Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-10-14

| cannot mink they would like to 6e
me now" she said, in a low voice. Then
ventured to look at her. She was seated II
angular, rigid way, with her shoulders aut
elbows squared to her work, and tue cor
ners of her mouth pursed up. which woult
have given to any cursory observer the sam,
impression 1t did to her husband.
/" How hard you women arel" he said
Trust you for never forgiving or forget
ting. Poor old lady, should have thought
any ybody would have plied her. But, how
ever, 1t is none of my business. As fol
Ellen, she is very handsome woman
though she is not so young as she once was
l should not wonder if she were to make
good marriage even now. Is it possible
Janet, after being so fond of her,-or pre-
tending 10 be. how can tell ?-that YOU
would not like to say kind word to Ellen
how?
She would not think it kind from me,
said Mrs Merrdew, still rigid, never raising
her eyes from her work.
| I" think she would, but at all you might
try" he said. All her answer was to shake
her head, and he went away to his dressing
room Struggling his shoulders and nodding
| his head in bewildered comments to himself
on what he considered the hard heartedness
OF woman AS for me, kept looking at
her with sympathetic eyes, thinking that
| at least she would give herself the comfort
of confidential glance. But she did not.
1t seemed that she was determined to ignore
the whole matter, even to me.
81 wish papa would take as much interest
in us poor girls at home as he dues in people
that don't belong TO him." said Janet.
Mamma, never can piece this TO make it
long enough. 1t may do for Marian" (who
was her next sister), "but 1t will never do
for me-"
"You are SO easily discourage l." said
Mrs Merridew. "Let me look at it, You
girls are always making difficulties Under
the hounce, your pieclng, rs you call it,
will never be seen. Those flounces" she
added, with little laugh which knew was
hysterical, "are blessings IN poor folks"
~ am sure don't think there is anything
to laugh at" said poor Janet, almost crying,
"wnen YOU think of Nelly Forts and ail the
other girls, with their nice dresses all new
and fresh from the dressmaker's, and no
trouble; while l have only mammals old
gown. that she wore when she was twenty,
to turn, and patch, and piece, e,-and not
long enough after all !"
"Then you should not grow So" said her
mother, ''and you ought to be thankful that
the old fashion has come in again, and my
old gown can be of use." But as she spoke
she turned round and gave me look. The
tears were in her eyes, and that pucker, o.,
so deeply marked, In her forehead. / felt
she would havs sObb, had she dared. And
then before my eyes, as, l am sure, before
hers, there glidtd vision OF Ella Babing-
ton in ner profound mourning, rustling past
Mr.. Merridew ON the stairs, with heaps of
costly Grape. no doubt and that rich black
silk with which people console themselves
in their first mourning. How could they
take 1t all without a word? The after pang
that comes almost inevitable at the back Of
sacrifice was tearing Mrs. Merridew's
heart. felt it go through my own and so
| knew. She had done 1t nObly, but she
could not forget that she had done 1t. Does
one ever forget?
And then as l went home fell into a
maze again. Had she right TO do so !?
To sit ut table with that unsuspiciOus man,
and put her arm in his, and be at his side
continually, and all the time be false to him.
Falsely true ! / could not get the words out
of my mind.
lido not now remember how long it was
till saw in The Times the intimation of
old Mrs. Babingten's death. think it must
have been about two years, for Janet was
eighteen. and less disconnected with things
in general, besides beiDga great deal more
CVntCutu tuhti titntI nti llltuuo vi HIS ut-
sired with the tivilities of young Bischam
from the Priory, who was always coming
over to See his aunt, and always throwing
himself in the girls way. He had nothing
except his commission and hundred and
fifty year which his father allowed him, and
she had nothing at all and, naturally they
took to each other. 1t is this that makes
me recollect what year it was We had
never referred to the matter in our frequent
talks, Mrs. Mcrridcw and |. But after the
inimalion in The Times, she herself broke
the silence. She came to me the very next
day. " Did you see it in the papers 2" she
asked, plunging without preface into the
heart Of the subject, and could not pretend
not 10 under 81 and.
"Yes," l said, 81 saw IT,; and then
stopped short, not knowing what To say.
She had been wearing herself In these two
years as all the previous years in which
had known her had not worn her. The
pucker was more developed on her forehead;
she was less pa lent and more easily fretted.
She had grown thin, and something of a
sharp tone had come into her soft m0therly
voice. BY times she would be almost quer-
ulous !; and nobody hut myself knew in the
least whence the drop OF gall came that had
so suddenly shown itself in her nature. She
had frcited under her secret, and over her
been taken notice of, but had been calmly
accepted us a right. Now she came to NE
half wild, with look OF q creature driven
to bay.
at was for her did it," she said; ''shc
had always been so petied and cared for all
her life. Sic did not know how TO deny
herself; did it for her, not for Ellen. o
Mrs Musgrave, cannot tell you how fond
| was of that girl And you saw how she
looked at me. Never one word, never even
glance of response and suppose now
my dear, l said, ''you cannot tell yet ;
let us wait and see: now that her mother is
gone her heart may be softened. Do not
take any steps just yet"
"Sleps!' she cried. "What steps can l
take now2 have thrown altogether away
from me what might have been Of such use
to the children. have been false to my
own children. Poor John meant it to be
Of use to us"
And then she turned away wrought to
such point that nothing but tears could
relieve her. When she had cried she was
better, and went home to all her little mon
otonOus cares again, to think and think, and
mingle that drop of gall more ana more in
the family cup. Mr.. Merridew was again
absent on circuit at this time, which was at
| once relief and n trouble 10 his wife. And
everybody remarked the change upon her
"She is going tn have bad illness" Mrs
Spencer said ''Poor thing, don't won
der, with all those children, and inferior
servants, and so much to do. have seen
it coming on for u long time. A serious
illness is II dangerous Thing at her age. All
her strength has been drained out of her, i,
| and whether she will be able TO resist"
"Dnn't be so funereal," said Lady Isabel
| la; :" she has something ON her mind
~ think it is for health said Mrs Spen-
Ger; and we all shook our heads over her
altered looks.
| had II further fright, too, some days af-
ter, when Janet came to me looking very
pale. Sue crept in with an air of secrecy
which was very strange to the girl. She
looked scared, and her hair was pushed up
wildly from her forehead, and her light sum-
mer dress all dusty and dragging, which was
unlike janet, for she had begun by this time
TO be tidy, and feel herself woman. She
came In by the window as usual, hut it
closed after her, though it was very hot.
"May come and speak to your" she said
In whisper, creeping quite close to my side.
"Of course, NY dear; hut why do you
shut the window ?" said l; eve shall be
sutfocated il yon shut out the air."
1T is because II is secret" she said.
| &c Mrs Musyrayp tell me- ia there anvthinp