Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-06-07
when Catharine and her husband visited
the DANES dwelling.

the DANES dwelling.
Many future visit was paid by the sam
parties 10 Hannah, and on each successiy
occasion the old woman looked narrowly
though as. unobtrusively as possible, into th
state of the wife's feelings, with mother
ly anxiety to know if she was happy. Fo
though Hannah, seeing Catharine's affec
tion deeply engaged, had made light o
her own early remark upon the strange an(
most unpleasing gloom occasionally, if no
frequently, observable in the look and man
ner of William Hunton, the old woman
was never able to rid her own mind alto
gether of misgivings on the subject. Fo
many months after Catharine's marrige,
however, Hannah could never discover any
thing but open unalloyed happiness in the
air and conversation of the youthful wife
But at length Hannah's anxious eye did
perceive something like change. Cath
arine seemed sometimes to fall when Wis
iting the cottage, into fits of abstraction
not unlike those which had been obser7ed
in her husband. The aged dame had felt
greatly distressed at the thought of her
dear Catharine being unhappy, but for a
long time she had held her peace upon the
subject, trusting that the cloud might be
a temporary one, and would disappear.
1t was not so, unfortunately. Though
in their manner to each other, when togetL-
er, nothing but the most cordial affection
was observable, Catharine, when she came
alone to see Hannah, seemed a prey to
some unesiness, which all her efforts could
not conceal from her old friend. Even when
shebecame for the first time mother, and
with all the beautiful pride of a young
mothers love, presented her babe to Han
nah, the latter could see a secret grief
imprinted on Catbarine's 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.
At this, Catharine stammered forth
hurried assurance that she was perfectly
happy, and in few seconds belied her
words by bursting into tears, and owning
that she was very unhappy.
"But cannot, Hannah" she exclaimed,
81 cannot tell the cause-even to YOU"
"Don't say SO, my poor Catharine," re-
piled Hannah; "it is not curiosity that
prompts me to interfere"
80, no, Hannab," replied the young
wife; 81 know you speak for love TO me-"
"Well then continued the dame, "open
your heart to me. Age is good adviser"
Catharine was silent.
"Is yuor husband harsh to you?" asked
Hannah.
"No," cried the wife; "man could not be
kinder 10 woman than he is to me-"
"Perhaps he INDUCES in drink; in,'-
"Hannah, you mistake altogether" was
Catharine's reply; my husband is free from
all such faults as ever man was"
My dear child" said the old women,
almost smiling as the idea entered her head,
"you are not suspicious-n jealous!"
81 never bad moments cause, Hannah"
answered Catharine. "No, my griefs are
not of that nature. He is one of best and
dearest husbands"
Old Hannah was puzzled at these re-
plies, as she was distressed at the open
avowal of Catharine's having some cause
of sorrow; but, seeing that her young
friend could not make up her mind to a
at this time, the aged dame
gave up her inquiries, and told Catharine
to think seriously of the property of con-
iding all 10 her
Hannah conceived that on mature con-
Catharine would come to the
resolution of seeking counsel at the cottage.
And she was not wrong. In few days
after their late conversation, the young
wife came to visit Hannah again, and after
q little embarrassed talk, entered upon the
subject which was uppermost in the minds
of both.
"Hannab," said CathariDe, 81 fear you
,an serve me nothing; l fear no living be-
ing can serve me. o, Hannah, good as
my husband appears to be-good as he is
there is some dreadful weight pressing
upon bis mind, which destroys his peace
and mine, toe. Alas the gloomy fits,
which you, as well as l, have noticed in
lim, are not, fear, without cause."-
Catbarine wept in silence moment, and
hen continued: gall that 1 know of this
cause arises from his expressions-his
dreadful xpreessions-whi lille he is asleep |
at my side. Hannah, he speaks in broken
language of murder, Hannah! Perhaps a
deceived and killed by him." As
Catharine said this, she shuddered and
buried her face in that of her babe, which |
she carried in her arms.
Hannah was shocked 10 hear this, but |
her good sense led her to suggest for the
poor wife, that it was impossible for her
husband to consider himself a murderer in
MS sleep, and speak of it, without the
slightest reality in the whole affair.
"Ah, Hannah" said Catharine, sadly,
'these dreadful sayings are not the result
,f one night-mare slumber. They occur
,ften-too often. Besides when l heard |
him mutter in his sleep, these horrible
things, / mentioned the matter to him in
the morning at our breakfast, and he laugh
I'd at it; but be grew agitated and telling
me to pay no attention to such things, as
be som etimes talked nonsense, be knew,
in his sleep, be arose and went away, leav-
ing his meal nfnished-indeed, scarcely |
touched. 1 am sure he does not know
how often he speaks in his sleep, for 1
have never mentioned the subject again,