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

IN mourning looking at US as we passed
She came up to us just at the style at Good
mans farm, and thought she waited to as
the way but instead of that, she stoppe
me and looked at me. Il heard you called Ja
net, she said: had once friend who wa
called Janet, and it is not common name
| Do you live here? Is your mother living
and well and how many children are there
| should like to know If you belong to m
| old friend"
'And what did you say?"
| "What could say, Mrs. Musgrave? Sh
did not look cross or disagreeable, aud sh
was lady. said who l was, and tha
mamma was not quite well, aud that ther
were ten of us; and then sSe began to ques
tion me about mamma. Did sue go out
great deal and was she tall or short an,
had she pretty eyes like mine, and wa
her name Janet like mine; and then when
had answered her as well as l could, sh,
said, L was not to say word to mamma
perhaps 1t Is not the Janet once knew,
she said; don't say anything to her; ant
then she went away. l was so frightened
| ran home directly all the way. knew
might tell you, Mrs. Musgrave; it is lik,
something In book, is it not, when peopl,
are trying to find out o, you don't think
can have done any harm 10 mamma? ?"
Janet was 80 much agitated that il was all
| could dp to quiet her down. "And never
said good by to poor Willie, after all" she
said, with more tears when she had rallied a
little. l thought it better she should not tel
her mother, hough one is very reluctant tt
u girl; for Willie Bischam was secret too.
But he was going away poor fellow, and
probably nothing would ever come of it.
made u little compromise with my own
sense of right.
''Forget it, Janet, and say nothing about
it; perhaps II was some one else after VII (;
and A. if you will promise not to meet Mr.
Bischam again"
''He goes tonight" said Janet, with q
rueful look and thus it was evident that on
that point there was nothing more to be
said.
This was In The middle of the week, and
on Saturday Mr.. Merridew was expected
home. His wife was i'll, though she never
had been i'll before In her life; she had
headaches, which were things unknown to
her; she was out of temper, and irritable,
and wretched. think she had made GER
tain that Ellen would write, and make some
proposal to her and as the days went on
one by one, and no letter CAME Besides
II was just the moment when they had de-
cided against sending Jack to Oxford. To
pay Willie's premium and do that at the
same time was impossible. Mrs. Merridew
had struggled long, but at last she was
Obliged To give in; and Jack was going to
his fathers office with heavy heart, poor
boy; and his mother was half wild. All
might have been SO difierent and she had
sacrificed her boys interests, and her girls
interests, aud her own happiness, all for the
selfish comfort Of Ellen Babington, who
took no notice of her. began to think she
would have q brain-iever ii this went on.
She was not at church on Sunday morn
ing, and went with the children, as soon
as service was over, to ask for her. She
was lying ON the sofa when l went in, and
MIR. Merridew, who had arrived late on
Saturday, was in his dressing gown walking
about the room. He was tired and irriia-
bic with his journey, and his work, and
perennial cares. And she, with her sacri-
tice, and her secret, aud perennial cares,
was like tinder, ready in u moment to catch
fire. know nothing more dsagreeable
than to go in upon married people when
they are in this state Of mind. which can
nctber be ignored nor concealed
6 don't understand you, Janet" he was
saying, MS entered "women are vindic-
tive, know; but al least you may be sorry,
as am, That the poor old lady has died
without u word Of kindness passing between
us: after all, we might be to blame. One
changes ones opinions as one gets on in
life. With our own children growing up
round us, don't feel quite so sure that we
were not to blame"
" 4 have not been to 6lame," she said i,
with an emphasis which sounded sulen, and
which only could understand.
so no, OF course; you never are" he
said, with masculine dsdain. "Ca,ch u
woman acknowledging herself to be in fault |!
the sun may go wrong in his course sooner
than she. Mrs. Musgrave pray don't go
away; you have seen my wife in an unrea.
sonable mood before"
+" am in no unreasonable mood" she
cried. "Mrs. Musg'ave, stay. You know
%, how am l to go on bearing this, and
never answer word?'
" My dear, don't deceive yourself. "he said,
with u mans provoking calm; "you answer
great many words. don't call you at all
meek sufferer. Fortunately the children
are out Of the way. Contound it, Janet,
what do you mean by talking Of what you
have to bear? have not been such a harsh
husband 10 you as all that: and when all
asked was that you should make the most
innocent advances to a poor old woman
who was once very kind to us both"
''Cbarles!" said Mrs. Mcrridew, rising
suddenly from her sofa. II cant bear il any
longer You think ne hard and vindiclive,
and don't know what. You, who ought
to know me! Look here! / got that letter,
you will see by the date, more than two
years ago you were absent and went and
saw her : there--iberci now | confessed it ;
Mrs. Musgrave knows-I have had IL secret
from you for two years"
1t was not moment for mt to interfere.
She sat, holding herself Historically iieid
and upright on the sofa. Whether she had
intended 10 betray herself or not, l cannot
tell. Sne had taken the letter out OF her
writing desk, which stood close by but |
don't know whether she had resolved ON this
step, or whether it was the impulse of the
moment. Now that she had done it dread
full calm of expectation took possession OF
her. She was afraid. He might turn upon
her furious. He might upbraid her with de-
spoiliug her family, deceiving himself, being
false, rs she had been before. Such a thing
was possible. Two souls may live side BY
side ior years, and be as one, and yet have
no notion how each will act in any sudd N
or unusual emergency. He was her hus-
thought, that one did not share with the
other, and yet she sat gazing at him rigid
with terror, not knowing what he might do
or say.
He read the letter without word; then
he tossed it upon the table; then he walked
all the length of the room, up and down,
with his hands thrust very deeply into his
pockets; then he took up the letter again.
He had struggle with himself. If he was
angry, if he was touched, / cannot tell.
His first emotions, whatever they were, he
gulppd down without word. OF all sounds
to strike into the silence of such moment,
tie first thing we heard in our intense lis.
tening was the abrupt ring of short, cx-
cited laugh.
"How did you venture to take any steps
in it without consulting me ?" Le said.
~ thought thought" she stammered
under her breath. ....=.
"You thought might have been tempted
by the money" he said taking another
walk through The room, while she sat erect
in her terror, afraid Of him. II was some
time b fore he spoke again. No doubt he
was vexed by her want of trust. and wound
ed by the long silence. But have no clew
TO the thoughts that were passing through
his miud. AT last he came to a sudden
pause before her. "And perhaps you were
right, janet" he said, drawing long breath.
~ am glad now to have been free Of the
temptation. II was wrong not to tell me-
and yet think you did WELL"
Mir. Merridew gave little choked cry,
and then she fell back on the sofa,-fell into
my arms.