The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-05-05
Gclelt GtorD.
JUST MARRIED.
BY MRS. JANE WEAVER.

IS Dinner not ready yet Salu HreuC-
rick Wharton, in a slight tone of vexa-
ton, as he came home hurried to his meal.
"How often have | told you, my dear,
that punctuality is all important to a
business man."
Frederick had been married about six
months to the wife of his choice, and as
yet not cloud had arisen to darken their
happiness even for moment. But now,
the tone in which he spoke brought the
tears to Ellen's eyes, for there was vexa-
ton, and, she thought, rcproach in the
accent. She turned away, ostensibly to
60 in the kitchen to hasten the meal, but
really to hide her emotion.
In few minutes the dinner was served,
and Frederick, being in very great
hurry, ate so fast, and was so much occu-
pied in thinking of his business, that he
did not uotice the constrained manner Of
his wife. AS soon as he had swallowed
few mouthfuls, be rose and taking his
hat, fastened back to his store.
The moment the door closed after him
Ellen burst into tears. Naturally Of a
very sensitive disposition, she still dwelt
on the tone of reproach in which her hus
band 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 arrival, and this she would
have explained to him if she had not felt
embarrassed and hurt by his tone of vex-
alton. The more she thought on the sub
ject, 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 and men
tally, with a day of hard labor, and he
longed for the soothing repose of wife s
society. He had quite forgotten the in
cident at dinner; indeed, his remark had
passed from his mind almost the instant
it was made, and had it not, the engross-
ing character of his business would have
soon driven it hence. How was he sur
rrised then to witness the constrained
manner in which his wife met him. He
saw at once that something was wrong.
care you sick, my dear!' he said.
aNo."
Something am sure is the matter
with you"
"Thcre is nothing"
You can't deceive me, Ellen have
you had headache ?''
"No."
els anything the matter with the SER
wants! They are not going to leave!'
"No."
"But something has happencd,' said
Frederick, convinced that be was right,
for he saw Ellen had been weeping
"now, my dear, tell ME frankly, what is
it?" And he put his arm around his
wife.
But Ellen, strong in her sense of injus-
tice, and mislcd by false pride, was silent
and she said at last, as she Embossed hel
husbands arms
"Nothing whatever is the matter.'
The positive tone in which this was
spoken put an end to the conversation >
but Frederick was not convinced. Had
he known the truth, he would instantly
have asked his wife to forgive his hasty
words, assuring her, at the same time,
that nothing of reproach was intended
lie sal down and Ellen took up her nee
die. When supper was ready his wife
still retained her consttaint and silence.
The evening passed in the same unplea-
SAINT manner. Ellen sewed industriously
answering shortly to her husbands ques-
tions, and never raising her eyes to his
face. This was so different from her
usual free happy demeanor, that Frede-
rick was more than ever convinced there
was something wrong, and began finally
to suspect that he was the cause of it,
At length he laid down his book, which
he had taken up in self defence, anc
said
"Now, Ellen, tell me what have ]
done to offend you -
She did not raise her eyes, but the
color deepened on her cheek, and she
said
"Therc is nothing the matter with me. ,
Frederick took up his book again, Will
an air of vexation, for be began to fee
angry at this Withholding of confidence
But he could not read. After few min.
uteS be addressed his wife again.