The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-04-14

no she is too weak-too childish" Then
she went up stairs abruptly; and heard her
in her own room for nearly an hour after, in
long. steady steps.
have often thought that had she told me
then, and taken me to her heart-her strong,
brave, noble hsart-I could have derived
courage from it, and could have borne the
dreadful truth was forced 20 know after
wards. But the strong are so impatient with
US They leave us too soon-their own
strength revolts at our weakness; so we are
often lett, broken in this weakness for want
of little patience and sympathy.
Harry came in short time after Ellen
had left me. "What has she been saying?'
he cried. passionately. His eyes were wild
and blood-shot; his beautiful black hair flung
all in disorder about MS face.
Dear Harry, she said nothing about Won, y
| answered, trembling. "Shc only asked what
was your proftss:o on, and how much we had a
year. That was all"
why die! she ask this? What business
was it of hers:" cried Harry, iercely. Tell
me-" and he shook me roughly "what did
You answer her, little fool?"
"Oh nothing" and began to cry: it was
because he frightened me. Il said what is
true, that knew nothing of your affairs as
indeed what concern is that of mine: could
say nothing more, Harry"
Better that than too much" he muttcre,,:
and then be flung me har>hlv back on the So
IA. saving, Tears and folly and weak mess =
Tie same round always the same Why
did marry a pretty dolI-a rlay,hing no
wiz"
And ;hen he seemed to think he had SAID
too much: to: he came to me and kissed me.
and SAID that he owed ,nc But for the first
time in our married lie lis ...I>~es did not
>oo:hc me. nor did heii::e>" his Assurances.
All that night heard Ellen wax si:a NY
and unrc>i>tinc through her roo,;,. She nev-
IT >iarkcrrd her pace, She never stopped, she
never hurried; hut the >an.' slow. measured
tread went ON; the firm foot vet LIGHT falling
As it to music. her very step the same mix
turc Of msnllness and womanhoo! as her
character
After this burst Of PASSION lTarry'> ten
d,l ness to Inc became unboundcd; as if he
wished - make up to me for some wrong
| need not sa" how soon torcave him. nor
how much lovcu him again. All my love
came back in one fuli bCundlcs> tide; and the
current of my being set towards HIM a"aIn as
before. II he had asked me for ny life then.
As his mere fancy, to DESTROY. | wou'! have
cvcn it to him. ! would have lain down and
died. thc had wished to see the flowers grow
over NV grave
Nlv husband and Ellen grew more cstranG-
ed as If affection seemed TO return to me. Ills
manner to her was lcfyinr: hers to him con-
temptuouS | heard her call him william once.
in the gar,! below The window at which
he laughed his wicked laugh-and SAID.
tell her. and see if she will believe vou'"
] was sitting in the window, working. 1t
was cold. damp day in the late autumn.
when those chill :og> of November are Just
beginning those for> with the fro>tS in them.
that steal into ones very heart. 1t was dav
when visible light is in the air. when death
is abroad everywhere and suffering and
crituc | was ai0Uc IL The draw mo- room.
Ellen was up stairs, and my husband. As !
believed in the citv But have remember
ed since. that heard the halfloor opened
and foot-s;ep steal softly hv the drawing
room up the stairs The evening was nst
beginning to close in-,lull, nrav. and ghost
like the diving DAYLIGHT melted into the long
shadows that stalkcd like wandering ghosts
about the fresh made grave Of nature ! was
working still. at some of those small garments
about which dreamed such fond dreams,
and wove such fond hopes of happiness. and
as sat, while the evening fell heavy about
me. mysterious shadow of evil passed over
me, dread presentiment. consciousness of
i'll, that made me tremblc, AS if in acue-
angry at myself enough for nv follv But
it was reality. 1t was no hvsterical sinking
of the spirits that ! felt; no mere nervous
ness or cowar,lice it was something that |
had never known before; a knowledge, a
presence, power. warning word, a spirits
cry, that had swept by me as the fearful evil
marched on to its conclusion.
heard faint scream up stairs. 1t vas so
faint that could scarcely distinguish it from
a sudden rash of wind through an opening
door, or the chirp of mouse behind the
wainscot. Presently heard the same sound
again and then dull mufiled noise over
head, as of some one walking heavily. or
dragging heavy weight across the floor
sat petrifed by fear. a nameless agony
was upon me. that deprived me of all power
of action. thought of Harry, and thought
Of Ellen. in an incxtricable cypher Of misery
and agony; but could not have defined a
line in nv own mind could not have ex-
plained what it was that feared. | only
know that it was sorrow that was to come
and sin. listened, but all was still again ::
once only thought heard a low moan, and
once muttering goice-which know now to
have been my husbands speaking passionate
ly to himself.
And then his voice swept stormfully