The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-04-09
CHARLES TURNER'S SECRET.

Great was the hustle OF preparation in
Farmer borne's household one evening
last September. 1t WIS in honor of the
marriage OF his daughter Caroline the
mcrriesi sai swectest-tempcred OF young
girls with Charles Turner, a btnkci's
clerk, and n high-principlei, intelligent
inan, likely to render the home of sensible
and virtuous woman truly happy. The eY-
ening passed over without the occurrence
of anything 20 diminish TIE light-h !
ness of the young people; t.ie older ones,
however, looked grave, aid sighed occasion
ally, when they though no" changed Ding
ly Firm wo:.id seem when Caroline no long
er dwelt under its roof
The marriage ceremony was performed
the following morning, and Charles AMI his
bride drove 10 their new honc-fe moderate
sized house, with d pleasant garden attach
ed, in the Suburbs Of Bristol. 6 lily, yet
tenierly, did Caroline smile, ani thlak her
husband for the aTectionate care for her
comfort and remembrance Of her little
tastes, which the light, prettily furnished
apartments displayed. Happily, indeed,
did that e. st evening in their new home
pass away, and SO lid many successive days,
in the enjoyment OF mutual affection and
the many conveniences and E:tle luxuries
which Charles sal-ry enabled him to af-
ford
Fer few weeks no speck appeared above
the horizon, and Caroline thought at times
that her maidenly dre.ims of the perfect
happiness of married LIFE were destined to
be realized. But it was not long before she
began TO perceive a change gradually creep
ing over her husband He seemed out of
spirits, and when she pressed him to tell
her what it was disturbed him, his evasive
answers were succeeded by such forced at
tempts at gaiety, as convinced her some
thing must be wrong, and heavy weight
fell ON her own heart, in the feeling that he
no longer confided in her. This sorrow
was the harder to bear that she dared not
acquAint her mother with her distress, fer
a wife's duty in these respects is at once
sacred and peculiar. Mrs. Osborn soon
bee tme aware that a shadow had fallen
over her daughters happiness, but she did
not venture TO ask any questions.
The young bride would gladly have for
feited al the luxuries of her new home,
could she have afforded either herself or
her mother any explanation of her hus-
bands conduct. She only became daily
more perplexed, as he grew sterner and
more reserved, becoming increasingly occu-
pied with his business, and capricious in
his proceedings.
The Winter appeared to pass slowly, and
drearily; and thoush the claims of ap-
preaching maternity gave her occupation
and pleasure, even this sweet anticipation
was aloyed by her husbands s unchanged
demeanor. But through all Caroline strug-
gled to maintain her chee1fulness, and to
render their freside comfortable by the
nicely of her arrangements, and the exer-
else of her own accomplishments. Yet
her former liveliness insensibly disappear
ed her cheeks 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 attention,
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 Eilice, whom he wished
he could make his junior partner.
And why cannot you do so?" Caroline
inquired.
| The cabinet-mal1er told her the young
man could not procure the necessary cap
! ital - although he had offered to take
him with fifty instead of hundred
pounds.