Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-19

and bearing cheerful face as far as | could.
Ellen wanted me to return home with her.
Soon after she came, and soon after | heard
the first dispute between them, she urged me
to 90 back to Hurst farm-at once, and for a
long time. Weak as / am by nature, it has
always been marvel to me since, how strong
| was where my love for my husband was
concerned. 1t seemed impossible for me to
yield to any pressure against him. | believe
now that a very angel could not have turned
me from him
At last she said to me in low voice
Mary this is madness lit is almost sinful !!
Can you not see-can you not hear 2" And
then she stopped, and would say no more,
though | urged her to tell me what she meant
For this terrible mystery begun to weigh on
me painfully, and for all that | trembled so
much to fathom it, | had begun to feel that
any truth would be better than such life of
dread. | seemed to be living among shadows !;
my very husband and sister not real, for their
real lives were hidden from me- But was too
timid to insist on an explanation and SO things
went on i'll their old way.
In one respect only, changing still more
painfully, still more markedly-in my husbands
conduct to me- He was like another creature
seldom spoke to me at ALL and he never spoke
kindly. All that | did annoyed him, and once
| (the little widow covered her face with her
hands and shuddered) he spurned me with his
foot and cursed me, one night i'll our room when
| knet weeping before him, supplicating him
| for PHYS sake to tell me how | had offended
him But l said to myself that he was tired,
annoyed, and that it was irritating to see Il
woman's tears and so excused him, as often
times before, and went on loving him all the
same-God forgive me for my idolatry?
Things had been very bad of late between
Ellen and my husband. But the character
of their diScord was changed Instead of re-
preaching they watched each other incessantly
| They put me i'll mind of fencers-my husband
on the defensive.
Mary" said my sister to me suddenly
coming to the sofa where was sitting cmbroid-
ering my poor baby's cap. "What does your
Harry do in life What is his profession ?'
She fixed her eyes on me earnestly.
Il do not know, darling" answered vaguely
lie has no profession that know Of"
But what fortune has he, then Did he
not tell you what his income was, and how
obtained when he married To us, he said
only that lie had so much year-a thousand
a year and he would say no more But has
he not been more explicit with you ?"
"No," answered, considering for indeed,
had never thought of this had trusted so
| blindy to him in everything, that it would have
seemed to me a profound insult to have even
| asked of affairs. :" No he never told me any
thing about his fortune, Ellen. He gives me
money when want it, and is always generous
He seems to have plenty whenever it is asked
for he has it by him, and gives me even more
than | require"
| Still her eyes kept looking at me in that
strange manner.
And is this all you know ?"
"Ycs-alI What more should / wish to
knows he not the husband, and has he not
absolute right for everything have no bust
ness to interfere"
The words sounded harsher now than they
did then, for spoke lovingly. Ellen touched
the little cap held.
docs not this make you anxious ?" she
said Can you not fear as mother, even while
you love as wife Z"
Fear darling Why? What should fear,
or whom? What is there, Ellen, on your hcart?'
then added passionltely-
"Tell me, at once for | know that You
| have some terrible secret concealed from me ::
and | would rather know anything whatever
| it may be-than live on longer in this kind of
suspense and anguish Is it too much for ME
to bear, Ellen -
She took my hands.
Have YOU strength ?" she said earnestly.
Could you really bear the truth p
| Then seeing my distress, for had fallen into
kind of hysterical fit was very delicate
then-she shook her head in despair, and letting
my hands fall heavily on my lap, said in under
tone
No no she is too weak-too childish !"
Then she went up stairs abruptly, and
heard her walking about her own room for
nearly an hour after in a long steady step.
| have often thought that, had she told me
then and taken me to her hcart-her strong
brave, noble heart-I could have derived
courage from it, and could have borne the
terrible truth was forced to know afterwards
But the strong are so impatient with us They
leave us too soOn-thcr own strength rcvoitS
at our weakness so we are often left, broken
in this weakness, for want Of Il little patience
and sympathy.
Harry came in short time after Ellen had
left me.
What has she been saying? p he cried,
paSsionatcly.
His eyes were wild and bloodShot his
beautiful black hair flung all in disorder about
his face.
Dear Harry, she has said nothing about
YOU" | answered trembling. She only asked
what was your profession and how much we
had a year. That was ALL"
why did she ask this What business was
it of hers ?" cried Harry fcrcely. "Tell me-"
and he shook me roughly "what did you
answer her, little fool 2"
g Oh, nothing" and began to cry it was
because he frightened me- 81 said what is
true, that | knew nothing of your affairs as
indeed, what concern is that of mine :? Icould
say nothing more, Harry"