The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-09-04


No, no. cried the wife; man could not be
kinder to woman than he is to me- "a E
Perhaps he indulges in drink in private q
'Hannah, you mistake altogether was
GATHERINGS reply my husband is as free from
all such faults as ever man was" .gapBIg
My dear child said the old woman, al.
most smiling as the idea entered her head,
you are not suspicious--not jealous---' Is
i hav" never had a moments cause, Han
nall,' answered Catherine. No, my criefs
are not of that nature. He is one Of the
best and dearest of husbands a Hssu
Old Hannah was puzzled at these replies,
as much as she was distressed by the opcn
avowal of Catharnes having some cause of
sorrow but seeing that. her young friend
could not make up her mind TO disclosure
at the time, the aged dame gave TIP her iu-
quiries. and told Catharine to think serious
ly Of the propliety of confding all to her.
| Hannah conceived that on mature con
sideration, Catherine would come 70 the res.
olution Of seeking counsel at the cottage.-
Aud she was not wrong. In few ,lavs af.
ter their late conversation ths young wife
came TO visit Hannah again, and after n lii.
| tie embarrassed talk. entered on the subject
which was uppermost in the minds of both
! Hannah said Catherine, Il fear you can
serve ME nothing-I fear no living being
can serve me, o Hannah good as nv hus
band appears to be--good as he is-there il
some dreadful weight pressing upon his
mind, which destroys his peace and mine
too. Alas the gloomy fits which you as
well RS noticed in him are not fear with.
out cause Catherine wept in silence for
minute, and then continued: .AIl that I
know Of this cause arise from his expressions
while he is sleeping by my side. Han
nah he speaks in broken language of mur
der-of having committed murder! Han
nah perhaps woman deceived and killed
by him. AS Catherine said this she shud-
dered. and buried her face in that of the
babe which she carried in her arms.
Hannah was shocked to hear Of this. but
her good sense led her at once 10 suggest.
for the comfort of the poor wife, that it was
perfectly possible for her husband to consid-
er himself a murderer in his sleep. and speak
of it without the slightest reality in the
whole affair.
Ah, Hannak,' said Catherine, sadly.
these sayings are not the result of ono
nightmare slnmber. They occur often--too
often. Besides, when first heard him NUT
toned the matter to him in the morning at
our breakfast, and laughed at IL; but he
grew much agitated and telling me to paw
no attention to such things, 'as he sometimes
talked nonsense, he knew, in his Sleep he
rose and went away, leaving his meal un-
finished, indeed, scarcely touched. am
sure he does not know how often lie speaks
in his sleep, for have never mentioned the
subject again-though my rest is DESTROYED
by it. And then his fits of sadness at ordi-
nary moments! Hannah Hannah Han
nah there is some mystery--some terrible
mystery under it! Yet continued the
young wife, he is so good--so knd-so du-
tifnl to God and mani He has TOO much
tenderness and feeling to harm tly! Han
nah. what am 10 think or do, for am
wretched at-the present ...
Ii was long ere the old dame replied 70
this question. She unused greatly on what
| had been told her, and in the end said to
Catherine: My poor child, i cannot believe
that William is guilty of what these circum.
stances lay seemingly ut his door. But if
the worst be true, il is better for YOU to know
it than to be in this killing suspense f,revor.
Go and gain his confidence, Catherine tell
INN al! that has come TO your ear, and say
you do so by advice. Hannah continued to
use persuasions of the same kind for some.
time longer, and at length sent Catherine
home, firmly resolved to follow the counsel
given to her. efr 49, .s .f. -
On the following day Catherine once
more presented herself ut the abode of Han
nah, and as soon rs she had entered, ex-
s!siFiet DcaE mother, have .eld him ALI
he will be here soon to explain everythin.,
TO us both itr ,
The old woman did not exactly con,pre
hend this. Has he not,' said she, given an
an explanation then to You
No, Hannah said Catherine; .but oh. he
10 not guilty! When I had spoken to him
as you desired me, lie was silent for long
time, and he then took me in his arms, Han.
nah, and kissed me, saying MY darling
Catherine, / ought TO have confided in YOU
long before. have been unfortunate. not
guilty. Go to kind Hannaf's and / will
soon follow you, and set your mind Mt case
so far ss il can be done. Had known
how much you have been suffering, would
have done this long before These were
his words, Hannah. Oh, may he be unfor-
nate but not guiltyi'
| Hannah and Catbarine said but little to
each other until the hnsband Of the latter
csme to the cottage. William sa, down