The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-10-24
THE SECRET.

THE SECRET.
One day good many years ago, young
woman knocked at the door OF little cot
tage, in the suburbs of q little town OF
Newcastle upon Tyne. The knock was i'm.
mediately responded to by the opening OF
the door from within. An aged woman,
neatly dressed, and who had evidently risen
from her wheel, was the sole inmate OF the
little cot.
ssBless your heart girl" said the dame,
AZ she entered with her visitor, and sat down
to the wheel again, "there must surely be
something particular about YOU to-day, for
YOU did not used to knock"
''I was afraid some one might be with you,
MOTHER" said the girl, who had taken a
seat opposite the spinner. As4
"And though neighbor had been here"
replied the dame, ''this surely wouldn't have
frightened you away. But the truth is, you
have something to say to me Catherine con-
tinued the speaker, kindly; ''out with it, my
dear, and depend upon the best council that
old Hannah can give"
The young woman blushcd deeply, and
did not speak.
"Has William Hutton asked you to be-
come his wife, Catherine?' said the dame,
who earnestly and rightly anticipated the
matter that was in the thoughts of her
youthful visitor. # I
''Hc has, MOTHER" was the reply.
':Well, my DEAR" said she after short
pause, sis not this what you have long ex-
pected, aye, and wished? He has your
heart: and so suppose it needs no witch TO
al ,,,b,t will ko thn apl n,st
This might be all very true, but there was
something on GATHERINGS mind which strug-
gled to be out, and out it came.
''Dear Hannah" }" said she, seating herself
close by the dame, and taking hold of her
hand, .you have been kind friend-a pa
rent--to me since my poor mother died,
and have no one to look to for advice but
yourself. have not given William an an
swcr, and would not, until had spoken
to you; more especially as somethins-as
you once said"
''What did say, Catherine?" interrupt
ed the old woman; s'Nothing against the
man you love, surely. He is from all Fye
seen and heard, kind hearted, Industrious,
and every way -behaved.'
''Yes, Hannah" replied the woman; ''but
you once said, after l had brought him
once or twice to see you, that you did not
like those-those sort of low fits that some
times fall upon him even while in your COM
pany. | have often noticed them since,
Hannah" continued Catherine with sigh.
.'Plague on my thoughtless tongue, for
saying such thing to vex you, my dear
child! lie was soldier, you know, a good
many years ago-before he was twenty
and fought for his country. Perhaps he
may have seen sights then that made him
srievc to think upon, without blaming him
self. But whatever it may be, meant not,
Catherine, that you should taking such pas
sing word to heart. If he has some little
cares, you will easily soothe him and make
him happy"
As the worthy dame spoke, her visitors
brow gradually cleared, and after some fur
ther conversation, Catherine left the cot
tagc lightened at heart with the thought
that her old friend approved of her follow
ing the course to which her inclinations led
her.
Catherine Smith was indeed well entitled
to pav 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 Morpeth. When she
was there, the widowed mother of Cathe-
rine had died at Newcastle; and on learning
of the circumstances, Hannah, though a
friend merely 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 working life
longer. Hannah retired to Newcastle, her
III hn ,I bla
fort on the earnings of her long career of
servitude. Catherine came back with her
to Newcastle, and Immediately entered into
service there. Hannah and Catherine had
been two years in these respective situations,
when the dialogue which has just been re-
corded took place.
On the succeeding expiration Of her term
Of service, Catherine was married to the
young man whose name had been stated as
being William Hutton. lie was joiner by
trade, and bore as Hannah 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 II
truly maternal pride, thinking she had ney
er seen SO handsome a couple. The few
years spent by Hutton in the army, had
given to his naturally good figure an erect
manlincss, which looked so well in one of
his sex, as the bright graceful figure, and
fair ingenious countenance of Catharine,
was calculated to adorn one of woman kind.
Something of this kind, at least was in the
thoughts cf Hannah, when Catherine and
her husband visited the DANES dwelling.
Many future visit was paid by the same
parties to Hannah, and on each successive
occasion, the old woman looked narrowly,
though as unobtrusibly as possible, into the
state Of the wife's feelings, with mother
ly anxiety to know if she was happy. For
though Hannah, seeing GATHERINGS affections
deeply engaged, made light of her own early
remark upon the strangeand IN ost unpleasing
gloom occasionally, If not frequently OBJ
servable, 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
GATHERINGS marriage, however, Hannah
could discover nothing but open unalloyed
happiness in the air and conversation of the
youthful wife. But at length Hannah's
anxious eye did perceive something like a
change. Catherine seemed to fall, when
visiting the cottage, into fits of abstraction,
not like those which had been observed in her
husband. The aged dame had felt greatly
at thought Of her dear Catherine
being unhappy, but for long time she had
held her peace upon the subject, trusting
that the cloud might be temporary one,
and would disappear.
1t was not so, unfortunately. Though in
their manner to each other when together,
nothing but the most cordial affection was
observable; Catherine, when she came alone
to see Hannah, always seemed a prey to
some uneasiness which all her efforts could
not conceal from her old friend. Even
wnen she became for the first time mother
and with all the beautiful pride of young
mothers love presented her babe to Han
nan, the latter could see signs Of secret
grlef imprinted on GATHERINGS brow.
Hoping by her counsel to bring relief,
Hannah took an opportunity to tell the
young wife what she had observed, and
earnestly besought her confidence.
first Catherine stammered forth a hur-
ried assurance that she was perfectly happy,
and in few seconds belied her words by
bursting into tears, and owning that she
was very unhappy.
s'But cannot, Hannah" she exclaimed,
81 cannot tell the cause-even to you.n
"Don't say so, my poor Catherine - re-
piled Hannah; it is not curiosity that prompts