late"
Every word of which Janet heard as
if a thousand trumpets had sounded.
There was dead silence 1t SEEM
ed as if her husband was too much
startled, too much oppressed. 10 venture
on an answer Perhaps he was afraid
OF his voice, which would either betray
his agitation to the one, or his existence
to the other.
=" Are you not well, my dear ~ then
said Bessie, kindly. d" How pale YOU
have turned all at once"
{" 1t is nothing, DEAR" answered Rob-
eTt in so low . voice, that had not ia
nets hearing been sharpened to inten-
slty by agony, she could not have un-
derstood what he said. He seemed
afraid of being overheard, she thought,
and spoke almost in whisper
" But something is the matter, dear.
Tell me what it is 7;
Nothing, nothing; only little pain
in my chest. Gomez give me another
glass of brand y; that will cure me, |
warrant"
After this Janet heard nothing more
distinctly. The conversation was car
ried on in subdued tone, as between
people sitting close, side by side Only
once Janet distinguished the words.
successful spec-above a hundred
poundS-waistcoat- it you to-mor-
row." Soon after this they went TO
bed, and Janet heard them both talking
in low whisper in the room next her
own. She could Distinguish their diff
ferent steps across the floor, and hear
their ialnteSt movement through the
thin partition. She even knew when
| they came 10 the side next her room.
and could fancy all their actions. She
herself lay as still as death, for she
thought that Robert was listening; she
heard him come to the partition, and
stand there for a moment quite quiet,
as if to hear whether she was aslir or
asleep.
A few hours passed. They made the
| fond wife cast down her fondness as
winter tree It's leaves they changed
the soft heart into one of stone and iron,
and nerved the trembling hand and
slilled the throbbing blood. They
made her blush till her temples burnt
with shame at her gross credulity-
with shame at her childish faith but
they also made her heart spring up
like a strong mans courage-mascu-
line and resolute, equal to its fate. And
| this because of those two sleeping little
ones. By herself she would have sunk
utterl ly PROSTATE: as guardian of them
she stood like lioness at bay. No.
thing stronger-nothing more deter
mined-nothing braver drew breath In
New York than that timid. patient,
girlish wife, transformed into the hero
inc by maternal love!
She listened, and by their breathing
she knew that Robert and his poor Ame-
rican wife were asleep. Even at this
moment her woman's nature yearned
in gratitude to that kindly face and
great maternal heart; and she felt that
she would have suffered any torment
herself rather than have caused an
hours pain to one who had so blessed
and befriended her.
"She shall not suffer by me-" she
thought, as she determined on her plan.
Quiet and pale as a ghost she rose
dressing herself noiselessly, and with
Incredible speed. She then took up her
sleeping children, and dressed them,
still asleep. Leaving them OF the bed,
she softly opened the door of her room,
and stole to that of her husband. A
faint light shone through the crevices
ii was a night-light, which Bessie al
ways burnt. She turned the handle
and entered. By the glimmering of
the light she made out the place where |
Robert had thrown his clothes, and
walked softly to where they lay. She
took up the waistcoat, unstitched the
notes; and placed them in her bosom,
AS she tuned to leave the room, with |
one last look of despair directed at him
one loving look of gratitude at her
L 4 I ell