The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-15

These he enjoyed with his little wife at home,
with that peculiar relish which attends an
increase of seli.respect, and the modest con-
sclousness of being known beyond ones own
hamlet.
Time sped cheerily, smoothly and WE'LL
Hugh was a good artihcor; and his handi-
work was wanted; he was rising man, and
might burst suddenly upon fortune. This
last was thought and said many a time be-
tween themselves; for Susy was true wife,
ambitious for him, entering with all the VIZ
yacity of love and pride into the enthusiasm
of her young and manly husband. From this
enthusiasm OF invention came ut last the
f,rer of invention, till, in his heart, Hugh
conceived the possibility of finding the secret
of perpetual motion. The thought seized
and cherished, il became stamped on his
brain. He reyolyed it through the night and
became distracted at odd times; sometimes
spelling piece OF work and even forgetting
to do promised job. Upon this, Susy, with
woman's intuition, cautioned and remon-
strated very tendcrly. But the effect was Ill.
Thereafter Hugh added moodiness and fret
iulness to these missteps; indeed, he quite
lost his old gaiety and openess, sitting
thoughtful and glum the liyelong evening,
telling nothing of his plans to Susy: only
breaking from his withdrawal now and then
by seiling bit Of paper and making dia-
grams with nervous quickncSs. For the
time poor Susy's home bliss was quite des.
troyed. The life of the fireside was gone.-I
when will he come out OF his study, with
his machine complete" she would often ask
with the emphasis of weary waiting. His
machine complete'--that was the form in
which her thoughts found expression; for
the fond and admiling wife never doubted
that sooner or later Hugh would triumph
over any and every difficulty. Had he not
made marvellous inventions, and was no not
getting to be almost great man known and
noticed SO far? In this way Susy comiOrtcd
herself in her loneliness; and, when HUGH
was morose and frctiul, would be very quiet
and gentle, saying to herself, Dear Hugh
how hard he must be thinking, and how tire
some il must bo ought to he very patient,
l am sure. only a simple little wifc, moth
ing to think of but the Kitchen and garden
and Hugh's clothes ought to be proud
of such a husband-and am =
Then Susy would steal her arm around his
neck and kiss him; upon which Hugh would
seem TO break from u dream and ask:
what do you want, Susy?
.NOthing-l was only stealing kiss, and
Susy would return TO her accustomed seat
almost as blushingly as though these were
the DAYS OF her maiden life.
As months came and went, Susy felt that
the village people seemed 10 change in their
demeanOr toward her. Sometimes she caught
them looking pityinglyat her, as though she
were under sorrow in which they sympatizcd.
At first il surprised her, but when she re-
mcmbcred that Hugh had neglected his work
very much of late, she thought that this in
terest sprung from fear that they might
scome to poverty as the New England
phrase hath it, Now it was all clear. Ii
was pleasant TO be cared for by ones neigh
bors; but then she knew OF several hundred
dollars hidden in safe place by her own
hands. with Iugh's consent. Long before
that was spent the machine would be done,
and perhaps piles Of money would come of
it.
Hugh neglected his work entirely. And
now he would rise from bed at twelve o'clock,
and 90 out, returning just at dawn, and say
ing never word. Susy yentured to ask
where he went or what he went for; but
Hugh darted such q strange, wild glance as
quite frightened her. She wouldn't trouble
hun any more with her woman's curiosity
Poor Hugh! He must be working very hard.
How absent-mindcd he was Why, he would
almost always hold the newspaper upside
down, reading or seeming to read, for hours;
and, when she yentured to demonstrate would
answer her, o, 50 sharply
Sometimes he would 90 to the little coffee
mill, and turn the crank round and round
and round, hundreds of times, though the
mill was quite empty, gazing steadily at it
all the time. Once Susy got handful OF
coffee. freshly Drowned over the kitchen fire,
and looking laughingly in his face, dropped
il in while he was turning. Hugh smiled
the first time for many week-and then,
motioning her mystsriously to sit down went
softly to the pantry, took the cream ever and
sugar bowl, and coming on tip-toe to the
mill, gestured her to grind while he poured
cream and sugar alternately in with the coi-
feo.
'How queer Hugh seems?' thought Susy;
Il hope he won't be so very long One pierre
ing thought at this instant darted across her
mind; but il was driven back as soon as
formed: for was not Hugh in all his affairs,
excepting this one, even more methodical
than other men? And were not all great
men eccentric when under the pressure Of
great plans?
Ills adventure Of the eofee-mil lquite
changed llugh's bearing towards his wife,
He seemed disposed to take her into his con-
fideuce. In the afternoon of that very same
day, he reused himself from his reyerie, and
bcckonipg Susy TO come TO him, lifted one
finger solemnly and said in most impressive
and mysterious manner:
'I've finished it. Tonight
Susy was on the tip-toe Of expectation;
for whole year had gone since the beginn-
Ing OF these nocturnal departures, and she
lOnged for the clearing of the mystery; as
well us for the return of the old home-life,-I
At length the hour OF midnight came, and
they went out. A long walk brought them
to cliff of moderate height and ordinary |
appearance, a cievice of which proved to be
the entrance to cave. Entering this and
carefully closing the crevice behind them,
making total darkness. Hugh left the side
OF his wife, and, from little distance.
solemnly pronounced: Behold-bchold-l
behold removed the side of large wooden
box from which the light Of six wax candles
streamed iull upon beautiful combination
of wheels in regular and graceful motion.
The wife clapped her hands for joy. But
Sasy was not exuberant long, for, gazing ON
the mysterious structure before, so finished in
workmanship and harmonious in action, re-
calling the weary months Of which this thing
of motion was the child, and then looking
forward to the future, wondering what new
epoch would be opened to her noble husband
Through this masterpiece of his genius, she
could only be calmly hapPy'deep-tho,1shtcd:
- -. Wbeo Hngh cana near her MI Il