Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1857-08-13

! III was not so, unfortunately. Though III
their manner to each other when together, moth.
ing but the most cordial affection was observ.
able; Catharinc, when she came alone to sec
Hannah, always seemed prey to some unea.
siness which all her efforts could not conceal
from her old friend Even when she became
for the first time mother, and with all the
beautiful pride Of a young mothers love pre-.
sentcd herebabe to Hannah, the latter could see
signs Of u seqfst ggisf imprinted on Catharine's
brow.loasib bdn Woltaga
Hepipg by hsyaHop4sel to bring relief, Han
nahtook an coppo1tpnity TO tell the young wife
what she had = sad saf3pssstiiy bcsOught
her confidence zsls X; I'm, 1. NV NH,
At first Catharinc stapmayssSa forth 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 unhappy.
"But cannot, Hannah" she exclaimed, II
cannot tell the cause-even to YOU"
Don't say SO, my poor Catharine," replied
Hannah ; sit is not curiosity that prompts lie
to Interfere"
"Oh, no, Hannah" replied the young wife
81 know you speak from love to me-"
"Wcll, then" continued the dame, "open your
heart to me. Age is good adviser"
| Catharine was silent.
"ls your husband harsh to you?" asked
Hannah.
"No," cried the wife; "man could not be
kinder to woman than he is to me-
"Pcrhaps he INDUCES in drink; in"
"lIannah, you mistake altogether" was Cath.
arincs reply; my husband is as free from all
such faults as ever man was"
"My dear child" said the old woman, almost
smiling as the idea entered her head "you are
not suspicous-notj jcalous-'
/ "l have never had moments cause, Han
nah, answered Catharinc. "No, my griefs are
not of that nature. He is one of the best and
dearest Of husbands"
Old Hannah was puzzled at these replies, as
she was distressed by the open avowal of Cath,
ariucs having some cause of sorrow; but seeing
that her young friend could not make up her
mind TO Il disclosure at the time, the aged dame
gave up her inquiries, and told Catbarinc to
think seriously Of the propricty Of confdmg all
to her.
Hannah conceived that, on mature considcra-
ton, Calharine would come to the resolution Of
seeking counsel at the cottage. And she was
not wrong. La Il few days after their late con-
vcrSation, the young wife came to visit Hannah
again, and after little embarrassed talk, enter
ed upon the subject which was uppcrmost in the
minds OF both.
"lIanuah,' said Catharinc, 81 fear you can
serve me nohing-I fear no living being can
serve me--O, Hannah, good as my husband ap-
pears to bc-good, as he is-there is some
dreadful weight pressing upon his mind, which
destroys his peacc--and mine too. Alas the
gloomy fits which you as well as | have noticed
in him, are not, | fear, without cause" Calha-
rinc wcpt in silence for moment and then con-
tinucd; All that | know of this cause arises
from his cxpressions-his dreadful expressions
while he is asleep at my side. Hannah he
speaks i'll broken language Of murder-of hav-
ing committed murder Hannah perhaps wo-
man deceived and killed by him. AS Catharinc
said this, she shuddcred 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 to suggest for the comfort OF
the poor wife that it was perfectly possible for
her husband to consider himself murderer in
his sleep, aud speak of it without the slightest
reality in the whole affair.
"Ah. Hannah said Catharne, sadly, "thcsc
dreadful saying are not the result of one night
mare slumbor. They occur oltcn--too often,
Besides, when | first heard him mutter in his
sleep these horrible things, | mentioned the mat
ter to lin in the morning at our breakfast and
laughed at it; but he grew agtated; and telling
me to pay no attention to such things, as he
sometimes talked nonsence, he knew, in his
sleep, he rose and went away, leaving his meal
uninished indeed, scarcely touched. | am
sure he does not know how often he speaks in
his sleep, for | have never mentioned the sub
ject again-though my rest is destroyed by it.
And then his fits of sadness at ordinary mo-
mcnts Hannah, Hannah there is some mys-
tery--somc terrible mystery under it "Yet,"
continued the young wife," he is so good--so
kind--so dutiiu TO God and to man lie has
too much tenderness and feeling to harm fly
Hannah what an ! 10 think do, for l am
wretched at present 2"
1t was long ere the old dame replied to this
question, She mused greatly on what had been
told her. and in the end said to Catharine-
"My poor child, | cannot believe that William
is guilty Of what these circumstance lay SEEM
ingly 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 con-
I
to your ear, and say that you did so by my ad-
vice. Hannah continued to use persuasious of
the same kind for some time longer, and at
length sent Catharine home, firmly resolve to
follow the counscls given her.
On the following day Catharnc once more
presented herself at the abode Of Hannah, and
as soon as she entered, exclaimed: dear moth
er have told him all ! he will be here soon, to
explain everything to US both"
The old woman did not exactly comprehend
this. elias he not" said she, given any ex-
planation to you?"
mo, Hannah" said Catharinc "but oh, he
is not guilty. When l had spoken as you de-
sired me, he was silent Il long time, and lie then
took me in his arms, Hannah, and kissed me,
saying My darling Catharinc, l ought to
have conlided in you long before. | have been
unfortunate, not guilty. Go to kind Hannah's
| fall