The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-07-12

present tlIne. one TOOK up lamp, anu
retired to her own room She could
not quarrel with Aunt Eliza, neither
could she sit and hear her husband s
name linked with suspicion.
Aunt Eliza had lived in her own
fathers family since her early childhood
After her mother died she supplied that
place to Rachel, as far as one can fulfil
that responsible trust. The first year
of Mr.. and Mrs. Lanes married life was
spent in city boarding house, but at
the end of that time they rented house
and commenced life over again, in a
much pleasanter manner.
"There it was, that Aunt Eliza in
sisted on coming into the family as
housekeepsr. Rachel gladly accepted
of this offer, as she was not skilled in
household affairs, and otherwise would
have been obliged to depend on ignorant
servants.
Aunt Eliza was an excellent manager,
a careful housekeeper, and altogether it
was just what Rachel needed to make
the experiment conducive to comfort
and economy. Mrs. Lane owed to grca,
debt Of gratitude, to be often annoyed
ut the eccentricities of her relative. She
therefore let her 90 on in her own way
Seldom opposing her, but much oftenel
running away from her, as she now had
done to escap, the first dawping o.
family disputation.
Mrs Lane went to her chamber, and
sat down to think over the subject of the
conversation that had deeply annoyed
her. She had for long time wondered
why Harry spent so much of his time
away from her. She had of late been
distressed by his want of confidence in
Withholding from her all matters per-
taining to his out door life.
When they were first married, Harry
used sometimes to surprise her with
little presents, sometimes take her to a
concert or play, but not once had he
done this for year. If he went out,
it was to accompany her. Fow, as Aunt
Eliza said, three and four evenings Of
the week were passed, who knew where I;
Rachel surely did not and the thought
was By no means pleasant to her.
Rachel's mind had often been dis
turbed by these thoughts, but she had
kept them to herself, and did not dream
that any other person had observed the
change in him. Aunt Elias remarks
had tortured her, for they were but the
expression of her own doubts, that she
had hoped to silence forever.
TO be sure, Harry was in many ways
kindly attentive to her wants. He often
brought her books to read in his absence
but she saw that these were always
taken from circulating libraries he
never bought books now, or any little
luxury as he formerly had done
You will not go out tonight, Har-
ry ?" said his young wife, as she follow.
ed him from the tea table into the hall
Yes, Rachel, l must 60. l would
like to remain at home, but here is q
new book in my coat pocket for you ia
read--just published it is said to be
capita /; read it, and don't get the blues
while | am away 1t seems to me you
don't look quite as well as usual, little
wife, you are pale. Do you 60 out
every day 7"
Rachel could hardly keep back the
tears, that she felt springing from her
heart to her eyes, at Harry's tenderness
and she thought as she closed the hall
door, that let what would come she
would trust to his love. lie had some
good reason for going from home she
was sure of it. Aud she resolved not
to be again troubled by his repeated
absences.
For time, Rachel was successful in
driving from her thoughts all the sug-
gestions that had tormented her; but
week after week passed by, and the
same thing continued, till old questions
that she had often repeated to herself
came back, and she found herself asking
them over again.
Her neighbor, Mrs. Blake, come in
at New Years, to show her beautiful
present she had just received from her
husband, II was work-boX elegantly