Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-04-03
cupied with his business, and ca


pricious in his proceedings.
The Winter appeared to pas
slowly and drearily: and thougl
the claims of approaching materni
ty gave her occupation and pleasure
even this sweet anticipation was al
loyed by her husbands unchanged
demeanor. But through all Caro-
line struggled to maintain her cheer
fulness, and to render their fireside
comfortable by tho nicety of her ar
rangements, and the exercise of hel
own accomplishments. Yet her for
mer liveliness insensibly disap.
peared; her cheek grew pale. her
step slow, and sometimes she
speculated on how it would all end,
and whether she could live all her
life in constant endurance of such a
trial.
The month of March had arrived,
when, one day, her husband asked
her to go with him to cabinet
makers to look at an easy chair,
which he had ordered for her use.
Pleased with this, now unusual at
tention, she WAS quickly equipped.
She expressed in warm terms her
admiration of the nice chair that
had been selected for her. The
master of the establishment said it
was chiefly the workmanship Of a
skilful young man of the name of
Ellicc, whom he wished he could
make his junior partner.
''And why cannot you do so!"
Caroline inquired.
The cabinet maker told her the
young man could not procure the
necessary capital--althougl he had
offered to take him with fifty in
stead of a hundred pounds.
"poor Ellice, the father" he con.
"was once well to do in the
world; now he has hardly bread to
eat, let alone anything better"
A suppressed groan from Charles
his wife, and he staggered,
rather than walked, out of the shop,
Caroline clinging to him. Her
alarm was not lessened, when, on
'eaching the house, he flung him
self on a chair, and resting his
land on table, wept as men sci.
lom do.
"Charles,' she exclaimed, "dear,
lear, Charles, by the love you once
,ore me, | entreat you to tell me
What is the matter. Have | not
to be yours in veal or
soe! And even-even, Charles,
hould you have been tempted in
Ding wrong, even then your wife
'ill never desert you, never cease
0 love you. Only tell me all ; L
IN sure could help you. DO not,
~ husband, let us go on any long.
r as we have been doing this last
Winter. Speak to me, dear, speak I
} your Caroline. and do not fear t
or weakness, for your love would {
i've her strength to do whatever is {
sht." )
So pleaded Caroline, as she knelt
Y her husband aud threw her arms
round him, and at last he raised
is head, and said, in h0arse
hisper, "Are you indeed so strong
) you fancy' Tell me, could you l
ALLY bear poverty and privation ~ '
Yes, Charles; so that | possessed !
our love and confidence, I could
ork gladly for my daily bread" Z
81 have never ceased to love you, u
y Caroline; but have feared to Ii
'ntide my unworthy secret to you,
St your affection might be les a
ned neither could bear to de- II
i've you of what you had every h
ason to expect to enjoy as my a
ife, and what l thought your IL
stes required to make you happy" II
}, Charles this last doubt is a
ost unjust; but do not let me i'll 81
rrupt yOu-let me know every d
ing" III
''Yes, 1 will tell you all, even u
ould you despise me hereafter; "
d l will also tell you what L have p'
en- now resolved to do to redeem u
9 sin which [ have committed.
u are aware, l believe, that short L
before my poor father died, he te
d become bankrupt, but not q
rough any fault of his, and that til
J creditors were paid, as far as in
ssible, by the proceeds of the sale bl
all his personal property, which m
tied about half of their claims. til
,phen Ellice was his working al
rtner, with an income of three tn
!. 1l.oI 4, ,-onr nnl l,o ic 1,.,<a &C All, | fl