Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-05-17
JUST MARRIED.
EY MRS. JANE WEAVER.

"DInncr not ready yeti! SAID Frederick w mar
ton, in slight tone of vexation, as he came
home hurried to his meal. "How often have
told you, my DEAR that punctuality is all i'm
portant 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
vexation, and, she thought, reproach in the ac-
cent. She turned away, ostensbly to go in the
kitchen to hasten the meal, but really to hide
her emotion.
In q few minutes the dinner was served, and
Frederick, being in very great hurry, ate SO
fast, and was SO much occupied in thinking of
his business, that he did not notice the constrain
ed manner of his wife. AS soon as he had swal
lowed few mouthfuls, 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 cooring 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 a
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
vexation. The more she thought on the sub
ect, the more convinced she was of the injus-
tice done her; and her pride rebelled at this.
When Frederick came home at night he was
wearied, both physically and mentally, with a
day Of hard labor, and he longed for the sooth-
ing repose of wifes society. He had quite
forgotten the incident at dinner indeed, his re-
mark had passed from his mind almost the in
slant it was made, and had it not, the engross-
ing 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.
care you sick, my dear ?" he said.
Something am sure is the matter with you. +"
s'There is nothing"
''You can't deceive me, Ellen;-have you had
a headache?''
sND"
''Is anything the matter with the servants :?
They are not going to leave?"
"No."
"But 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 it p And he put his arm
around bis wife.
But Ellen, strong in her sense of injustice.
and sled by false pride was silent, and she
sah1S last, as she -nnloosed her. husbands
| arms
"Nothing whatever is the matter"
| The positive tone in which this was spoken
put al end to the conversation, but Frederick
was not convinced. Had he known the truth,
he would instantly have asked his wife to for
give his hasty words, assuring her at the same
time, that nothing of reproach was intended
He sat down and Ellen took up her needle.
When supper was ready his wife still retained
her constraint and silence. The evening passed
in the same unpleasant manner. Ellen sewed
industrously, 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 something wrong, and be-
gan 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, and said
-ssNow, Ellen, tell me what have done to
offend you %
.~She did not raise her eyes, but the color deep
ened on her cheek, and she said
sThere is nothing the matter with me-"
Frederick took up his book again, with an air
of vexation, for he began to feel angry at this
withholding of confidence. But he could not
read. After a few minutes he addressed his
wife again.
sMy dear, know that something is the mat
ter. You are sick, or have offended you; in
either case you ought to tell me. | entreat you
to be frank. If have said or done anything
to hurt your feelings, it was unintentionally.-
You ought to know 1 would not do such a
thing"
He spoke so earnestly, so kindly, that the
tears began to flow from Ellens eyes. His
| ,Jc ol1,l 1:
blame, and had Ellen consulted the first instinct
of her heart, she would have thrown herself into
her husbands arms and confessed what it was
that panied her. But Ellen was not faultless
pride was her foible; and beginning now tc
think that she had been very foolish to get an
cry and continue so all the evening, she was
really ashamed to tell the cause of her constrain-
ed manner. Frederick, however, tenderly sooth.
ing her, sought still to win her secret.
1T is nothing" she said Il have been very
foolish"
"But it was for something" he said persever.
ingly, cor else, why these tears"
ooh, 1 am nervous !! that is ALL"
"Ellen," said Frederick, seriously, 'this in no.
just. 1t is very evident that I have offended
you in some way, and you refuse to tell me
how. If | know what had done, 1couid avoiC
doing so again for 1 really am ignorant of il
now, and must have done it unconsciously
so, l may do the same thing tomorrow, and be
innocent all the time Now, your happiness is
dearer to me than my own. Sometimes,
know, our sex will say things which jar on the
more delicately strung heart of woman; it is a
jest sometimes, and again only the tone we use
Often a man, harrassed by business and inter
rupted in his thoughts, will speak sharply, but
without knowing he does so. Have l done
this p
But notwithstanding all Frederick could say
his wife refused to reveal the cause of her tears
and endeavored to evade his inquiries. Hel
pertinacity led him to think the affair was more
serious than he had at first supposed. He was
uncomfortable, hurt, and at last piqued for ht
thought there could be no good reason to con-
ceal the offence At last he resumed his book
but the constraint still continued, aud was now
as much on his side as on Ellen's.
The next day came with no decrease of tht
uncomfortable feelings existing betwee1 the hus
band and wife, Frederick ate his breakfast ir
in almost total silence, and went abroad.
} All that morning Ellen was restless and un