Smyrna times., 1860-05-17
SELECT s STORY.
] U S T III RE d.
by MRS. JANE WEAVER.

W bnc Wlle OI MS cnOlces anu yet not CLOUD
had arisen to darken their happiness even for a
moment. But now the tone in which he spoke
brought the tears to Ellen's eyes, for there was
vexalion, and, she thought. reproach in the &C.
cent. She turned away, ostensibly to go into
the kitchen to hasten the meal, but really TO
hide her emotion.
In few minutes the dinner was served, and
Frederick, being in a very great hurry. ate so
FAST and was so much occupied in thinking of
his business, that he did not notice the con-
| strained manner of his wife. As soon as he had
swallowed few mouthfnls, he rose and taking
his hat, FASTENED back to his store.
The moment the door closed after him Ellen
burst into tears. Naturally of very sensitive
disposition, she still dwelt on the tone of re-
proach in which her husband spoke, and this
idea coloring all her thoughts, she attributed
his silence during the meal to anger. But she
was sensible of having done nothing to merit
| reproof, for the butcher had sent home the beef
only few minutes before her husbands arr-
val, and this she would have explained to him
if she had not felt embarrassed and hurt at his
tone of vexation. The more she thought on
the subject, the more convinced she was of the
! injustice done her; and her pride rebelled at
this.
| When Frederick came home at night he was
wearied, both physically end mentally, with u
day of hard labor, and he longed for the sooth-
/ ing repose of a wife's society. He had quite
| forgotten the incidens at dinner; indeed, the
remark had passed from his mind almost The
instant it was made, and had it not, the en-
crossing character of his business would have
soon driven it hence. How was he surprised
then to witness the constrained manner in
which his wife met him. He saw at once that
something was wrong.
"Are you sick, my dear!" he said.
4. "No."
"Somelhing am sure is the. matter with
you" a
"There is nothing"
"You can't deceive me, Ellen ;-have you
had headache 7"
| "No." sa.
"Is anything the matter with the servants!
They are not going to leave"
"No."
MBut something has happened" said Freder-
ick. convinced that he was right, for he saw
Ellen had been weeping; now, my dear, tell
me frankly, what is ii!" And he put his arm
around his wife.
i But Ellen, strong in her sense of injustice,
and misled by false pride, was silent, and she
said at last, as she unloosed her husbands
arms Ah
"Nothing whatever is the matter"
put an end to the conversation; but Frederick
J was not convinced. Had be known the truth,
he would instantly have asked his wife to for
; give his hasty words, assuring her, at the same
lime, that nothing of reproach was intended
He sat down and Ellen took up her needle
When supper was ready his wife still re-
tanned her constraint and silence. The evening
: passed in the same unpleasant manner. Ellen
sewed industriously, answering shortly to her
husbands questions, and never raising her
eyes TO his face. This was so different from
her usual free happy demeanor, that Frederick
was more than ever convinced there was some.
thing wrong, and began finally to suspect that
. he was the cause Of il. At length he laid down
his book, which he had taken up in self-defence
!. and said
"Now. Ellen, tell me what have done to
offend you!''
She did not raise ber eyes, but the color deep
! ened on her cheek, aud she said
"There is nothing the matter with me-"
Frederick took up his book again, with al
air of vexaton, for he began TO feel angry a.
this Withholding of confidence. But he could
8 not read. After few minutes he addressed
d his wife again.
e ANY dear, know that something is the mat
d ter. You are sick or have offended you il
s either case you ought 10 tell me. entreat
i you, to be frank. II have said or done any
!" thing to hurt ysur feelings twas unintention
Il ally. You ought to know would not do sucl
u thing"
!. He spoke so earnestly, SO kindly, that tn,
II tears began to flow from Ellen's eyes. Hi
,s words compelled her to exonerate him from al
g. blame and had Ellen consulted the fret instino
q OF her heart, she would have thrown herself in
= q, her husbands arms and confessed what
n was that panied her. But Eflen was not fault
is less pride was her foible; and beginning nov
r. t) think that she had been very foolish to &c
angry and continue so all the evening, she wa
really ashamed to tell the cause of her cor
n strained manner. Frederick, however, tenderl
!. soothing her, sought still 20 win her secret.
20 II is nothing" she said; al have beenv yer
~ Foolish"
d.l - But IL was for something" be said, perss
X, veringly, Or else, why these tears
raI "Oh, am nervous that is ALL
ot Ellen" said Frederick, seriously, "this
not just. It very evident that have oien'
by ed you in some way, and you refuse to tell N
"a. how. lf knew what had done, could avo
lk. doing DO again for really amignorant of
he nov, and mast have done i unccnsc iously.
ts. so, may do or say the same thing tomorrow
aud be innocent all the time. Now, your ha
+ piness 10 dearer to me than my own. som
- times, | know, our sex will say things whi'
lar on the more deicately strung heart OF W
- man; il is Jest sometimes, and again only u
~ tone we use Often man, harrissed BY bui
~ ness and interrupted in his thoughts, will spe
The sharply, but without knowing DO doss so'
be. Have done this r.
But, nofwthstandng all Frtscerick cor
say, bis wifs refused to reveal ME cause of b
tears, and endeavored to svade bis inquiries
ded Her pertinaclsy led him 10 think the affair y
6rs more serious than he had al drit supposed.
lie was uncomfortable. hurt, and at lass Psqus