Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-04-26

owed II TO hlnSelf anu 10 me confession ol
the sin which had blighted his youth. He
might have trusted my love. It would no,
have faltered in its loyalty; il would have
thrown over oil its mantle Of tenderness, and
wrapped away the wrong from sight and tho't
And il was not the memory Of the sim il was
the silence which harassed me most. could
my true and noble husband, had let me marry
him with one great secret, which it was my
right to know hidden from me.
I tried 10 lay down the burden OF my new
sorrow wheae alone I could leave it, and I
made up my mind to bear with God help
patiently and bravely. Sometimes my heart
yearned to 90 to Howard, when he should res
turn, and to wind my arms about his neck and
to whisper to him the conversation which l
had overheard. and cntreat him to open the
dark closet in his soul which held the secret
and then my heart played me traitor, and !
shrank away trembling at the very thought
| learned after ward that this was weakness
and folly, but was young and inexperienced
then.
When Howard returned home met him
with only that slight shade in voice and man.
ner which he detected Mt first, and afterwa,d
blamed himself for observing, thinking i, wa.
all owing to his own too highly colored antici
pations, and in a little while l learned TO con.
troll both voice and manner
A week had passed. think that Howard
had felt some change in me, though it vas TOT
elusive for him to grasp even in his conscious
ness.
But that morning was i'll with the hcadach,
and slow fever, which my mental anxiety ha.
supc-induced.
Your cheeks are no, an your pulse is high
Augusta; sLall send Doctor Graham up as
60 past this morning. ! can't see you drool
for day, my lily of the valley and Howard
eyes completed the sent: nee ftly bent in !ov
ing solicitude on my face.
40, l an not sick, Howard Don't sead VI
the DOCTOR feeling that the cause of my dis
case was beyond the reach of medicines.
He was beyond my voice, for he had hurried
away in his anxiety to procure rae a physician
| leaned back my head on the softly cush;oned
chair, where he had seated me, and placed N ,
hants over my eyes, for the light plined me
Just then my canary, Howard's gift, broke
ont with trill of song tina, 1nfled the silence
with siIvery sweetness.
~ looked up as he paused. "sing on, little
biid,' ! exclaimed, "you don, carry any dark
secret in your heart slpwly rustin. and caiin
out your life.''
"Do you carry one y asked deep voice
full Of amazemcn,, at my side and turning
saw my husband.
lie had come in softly, having started for
the Doctors, and then turned back to see il
there was anything which he could do for me.
80, Howardr' and l covered my face with
my hands.
augusta, what does this mean His voice
was grave, panied, astonishcd.
''Do not attempt to hide this from me, Aus
gusta; it is my right to know this secret that
IS eating into your heart.
'Howard," taking away my bands and feel.
ing now that the words come without volition,
.have not the same right to all that is in
your heart?'
'Most certainly. I never withheld any.
thing from you.'
I The grave, earnest tones, the calm, daunt
Ia ~ ~
time there flashed through my heart grca;
hope that had been mistaken.
\ put my arms about Howard-I lean ned my
head on his shoulder, and through the ::scbs
which shook me, told him all thatI had
heard---all that had suffered!
Augusta p There was some grief and some
indignation in the tones. held my breath
In moment the words came, augusta,
you little simplcton. I'm provoked with you.'
80, Howard, wasn't it true? p
The Joy in my heart must have made radi-
ant my face rs lifted il to him. saw the
sight moved him greatly.
Augusta, had you no more faith in me p
There was pain and pity in his voice, but no
now. sank down on the stool at
Howard's feet, TOO weakto answer him, and
buried my face on his knee. "The ladies
whose conversation you overheard were n.
boring under Misrepresentation as great as
yours. They must have alluded to Howard
Dunmar who, several years ago, embczzlcd a
large sum from the firm ia which he was
head clerk. Money and influential family
saved him from the penalty Of
his crime, and I recently learned that he had
returned home and was married. It 10 . pity
Augusta, that your sharpened ears did no,
discern the difference between B and NJ
Ikuew that the light tones covered very
deep feelings.
10, Howard, thank God thank Godr'
"You will be wiser next tine, foolish child ~
ayes Howard, and you will forgive mo; it
was my first secret from you, it shall be my
last.p
ION that conditionyycsr'
81 don't want Doctor Graham. am now
,ured,' said getting up.
And learned q lesson through bitter experi-
,nce for your future, Augusta, my wife, said
ny husband, ~ he seated me iu the chair.
Dear reader, give you the lesson, hoping
fou will never have the experience.
y. ~> - -
RooA Higher mp.
.ss
I 10 said Of Daniel Webster, that when