Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1864-02-15

and dearest Of husban.'s,'
Old Hannah was pustsed at these re-.
plies, as she was distressed by the. open /
avowal of Catha-ine's Living some cause |
of sorrow; but seeing that her young |
friend could not make u her mind to . |
disclosure at that timess,, the aaged DANG
gaze up her inq:ires iad told Catha
r'ne to think seri0usl, af the proprlesv
OF conf ling Ill to hera
Hannah &C "Aive9 .nat On nature
consideration, CatharI would come to
the resolution of seek counsel &c the
cottage, And she wa not wrong. In
lew Gays after their ate conversation,
the young wife came so visit Hannah
again, and, alter q 4tt:le embarrassed
talk, entered upon e. subject which
was uppermost in the 4inds of both
Hannah, said Catsyrine, L fear you
/. cap serve me noth!Asd fear no living
being can serve me. ", Hannah, good
as iny husoandTappea to ko--good as
he is--thore Is som dreadful weight
pressing upon his mire which destroys
his peace-and Minis toe. Alas! the
gloomy tits, which yo 4 as well as have
noticed in him, are nr.. [ fear, without
cause-Catha wea4 N silence mo-
ment, and then cOntaued -" All that
/ know Of this cas- arises from his
expressions-his drea al expressions
while ne is asleep at " side. Hannah
he Steaks in broken .lgnase of murder
OF having comrilitte murder, Hannah!
perhaps woman dea%a2ed and killed by
him. As Catharine id this, she. shud-
dered, and buried he4 facs IN that of her
babe, which she CARR {. IN her arms. o
I'nnah was shoc,Ii to hear Of this,
but her good sense ! her to suggest
for the poor wife Il it was possible
for.her husband to agnsider himself
murderer in his seek aud speak of it,
without the s4o. So reality in the
whole affair. ~ 90
Ar aandsst alton Catherine, sad
= ,5s-- :. ,sss-1
result Of one nightmare slumber-
They occur otten-too often. Besides,
when | first heard him muttcr in his
sleep these horrible things, | mention
ed the matter to him in the morning,
al our breakfast, and laughed at it !;
bat he grew agitated, and telling me
to pay no attention to such things, as
he sometimes talked nonsense, he
knew, in his sleep, he arose and went
away, leaving his meal unfinished, in-
deed, scarcely touched. | am sure he
p does not know how often ne speaks
!. in his sleep, for | have never meu ution-
ed the Subject again, though my rest
is destroyed By it. And then his fits
of sadness at ordinary moments ! Han
nah, Hannah ! there is some myster,
g-some terrible mystery under it =
Yet Continued the young wife, he il
I so good-so kind-so dutiful to Coz
! and to man! He has too much ten
>ierness and feeling to harm fly !
I Hannah, what am I to think OF do, fo
| | am wretched at present?'
I It was long ere tLaeold dame re plie'
to this question. She mused great
on what had been told her, and 10 th
| end said TO- Cathariue, Ny poor chilo
| ;! cannot believe that William is gull
ty Of what these circumstances la
seemingly at his door. But if tn
worst be trne, it is better for you
know it than to be in tits killing sus
pense forever. Go and gain his conf
dence, Catharine teli,hlm all that b
come to your ear, and say you did I
} by my advice. Hannah continued
use persuasions Of the same kind +
soue time longer, aud at length Sc
: Catharine home, firmly resolved
follow the counsels given.
! On the following day, Cathari
; once more, presented herself at t
II . abode of Hannah, and as soon as S
entered exclaimed, y Dear mother,
g have told him ali He will be HI
o soon to explain everything to rs bot
The old woman did not exactly co
e, prehend this Has he not said 8
ID given any explanation to you
No; Hannah said Catharine
oh, he is not guilty. When had s
n ken.as you desired me, he was silen
. long time, and be then took me in
oI arms, Hannah, and kissed me, sayi
My darling Catherine, ought to II
confded N you long before have b
'ao unfortunate, not guilty. 60 to /
"S @Hannau's and will soon follow you,
ID" set Your- mind at ease, as far as it car