Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-06-07
Misesllansons.
The Husbands Secret.

young woman knocked at the door of
little cottage in the suburbs of a LITTLE
town of Ncwcas'e-upon-Tyne. The knocl
was Immediately responded to oy the open
ing. of the door within. An aged womer
neatly dressed and who had evidently riser
from her wheel, was sole inmate of the
little cot.
"Bless your heart, girl" said the dame
as she entered with her visitor, and sa,
down to the wheel again, .'there must sure.
ly be something particular to-day, for you
did not use to knock"
81 was afraid some one might be with
you, MOTHER" said the girl, who had taken
seat opposite the spinner.
"And though neighbor had been here, "
replied the dame, "this, surely, would not
have frightened you away. But the truth
is, you have something to say to me, Cath
arine," continued the speaker, kindly: "out
with it, my dear, and depend on the best
counsel old Hannah can give"
The young, woman blushed deeply, and
did not speak.
"Has William Hutton asked you to be-
come his wife, Catbarine % said the dame,
who easily and rightly anticipated the mat
ter that was in the thoughts of her youth
full visitor.
ale has, MOTHER was the reply.
@Well my DEAR said she after q short
pause, "is not this what you have long ex-
pected, aye. and wished! He has your
heart, and, suppose, it needs no witch to
tell what will be the end ont"
This might be very true, but there was
something on Catharine's mind which
struggled to be out, and out it came.
"Dear Hannah" said she, seating herself
close by the dame, and taking hold of her
hand, ayou have been kind friend-a pa
rent-to me since my poor mother died,
and l would not until l had spoken to you,
more especially as something's you once
said"-
"What did say, Catharine?" Interrupt
ted the old woman; nothing against the
man you love surely. He is, from all l
have seen and heard, kind-hearted, indus
trious, and every way well-behaved."
"Yes, Hannah" replied the woman; "but
you once said, after bad brought him to
see you, that you did not like those-those
sort of low fits that sometimes fell upon
Eim, even while in your company. / have
often noticed them since, Hannah" contin-
ued Catharine with sigh.
"Plague on my thoughtless tongue for
saying such thing to vex you, my dear
child He was soldier, you know, agood
many years ago, before he was twenty
and fought for his country. Perhaps he
may have seen sights then that made him
grieve to think upon, without blaming him
self. But, whatever it may be, meant
not, Catharine, that yon should take such
passing word to heart. If he has some
little cares, you will easily soothe him and
make him happy"
As the worthy dame spoke, her visitors
brow gradually cleared, and, after some fur
ther conversation, she left the cottage,
lightened at heart with the thought that
her old friend approved of her following
the course to which her inclination led her.
Catharine Smith was indeed well enti-
tied to pay respect to the counsels of Han
nab. The latter had never married, and
had spent the greater part Of her life in
the service of wealthy family at Nor
petb. When she was there, the widowed
mother of Catharine had died at Newcas-
tie; and, on learning of the circumstances,
Hannah, though friend merely, and no
relation, had sent for the orphan girl ten
years Of age, and had taken care of her
until she grew fit to maintain herself by
service. On finding herself unable to con-
tinue working life longer, Hannah retired
to Newcastle, and Catharine Immediately
entered into service there. Hannah and
Catharine had been two years in these
respective situations, when the dialogue
which has just been recorded took place.
On the succeeding expiration of her term
of service, Catharine was married to the
young man whose name has been statedas
being William Hutton. He was Joiner
by trade, and bore, as Hannah had said,
an excellent character. The first visit paid
by the new married pair was to the cottage
of the old woman, who gazed on them
with truly maternal pride, thinking she
had never seen SO handsome couple
The few years spent by Hutton in the army
had given to his naturally good figure an
erect manliness, which looked as well in
one Of his sex as the light graceful figure,
and fair engenuous countenance of Cath
arine was calculated to adorn one of
woman kind. Something of this kind, at
least, was in the thoughts Of Hannah,