Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-09-03
From Chambers Miscellany.
THE HUSBANDS SECRET.


One day, good many years ago, young
woman knocked at the door Of a little cottage
in the suburbs of the town of Newcastle-upon-
Tyne. The knock was Immediately responded
TO by the opening of the door from within. An
aged woman, neatly dressed, and who had ev.
identity risen from her wheel, was the sole in
mate Of the little Get.
" Bless your heart girl" said the dame, as
she entered with her visitor, and sat down ia
the wheel again, 60 there must surely be some
thing particular to-day, for you did not use to
knock"
eel was afraid some one might be with you,
mother" said tho girl, who had taken u seat
opposite the spinner.
g And though neighbor had been here"
replied the dame, &c this surely wouldn't have
frightened you away. Bnt the truth is you
have something to say to me, Catharine," con-
tinued the speaker, kindly; I" ont with it, my
dear, and depend upon the best counsel that
old Hannah can give"
The young woman blushed deeply, and did
not speak,
| Has William Hutton asked you to become
his wife, Catharine 2" said the dame, who cas-
| lily and rightly anticipated the matter that was
in the thoughts of her youthful visitor.
He has, mether,' was the reply.
Well, my dear" said she, after short
pause, is not this what you have long ex-
| pected, ay, and wished He has your heart
and so suppose it needs no witch to tell what
will be the end ont"
This might be all very true, but there was
somthing on Catharine's mind which struggled
to be ont, and out il came.
Dear Hannah" )" said she, seating herself
close by the dame, and taking hold of her
| hand, "you have been q kind fiiend-a parent
TO me since my poor mother died, aDd 1
have no one to look TO for advice but yourself.
| have not given William an answer, and /
would not until had spoken to you more es-
pecially as somethng-as you once said"
| What did l say, Catharine 2" interrupted
the old womani " nothing against the man
/ you love, surely. He is from all l have seen
and heard, kind-hearted, Industrious, and
every way wel-behaved.'
Yes, Hannah," replied the woman /; " but
| you once said, after l brought him once or
twice to see you, that you did like those-those
| sort OF low fits that sometimes fall upon him
even while in your company. have often no
nced them since, Hannah," continued Cathar-
inc with sigh.
Plague on my thoughtless tongue, for say
ing such thing to vex you, my dear child i
| He was soldier, you know, u good many
years ago-betore he was twenty-and fought
for his country. Perhaps he may have seen
sights then that made him gTieve to think upon
without blaming himself. But whatever it
may be, meant not, Catharine, that -
should take such u passing word to heart
he has some little cares. you will easily
him and make him happy" azH
As the worthy dame spoke, her.
brow gradually cleared, and after some ~
conversation Catharine left the cottage liz
ened at heart with the thought that her ola
friend approved of her following the course to
which her inclination led her.
Catharine Smith was indeed well entitled 10
pay respect to the counsels Of Hannah. The
| latter had never married, and had spent the
greater part of her life in the service Of
| wealthy family at MoTpeth. When she was
4 there, the widowed mother of CathariHe had
died at Newcastle ; and, on learning OF the
circumstances Hannah, though friend mere
\ ly and no relation, had sent for the orphan girl
| then ten years Of age, and had taken care OF
| her until she grew fit to maintain herself by
service. On finding herself unable to continue
a working life longer, Hannah retired to New
castle, her native place, where she lived in
humble comfort on the earnings OF her long
career Of servitude. Catharine came back
with her to Newcastle, and Immediately enter
ed into service there. Hannah and Catharine
had been two years in these respective situa-
tionswhen the dialogue which has just been
recorded took place.
On the succeeding expiration oil her term OF
service, Catharine was married to the young
man whose name has been stated as William
Hutton. He was joiner by trade, and bore,
as ii lnnah had said, an excellent character
The first visit paid by the new-married pair was
to the cottage of the old woman, who gazed on
them with q truly maternal pride, thinking she
had never seen so handsome Il couple. The
few years spent by Hutton IN the army had
given to his naturally good figure an erect
manliness, which looked as well in one of his
sex, as the light, graceful figure, and fair in
genuous countenance OF Catharlne, was calcu-
lated to adorn one of woman kind. Some
thing of this kind at least. was in the thoughts
of Hannah, when Catharine and her husband
visited the dame's dwelling.
Many future visit was paid by the same
parties TO Hannah, and on each successive oc.
casion the old woman looked narrowly, though
as unobtrusively as POSSIBLE, into the state of
the wife's feelings, with motherly anxiety to
know if she were happy. For, though Han
nah, seeing Catharine's affections deeply en-
gagged, had made light of her own early remark
upon the strange and most unpleasing gloom
occasionally, ii not frequently observable, in
| the look and manner OF William Hutton, the
old woman was never able to rid her own mind
altogether of misgivings on the subject. For
many months after Catharine's marriage, howH
| ever, Hannah could discover nothing but open,
unaloyed happiness in the air and conversa-
| tion OF the youthful wife. But at length Han
| nah's anxious eyes did perceive something like
a change. Catharine seemed sometimes to
fall, when visiting the cottage, into fits of alb
straction, not unlike those which had been OBJ
served in her husband. The aged dame had
felt greatly distressed at the thought of her
dear Catharne being unhappy, but for long
time she held her peace upon the subject, trust
ing that the cloud might be temporary ono,
and would disappear
II was not so, unfortunately. Though in |
their manner to each other when together, |
nothing but the most cordial affection was OBJ |
servable Catharine, when she came alone to
see Hannah, always seemed prey to some un-
easiness which all her efforts could not con-
ceal from her old friend. Even when she be-
came for the first time mother, and with all |
the beautiful pride of young mothers love |
presented her babe to Hannah, the latter could.
see signs of u secret grief imprinted on Gath
arine's brow.
Hoping by her counsel to bring relief, Ham
nah took an opportunity TO tell the young wife |
what she had observed, and earnestly besought |
her confidence,
At first Catharine stammered forth n hurried |
assurance that she was perfectly happy, and
in a few seconds belied her words by bursting |
into tears and owning that she was very un-
happy.
But cannot, Hannah she exclaimed, l
cannot tell the cause--cven to yeu.'
sDon't say SO, my poor Catharine," replied
Hannah; IL is not curiosity that prompts me
to Interfere
sOh, no, uannah,' replied the young wife,
know You speak from love of me-
Well, them, continued the Dame, open
your heart TO me. Age is good adviser.'
Catharine was silent.
SIS your husband harsh to you p asked Han
nah.