The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-03-09
[coNTINuED FROM FIRST PAGE.

1AAAoSA " ~ 2OoS u Tx aAtCA nOOA ONCI Ills
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On entering the bedroom, he found it still
darkened ; and he was struck by a smell OF
burnt paper in it. His wife, (who was now
dressed in her wrapper, and lying on the sofa
accounted for the smell by telling himthat she
had fancied the room felt close, and that she
had burnt some paper-being afraid of the
cold air if she opened the window-to fumi-
gate it. Her eyes were evidently still weak,
for she kept her hand over them while she
spoke After remaining with her long enough
to relate the few trivial events of his ride, Mr..
CARING descended to his study, to occupy him,
SELF at last with the volume of the Times.
1t lay on his table in the shape of alarge, fiat
brown paper package. On proceeding to undo
the covering, he observed that it had been very
ca.elessly tied up. The strings were crooked
and loosely knotted; and the direction bearing
his name and address instead of being in the
middle of the paper, was awkwardly folded
over at the edge of the volume. However,
his business was with the inside of the parcel;
so he tossed away the covering and the string,
and began at once to hunt through the volume
for the particular number of the paper which
he wished first to consult.
He soon found it, with the report of the
speeches delivered by the members of the dep
~utation, and the answer returned by the minis
ter. After reading through the report, and
putting a mark in the place where it occurred,
he turned to the next days number of the pa
per, to see what further hints on the subject
the letters addressed to the Editor might hap
pc to contain.
TIC his inexpressible vexation and amaze
ment that one number of the paper was missing.
He, bent the two sides of the volume back
looked closely between the leaves, and saw inn
mediatcly that the missing number had been
cut out.
vague sense of something like alarm began
to mingle with his first feeling of disappoint-
ment. He wrote at once to Mr.. Rambert,
mentioning the discovery he had just made,
and sent the note off by his groom, with orders
to the man to wait for an answer.
The reply which the servant returned was
almost ~insolent in the shortness and GOODNESS
of its tone. Mr.. Rambert had no books in his
library which were not in perfect condition
The volume of the Times had left his house
perfect; and whatever blame might attach to
the mutilation of it rested therefore. on other
shoulders than those of the owner.
: Like many other weak men, Mr.. CARING
was secretly touchy on the subject of his digni-
ty. After reading the note, and questioning
his servants, who were certain that the volume
had never been touched till he had opened it,
he resolved that the missing number of the
Times should be procured at any expense, and
inserted in its place, that the volume should be
sent back instantly without a word of comment;
and that no more books from Mr.. Rambert's
library should ever enter his house. He walk
ed up and down the study considering what
first step he should take to effect the purpose
IN view. Under the quickening influence of
his irritation, an idea occurred to him, which,
If it had only entered his mind the day before,
might probably have proved the means OF sa-
wing him from placing himself under an obi
cation to Mr.. Rambert. He resolved to write
Immediately to his bookseller and publisherin
London. (who knew him well as an old and ex-
cellent customer) mentioning the date of the
back number of the Times that was required,
and authorizing the publisher to offer any re-
ward he judged necessary to any person who
might have the means of procuring it at the
Office of the paper, or elsewhere. This letter
he wrote and dispatched in good time for the
London post; and then went upstairs to see
his wife and to tell her what had happened.
Her room was still darkened, and she was
still IN the sofa. On the subject Of the miss
ing number she said nothing but of Mr..
Rambert and lis note, she spoke with the most
sovereign contempt. Of course, the pompous
old fool was mistaken, and the best thing to do
was to send back the volume instantly, and
take no more notice of him.
at shall be sent back" said Mr.. CARING,
"but not till the missing number is replaced"
And he then told her what he had done.
The effect of that simple piece of information
ON Mrs. CARING was so extraordinary and so
unaccountable, that her husband fairly stood
aghast. For the first time since their marriage,
h saw her temper suddenly in a flame. She
) started up from the sofa, and walked about
Z the room, as if she had lost her senses, upbraid-
ing him for making the weakest of concession
to Mr.. Rambert's insolent assumption that the
rector was to blame. If she could only have
laid hands on that letter, she would have con-
suited her husband dignity and independence,
by putting it in the fire! She hoped and
prayed the number of the paper might not be
foundi In fact, it was certain that the number,
after all these years, could not be hunted up
The idea of his acknowledging himself to bein
the wrong, in that way, when he knew himself
to be in the right! 1t was almost ridiculous
no it was quite ridiculous! And she threw
herself back on the sofa, and suddenly burst out
laughing. At the first word of remonstrance,
however, which fell from her husbands lips,
her mood changed again, in an instant. She
sprang mp once more, kissed him passionately,
with the tears streaming from her eyes, and
i. implored him to leave her alone to recover her
SELF. He quilted the room so seriously alarmed
about her, that heresolved to go to the doctor
privately, and question him on the spot
There was an unspeakable dread iu his mind,
that the nervous attack from which she had
been pronounced to be suffering, might be a
mere phase to prepare him for the future
disclosure of something infinitely and indie
: scribably worse.
The doctor, on hearing Mr.. Carvings report,
exhibited no surprise, and held to his opinion.
Her nervous system was out of order, and her
husband had been needlessly frightened by a
hysterical paroxysm. IF she did not get better
in a week, change of scene might then be
tried. In the mean time, there was not the
least cause for alarm.
On the next day she was quieter, but she
hardly spoke at all. At night she slept well;
and Mr.. Carvings faith in the medical man
revived again. The morning after, was the
o, morning which would bring the answer from
the publisher in London. The ~rector's study
was on the ground-f0or, and when he heard
the postman's knock, being especially anxious
that morning about his correspondence, he
went out into the hall to take his letters the