The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-11-06


relation, had sent for the orphan
lgirl. then ten years Of age, and had
taken care of her until she had grown
Ia. to maintain herself. Unable 70
teontinue working life longer. Han.
nah retired to Newcastle, her native
place, whore she lived In humble
comfort on the earnings of her lone
career of servitude. Catharine came
back with her to Newcastle, and i'm
mediately entered into service there
Hannah and Catharine had been two
years in these respective positions,
when tho dialogue which has jua,
been recorded took place.
On the succeeding expiration O.
the term Of her service, Cathal iue
was married to the young man whose
name had been stated as being Will.
liam Hutton. He was a Joiner By trade
and bore, as Hannah had said, an
lexcellent character.
Tho 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 80 handsome O
Ioouple. The few years spent by
Hutton in the army had given to his
naturally good figure a manliness,
which looked so well In one of his
sex, as the light graceful figure, and
fair ingenious oountensnce of Cath
arine, was calculated to adorn one Of
woman kind. Something Of this
kind, at least, was In tho thoughts
Iof Hannah, when Catharine and her
Husband visited the DANES dwelling
| Many future visit was paid by
the same parties to Hannah, and on
each successive occasion the old
woman looked narrowly, though as
unobstrusively as possible, into the
state Of the wife's feelings, with o
motherly anxiety to know If she was
happy. For, though Hannah, seeing
Catharine's affections deeply engaged,
had made light Of her own early re-
mark upon the strange and most un
pleasing gloom occasionally, II not
frequently observable, in the look
and manner of William Hutton, the
old woman was never able to rid her
own mind altogether of misgivings on
the subject. For many months after
Catharins's marriage, however, Han
nah could discover nothing but open,
unalloyed happiness in the air and
conversation Of the youthful wife
But at length Hannah's anxious eye
did perceive something like change.
Catharine seemed sometimes to fall,
when visiting the cottage, into fits Of
of abstraction, not unlike those which
had been noticed in her husband
The aged dame had felt greatly dis
tressed at the thought of her dear
Catharine being unhappy, but for
long time she held her peace upon
the subject, trusting that the cloud
might be temporary one, and would
disappear.
1t was not SO, unfortunately
Though in their manner to each other
when together, nothing but the most
cordial affection was observable
Catherine, when she came alone to
see Hannah, always seemed prey TO
some uneasiness which all her efforts
could not conceal from her old friend.
Even when che became for tho first
time a mother, and with all the beau
tiful pride Of a young mothers love
presented her baby to Hannah, the
latter could see signs OF a secret
grief imprinted on Catharine's brow.
Hoping by her counsel to bring
relief, Hannah took the first oppor-
tunity Of telling the young wife what
she had observed, and earnestly be-
sought her confidence.
At first Catharine stammered with
q hurried assurance that she was
perfectly happy, and in few seconds
belied her words by bursting into
tears and owning that she was very
unhappy.
"But 1 cannot, Hannah" she ex-
claimed, 81 cannot tell the cause
even to you.'
"Don'tssy 80, my poor Catharine,
replied Hannah ''it's not curiosity
that prompts me to interfere"
"Oh, no, Hannah" replied the
young wife. II know you speak
from love to me.'
swell, then" continued the dame,
"open your heart to me. Age Is
good adviser"
Catharine was silent.
"Is your husband harsh to your"
asked Hannah.
"No," cried the wife; "man could
not be kinder to woman than he is
to me.''
"Perhaps he INDUCES in drink ;
in"
"Hannah, you mistake me alto
gether,'' was Catharine's reply; "my
husband is as free from all such
faults as ever man was,' /
"My dear child" said the old
woman, almost smiling as the idea
entered her head ''you are lot sus-
picious-not Jealous =
II have never had q moments
cause, Hannah" answered Catharine.
"No, my griefs are not of that nature.
He is one of the best and dearest OF
husbands"
Old Hannah was puzzled OF these
replies, as she was distressed by the
open avowal of Catharine's having
some cause of sorrow; but, seeing
that her young friend could not
make up her mind to disclosure at
the time, the sged dame gave up her
inquiries, and told Catherine to think
seriously Of the propriety OF confid-
ing to her.
Hannah conceived that, on mature
consideration, Catharine would come
to the resolution of seeking counsel
at the cottage. And she was not
wrong. In a few days after their
late conversation the young wife
came to visit Hannah again, and after
a little embarrassed talk, entered
upon the subject that was uppermost
in the minds of both.
"Hannah'' said Catharine, 81 fear
you can serve me nothing-I fear no
living being can serve me Oh, Han
nah, good as my husband appears to
be-good as he is, there is some
dreadful weight pushing upon mis-
mind, which destroys his pesce, and
mine to. Alas the gloomy fits
which you as well as I have noticed
in him. are not l fear without cause"
Catharine wept in silence for mo-