Litchfield enquirer., 1860-01-19

fully, that could not bear it. To convinc
him that nothing was the matter, I burs
into tears and sohbed upon his bosom, 70
he folded me in his arms.
| [ thought that all was over-that my Sc
cret would out or my heart would break
but he questioned me no MORE only soothe(
and caressed me.
Next morning I rejoiced that my secre
was still in my keeping.
When | went down into the parlor Ken
elm held visiting-card in his hard, at which
he was looking with surprise
| My friend Ashtower here yesterday, anG
you did not tell me! You asked him t.
come again, [ hope; you are we'll aware thai
| have long desired to see him."
paused at the door with a face express
| ing blank CONSERVATION. "I-did moi
know" faltered.
Yes; l was afraid of Kenelm-his eyes
perused my face keenly.
You did not know-it was AIMS fault
then This is very vexatious." He was about
to ring the bell.
"Stay!" I cried; lit was not her fault
l told her if anybody came, to say was en-
gagged: of course she did not know that I
would have seen your friend! Till this mo-
ment did not know he had been here"
And why, my dear wife, would you see
nobody yesterday"
"Don't say my dear wife in that horrid
way. | suppose l was not in the humor for
company, as you had left me alonew I
took refuge in kind of petulant naughti-
ness, pointed, and made an unnecessary noise
with the cnps and sauccrs
My husband did not speak for some time.
Then he said, with measured mildness
which I well understood, II think, Minnie,
that you owe me some explanation [ trust
that your good sense will lead you to offer
me such. AS AIN confident that my wife
can not act in a way Of which she has need
to be ashamed l do not understand her
having any mystery"
I had heard people say that sometimes my
husband appeared to hide an iron hand be-
meath velvet glove. recalled the saying
now, and asked myself Indignantly if he
meant to make me feel tie smooth inaexibil-
ty of his character. l was angry with him.
l offered no word of apology, but remain
ed silent. l could not eat; the first mouth
ful seemed like to choke me. This made me
seem all the more sullen.
No wonder that my noble, high-minded
husband looked grieyed at the heart at such
signs Of childish perversity.
When, after breakfast, [ sought the bare
room, and locked myself in, [ trtmbled tax
ing home the moral that was evolving, with
ont conscious efforts of mine, from the story
which had called "Tbe Wife's Secret"
l felt the possibility Of my little troubles
deepening and widening terribly. I cried
passionately. 81 will perseyere; but [ must
finish soon--I cannot bear this long"
had taken it for granted that Kenelm
had work to do; but when I had slipped
down stairs, just before dnner-time, l saw
him lying on our little lawn, book beside
He is angry" thought. "This is the
first holiday Oh which he has done without
me.u
When we met, could not be gay or natu-
raj; | was constrained in manner, and felt
weighed upon and weary.
The few days that followed were unconl-
Portable. Kenelm tried to resume his usual
demeanor, but something was between us,
and l was afraid of him. wrote as much
as could without risk of detection, and for
got my1own griefs during those hours
told myself that would not, that could
not give up, now that I had gone so far.
Whenever felt wavering and Respondent, l
pictured to myself my triumph. Kcnelms
surprise, delight, gratitude this would pay
for all my pains.
(Concuded next week