Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-07-07
Ansrapidly for few minutes, then as
ley tightened the reins, and drew him


and saw instead that we had stopped in
front Of pretty little garden, full Of spring
flowers, with brown cottage shaded bT
locust-trees, in the rear of it.
81 want to,step here one moment" said
my husband, hurriedly, springing out as
he spoke. "Hold the reinsu viii vou9 r.
sha'n't be long,"
And before had time to answer him,
he had openedithe gate and was striding
up, the graEeled' walk to the cottage. l.
leaned out and watched him with eager
curiosity. What could he want there Just
after all we had been saying, too )? The
door was open by tbs time he reaGaed If,
and woman came to meet him. | was
too far off to. seeif she was young or old,
but caught a, glimpse of children playing
in the hall before the door was shut, and
for moment | saw some one at the win
dow tossing up a baby in white clotbes.-
Next moment the child disappeared, and
the thought struck me suddenly that nv
husband had taken it in his arms-struck
me with sharp, jealous pang. What
right had lie to play with another woman's
child when | had none! How could he
look at that baby when he was taking me
to mine in its grave? Hot tears sprang
afresh, falling unheeded while | watched
with trembling eagerness for his return
eagerness which grew into sickening sus-
pense as the moments slipped by, and he
fingered still. At last-it was but frag-
ment of time, but it seemed SO long to me
the door opened again and he appeared
with the woman beside him and that child
in his arms. He made a step forward,
then word or two seemed to pass between
them, and she ran back into the house, but
reappeared presently with little red shawl
which Norman threw hastily around the
baby, and advanced again-hesitated-
half-turned back-then ran quickly down
the walk toward me. The gate was open
he came straight to my sile, and without
a word or gesture placed the child silently
in my lap. The little creature turned its
innocent face and bright, wondering eyes
toward me, stretched out its little hands,
and clung tony dress, beginning to COO
and crow as if it knew me.
What intuition-what mother-instinct
taught me the truth, at that moment, can
not explain, but the lightning conviction
flashed through, all doubt and uncertainty.
| snatched the baby to my heart, strained
it close with a cry Of wild delight
"MY child-my child-my own precious
for Eod's sake, tell me so r.
! He pressed close to me, pale and trem-
bling with equal excitement Il will
do" he exclaimed. eagerly. "Be calm,
Agnes 1t is true. indeed. The child is
your own-ours-our own. little girl"
His face quivered with, strong emotion,
tears sparkled in his,eyes, and his lips trem-
bled as he spoke, but such brightness
shone over his whole countenance that
needed no. better assurance of the happy
truth. clung to, ,him,sobbing hysterically,
dizzy and half-fainting with the excess Of
my great joy; he soothed, ,,and comforted
and encouraged me; and the little one
laughed and played bo-peep, between US in
her baby mirth and Inconsistencies.
But all this, is past description. What
we said and did, how We. acted altogethel
in this scene, can not begin to recall now
The remembrance of it is like a deliciou.
but bewildering dream. l cried, anc
laughed, and cried again, and covered thu
baby with such vehement kisses that sh,
grew frightened at last and stretched he
arms out to her father for relief at which
he laughingly took her.into, his own arms
and bade me give the kisses to him instead
, For he was in, the carriage with US by thi
time, and Sorrel was, trotting back to tn
city as unconcernedly as if he were bear
ing the most commonplace burden in tn
world, instead of the happiest trio to b
found within the limits of New York.
1t was not till after we were at hom
again, sitting together beside little Walter
cradle, where our baby-girl was lying nov
e in sweet, profound sleep, that Norman tol
\ me all about it. How the thought ha
D first risen in, his mind to send the chill
: away from me when / told him SO bitterl
: that hated it and wished never to see i
/ face ); and how afterward, when my illne
# made it necessary to send her out to nurs
: the doctor had advised her being sent int
n the country. and he had determined the
r to keep her there until I should come to
|. right sense Of my own duty as wife al
+ mother.
/ He told me all this with most loving te
derness and all possible avoidance of all
= sions which could give me pain-even as
u ing my forgiveness (as if l had right
forgive him anythingD for what he cho
D to call his "unjustifable" coDcealment
i. the child. Time was when the mere su
Of position of such an act on his part wou
y have filled me with burning indignation
ID but I had been down in the valley Of b
I'd initiation since those days Of pride, and
st had no room new for any thing but than
Ir. fulness.
lg But there is no need to dwell on tn
1t and nothing more to be told. My conf
en sion is ended, and if it be profitable
!" instruction" or warning to one reader,
purpose will be accomplished,
Ec-