Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-18

He had resumed his pen. and went away.
We had an unfinished room in our house.
| was soon locked into that. ] spread nv
paper on box, box that we had with us
on our wedding journey, and crouched upon
the floor to write. i left off Just in time to
prepare for dinner-to smooth my hair, dip
my hot brow in water, and wash the ink stains
off my fingers.
Il wanted you to stitch up my manuscript.
Minnie" Kenelm said, shut as diden't find
you in the house, eontriyed to do it myself
L suppose you have been working in the
garden-too hard, think you look flushed
my face is rather hot. Now, where shall
we walk this EVENING" 1 asked, and began
talking hurriedly of prim-roses, violets. blue
bells, and the probability of our finding them
in the fields around.
That was an exquisite evening. As we
wandered about the lanes and meadows.
Kenelm sometimes leant on me- | sometimes
on him; and | said tn myself, $50 it should
be in life; why should my husband work
always, and sit idle all my days?'
That was very well: but, alasl as worked
lost sight of my good motive in the absorb
ing interest of my work-forgot all nv little
daily cares for Kenelm while struggled to
achieve grand good for him.
My husband came home healthy tireild.
That night he slept soundly, and l could not
sleep, so / rose-I could not resist the
impulse to continue my work; again it was
daylight that warned me to my bed.
Kenelm told me at breakfast that he must
go into town. and should not get home till
evening. He had not incurred this fatigue
since his Illness, and was not fit for it. / did
not offer to go for him, or beg to go with
him, l thought joyfully of the long day before
me. He left home at ten. to return at seven
told Ann to say that was engaged if any
one should call. and locked myself into the
empty chamber. 1 uttered cry of joy as I
began my work. had such delight in it.
left off to pretend to dine, but l had no
appetite, and soon recommended.
Towards the end of the afternoon found
could go on no longer. My temples burned,
and yet felt as if numbed by excessive cold
and my head began to ache intensely.
kenelm was late; it was getting dusk
when he came, and l stunned what little
light there was.-He was tired and after tea
lay upon the couch; l sat beside him on
low seat, and rested my aching head on his
breast.
By-and-by Ann came in with the lamp and
then kenelm asked me to read to him. /
rose with some difficulty. | felt so weak and
weary. Unwittingly | turned my face full
to the light as opened the new book he had
brought home, and his eyes were upon me rs
they generally were, as l had formerly loved
to have them.
''Minnie!" he exclaimed-then started up
and came to me. He took my hands and
gazed into my face This time 1 was not
sorry to feel thick bushes covering my pallor.
Somewhat pettishly 1 cried-"YOu startle
me, Kenelm," and l tried to turn away. He
would not let me.
''You look wretched i'll, Minnie. You
have been crying mnch again-so sOOn,-
what is it that troubles you? My poor child
must tell mel''
Il have nothing to tell you-you are foolish
nothing troubles MEL But he continued
that | could not bear it. To convince him
that nothing was the matter. l burst into
tears and sobbed upon his bosom, for he
folded me in his arms
| thought that all was over-that my secret
would out, or my heart would break; but he
questioned me no more, only soothed and
caressed me.
Next morning I rejoiced that my secret
was still i'm my keeping.
"When | went down into the parlor, Kenelm
held a visiting-card in his hand, at which he
looking with surprise.
"My friend Ashtower here yesterday, and
you did not tell me? You asked him to come
again, hope you are well aware that | have
long desired to see him."
paused at the door with face expressing
blank CONSERVATION. "I-did not know" |
faltered
Yes; I was afraid of Kenelm-his eyes Pc
rused my face keenly.
You did not knOw-it was AIMS fault
then. This is very vexatious." He was about
to ring the bell.
''Stay!'' l cried; ''it was not her fault. I
told her if anybody came, to say that ! was
engaged; of course she did not know that l
would bave seen your friend Till this mo-
ment did not know he had been here"
Il 9,
body yesterday"
"Don't say my dear wife in that horrid
way. l suppose was not in the humor for
company, as you left me alonel" / took ref
uge in kind of petulent naughtiness. pouted
and made an unnecessary noise with the cups
and sauccrs.
Ny husband did not speak for some time.
Then he said with measured mildness that
well understood. Il think Minnie that you
owe me some slight explanation. trust your
good sense will lead you to offer me such.
As [ am confident that my wife cannot act in
a way of which she has cause to be ashamed,
do not understand her having any mys-
terry"
had heard people say that sometimes my
husband appeared to hide an iron hand be-
meath a velvet glove. l recalled the saying
now, and asked myself Indignantly if he
meant to make me feel the smooth infiexibil-
| offered no word of apology but remained
silent. /, could not eat; the first mouthful
seemed like to choke me. This made me seem
all the more sullen. =
No wonder that my noble. high-minded hus
band looked grieved to the heart at such signs
of childish perversity.
When after breakfast, / sought the bare
room, and locked myself in, trembled TAX
ing home the moral that was evolving. with
out conscious effort of mine, from the story
which had called "a Wife's Secret"
| felt the possibility of my little troubles
deepening and widening terribly. Icried pas
sionately, II will persevere; but | must finish
soon. L cannot bear this long
l had taken it for granted that Kenelm had
stairs just before dnner-time, / saw him lying
on our little lawn, book beside him.
''He is angry" thought. This is the first
holiday. on which he has done without me.''
When we met, Iicould not be gay or natural;
was constrained in manner, and felt weighed
upon and weary.
Portable. Kenelm tried to resume bis usual
demeanor, but something was between US, and
was afraid of him. / wrote as much as
could without risk of detection. and forgot
my own griefs during those hours.
| told myself that would not that could
not, give up, now that ] had gone so far
Whenever / felt wavering and Respondent,
pictured TO myself my triumph. Kenelm's
surprise, delight, gratitude-this would pay
for all my pain.
There was surely no tedious lingering by
the way in my book. 1 wrote in desperate
haste to have finished IL