The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-06-20
THE HUSBANDS SECRET.


woman knocked at the door Of little cottag
in the suberbs of a little town Of Newcastle
upon. Tyne. The knock was Immediately re
sponded to by the opening Of the door within
An aged woman, neatly dressed and had evi
IDENTIFY risen from her wheel, was the sole in
mate o the little cot.
"Bess your heart, girl" as she entered will
her visitor, and sat down to the wheel again
"there surely must be something particular to
day, for you did not use to knock"
"I was afraid some one might be with you
mother" said the girl, who had taken seat op
posite the spinner.
"And though neighbor had been here" re
piled the dame "ths surely would not havt
frightened you away. But the truth is, yol
have something to say to me Catharine," con
tinued the speaker kindly; tout with it, mj
dear, and pend on The best counsel old Han
nah can give"
The young woman blushed deeply, and die
not speak.
"Has William Hutton asked you to become
his wife, Catharine?" said the dame, who east
ly and rightly anticipated the matter that was
in the thoughts of her youthful visitor.
ale has, mother" was the reply.
"Well, my DEAR" said she, after short
pause, sis not this what you have long expec.
ted 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 some
thing on Catharine's mind VIII ch struggled to
be out, and out it came.
"Dear Hannah" said she, seating herself
close by the dame, and taking hold of her
by the hand, ''you have been kind triend-a
parent--to me since my poor mother died, and
would not until had spoken to you, more
especially as something-as you once said
''What did say Catharine?,' interrupted
the old woman, nothing against the man you
love surely. He is, from all have seen and
heard kind hearted, Industrious, and every
way, we'll behaved"
"Yes Hannah" replied the woman; "but
you once said, after had brought him to see
you, that you did not like those--those sort OF
low fits that sometimes fall upon him, even
while in your company. have often noticed
them since Hannah, continued Catherine with
a sigh.
"Pngue on my thoughtless tongue for saying
such thing to vex you, my dear child! He was
a soldier, you know, good many years ago,
be fore he was twenty--and fought for his coun-
try Perhaps he may have seen sights that
made him greave to think upon, without bla
ming himself But, whatever it may be, |
meant not, Catherine, that yod should take
such passing word to heart. If he has some
little cares, you will easily sooth him and make
happy"
As the worthy dame spoke, her visitors
brow gradually cleared, and after some further
conversation, she left the cottage, lightened at
heart with the thought that her old friend ap"
proved Of her following the course to which
her inclination led her.
Catharne Smith was indeed well entitled to
nav respect to the counsels of Hannah. The
latter had never married. and had spent the
greater part Of her life in the service Of a veal
thy family at Morpeth When she was there,
the widowed mother of Catherine had died at
Newcastle; and, on learning Of the circumstan-
cas-. Hannah, though friend merely, and no
relation, had sent for the orphan girl, then ten
years OF age and had taken care of her until
she grew fit te main ain herself by service. On
finding herself unable to continue working
life longer Hannah retired to Newcastle, and
Catherine Immediately entered into service
there. Hannah and Catherine 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 o
service, Catherine was married to the young
man whose name has been stated rs 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 10
the cottage of the Of woman, who gazed or
them with truly maternal PRIDE thinking she
had never seen so handsome couple. The few
years spent by Hutton in the army had given &c
bis naturally good figure an erect manliness
which looked as well in one Of his sex as the
light graceful figure, and fair ingenious coun.
tenance Of Catherine was calculated to adorr
one Of woman kind Something of this kind
at least was ia the thoughts Of Hannah, wher
Catherine and her husband visited the DANES
dwelling.
Maya future visit was paid by the sam'
parties to Hannah, and on each successive oc
casion the old woman looked narrowly, thougl
as unobtruslvely as possible, into the state o
the wile's feelings, with motherly anxiety, t,
know il she was happy. For though Hannah
seeing GATHERINGS affection deeply engaged ha,
made light Of her own early remark upon tht
strange and most unpleasing gloom occasionally
il not frequently, observable in the look AM
manner OF William Hutton, the old woman
was never able to rid her own mind altogethe
Of misgiyings on the subject. For many month
after GATHERINGS marriage, however, Hannal
could never discover anothing but open, unal
loyed happiness in the air and conversation
the youthful wife. But at length Hannah
ANXIOUS eye did perceive something like
change. Catherine seemed sometimes to fal
when visiting the cottage, into fits Of abstrac
tion, not unlike those which had been obser
we'd in her husband. The aged dame had fol
greatly distressed at the thought of her dea
Catherine being unhappy. but for a long tin
she bad held her peace upon the subject, trus