Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-09-03
MORNING, SEPTEMBER 1857
kinaer . woman than ho Is o me-,

kinder to woman than ho is TO me-
ssgethaps he indnlges; in
s4Hnnah, you mistake altogether was Cath.
arina's reply; 'my husband is as free from al
such faults as ever man was.'
MY dear child said the old woman, almost
smiling as the idea entered her head you
are not suspicious not ealous-''
l nave never had a moments cause, Han
nan, answered Catharine. "No, my griefs
are not Of that nature. He is one of the best
| anu dearest husbands"
| old Hannah was puzzled at these replies, as
she was distressed by the open avowal of Cath.
arine's having some cause Of sorrow; but, see
ing that her young friend could not make up
her mind to disclosure at the time, the aged
dame gave up her inquiries, and told Cathar.
me 10 lhlnk seriously Of the propriety Of con-
iidlng all to her.
Hannah conceived that, on mature cOnsid
Grafton, Catharine would come to the resolu-
ton Of seeking counsel at the cottage. And
| she was not wrong. In q few days after the
late conversation, the young wife came to
| visit Hannah again, and after n little EN-.
barrassed talk, entered upon the subject which
was uppcrmOst in the minds of both.
'Hannah,' said Catharine, fear You car
serve me nothing--I fear no living being car
| serye-oh, Hannah, good as my husband ap
pears 10 be-good as he is-there is some
idre9liul weight upon his mind, which destroys
his IGace-and mine too Alas the gloomy
fits which you as well as have noticed in him,
are not, fear, without q cause.' Catharine
wept in silence for moment, and then contin-
ued All know of this cause arises from his
cxpressons-his dreadful expressions while
he is asleep at my side. Hannah, he speaks in
broken language of murder-of having COM
mitted murder Hannah perhaps a woman
deceived and killed by him. AS Catharine
said this, she shuddered and buried her face
in that Of the babo which she carried in her
arms.
Hannah was shocked to hear of this, but her
good sense led her TO suggest, for the comfort
Of the poor wife, that itwas perfectly possible
for her husband to consider himself murder
er in his sleep, and speak Of it, without the
slightest reality in the whole affair.
All, Hannah,' said Catharine sadly, 'these
dreadful sayings are not the result of one night
mare slumber. They occur too oiten-too of
ten. Besides, when first heard him mutteT
in his sleep these horrible things, mentioned
the matter to him in the morning at our break
fast, and laughed at it but he grew agitated,
and telling me to pay no attention to such
things, as he sometimes talked nonsense, he
know, in his sleep, he rose and went away,
leaving his meal unfinished indeed, scarcely
touched. l am sure he does not know how
often he speaks in his sleep, for have never
mentioned the subject agaiD--though my rest
is destroyed by it. And then his fits Of sad
neas at ordinary moments Hannah Hannah
there is some mystery-some terrible mystery
under it Yet continued the young wife,
'he is so good-so kind-sO dntiiulto God and
mani he has too much tenderness and feel
ing TO harm a ay. Hannah, what am to think
or do 2 for anu wretchGd at present.
1t was not long ere the old dame replied to
this question. She mused greatly upon what
had been told her, and, in the end, said to
Cathgrine--' My poor child, cannot believe
that W illam is guilty of what these circum-
stances lay seemingly at his door. But, if the
worst be true, it is better for you to know it
than to be in this killing suspense forever
Go and gain his confidence, Catharine; tell
him all that has come to your car, and say
that you did so by my advice.' Hannah con-
tinucd to use persuasons Of the same kind for
some time longer, and at length sent Cathar-
inc homo, firmly resolved to follow the counsel