The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-12
Wife'S Secret.

he Lawrences are going abroad, .
Robert Dana to his young wife one
ling. Il met Tom to day, and lie
he and Carry would sail on the 10Th,
the furniture be sold at auction"
Dh, how we shall miss them and
a pity to have that handsome old
i,ure scattered among strangers !!
have had many happy times there,
ert.'
81 es, Annie; it was there first saw
do you remember, you were play
chess on that old Chinese chess
! so absorbed that you did not See
BONE in; and | stood wondering who
little maid in blue could be. l
h like to have that table sold at
lion, dear ; l wish it would occur to
by to send it to US as farewell
bsnt."
THAT would be very nice But as she
ot at all romantic, she has no idea
or Why we value it"
Il suppose if l offered to bny it, Tom
lld not accept any pay; and then We
bid feel as if we had begged pres
~ es; and, besides, We can not afford
Robert"
How much is it worih?"
lit must have cost q hundred dollars
eu it was new; but | presume it will
for Fifty, as it is somewhat defaced.
must not think fit, though, dear.
) know the last Of our 'luxury-fund'
1t fer the Dickens reading, and we
eed to have no more treats till fall.
are say we should rot play very
10 if we had it-rcading aloud is so
ch nicer"
rhus the brave, conscientious little
han turned away from the tempting
me, and it was not resumed between
.m. Annie Dana, however, had
at fund of that tough quality which
bow blamed as "obstinacy," then
lsed as "frmncss." The more she
herselfthe chess table was uuattain-
the more iid persistent inuer
e reply, 81 must have 2" But
IA? Dozens of schemes occurred to
but none that seemed practicable.
en she awoke in the night, the weary
btion flashed back, and with it, like
aspiration, its answer. She would
E story for the----Naya=mc,
so earn the needful mouey. Had
not at school, several years before.
two or three anonymous stories to
nnt-y weekly, just for the frolic of
.pd had they not been printed? To
prc, they were not paid for. She
ID almost have scorned money then,
eliciously sutfclng was it to see her
words in print. But there must
be sordid reality Of payment now ;
how delightful to surprise Robert
the table, show him her article, aud
b his approaching praise. But be-
this dizzy climax coud be reached,
Ia must be done. What sho1ld she
L about? When fnd time? How
or the table? And all without
ert's knowledge: Absorbed in these
tions, she appeared sadly absent
pg breakfast, greatly to her hus-
Is surprise aud mysii6cation. After
had put two spoons in his saucer,
d for butter when already supplied,
poured maple syrup over her steak.
esau to be alarmed, insisted on feel
Der pulse. and inquired if she had
we'll. Annie disclaimcd sickness,
admitted that her night had been
ess; and fually, to please him,
pised 10 take nap during The day.
er having concealed any thing from
before, the weight of q secret was
rom pleasant; but she consoled her
by thinking how we'll it would all
For the first time since she knew
she was glad to have Robert 90, So
was she to be free to plan, perhaps
fite her story. Bcr Usual duties
i tie house were faithfully perform
bnt the outline OF romance was
Dg through her head all the time,
sbe was clad when free at last to sit
at her desk.
br an hour her pencil few busily:
thronged at her bidding; words
freely to express them. Five or
beginnings were made only to be
ID out {: this seemed too formal, that
brupt, another too sentimental. She
ID she must resort to the charming
prmula, "Once upon time" But
light words came at last, and then
lent on bravely, till a neishbor
in, and the already beloved heroine
10 be exchanged for Roberts afghan
Everyday chat. Then came other
raptious and duties no more wri-
that day. The promised attempt at
occurred about half an hour be-
Roberts return, having been en-
forgotten till then; and though
ie lay on the sofa, with her eyes
eieutiously closed, for fully fifteen
ktes, her thoughts were on her
ine all the time, aud once she sat
nd made pencil memoranda on the
ola letter, hastily pocketed as her
bands step vas heard. BY the second
1t her plot was fully sketched in her
and it only remained to put it
! paper. Sometimes a whole day
ID pass, and not moment of time
d she 6ud for writing, though ex-
in the mood for it. Again, she
d have leisure, but an almost IN
uerable aversion to her pen; and if
ried to rally her powers by reading