The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-10

Know.
'Ah then you have secret p
Yes
But thought husband and wife should
have no secrets between them p
so society says, Benet, dear +; but some
times secret compes itself TO be kept
But can you not make up your mind to
tell me this one?
mo-
Would it cost you very considerable
pain p
Yes because if I told it you would be
grieved.'
Are you quite sure p
We'll, l hope so,' she said, with an almost
droll expression.
He laughed, drew her closer to him, and
said, You would do best, perhaps, to let me
into the mystery
NO | am sure it would be foolish 20 tell
you, because-'
What 2? he asked.
1T has really nothing to do with YOU.
How can that be, when it has to do with
you, NANNY?
| She hesitated some moments and then she
replied, "No, it is quite impossible, Ben; and
| do assure you am acting quite like sem
sibe person in saying nothing to you about
it ; and although / am condemning myself
for having been so very foolish as to admit
had any secret
You see, Mahmy dear, your better sense
prevailed for moment, and you half spoke.
| wish your better sense would go on prevail
ing =
No, Ben; but l can promise you this much
that in very few days the secret will be
at an end, and
"And what will happen then?'
We'll, then if you will promise to ask no
questions, | will tell you what has happen
ed.'
so you are making bargain with me,
are you, NANNY? Now | call that cru
ell
oh, Benet,' she said, in tone of desper.
alton, ff was to tell you now what my
secret was, yos would cause me an amount
of anxiety which you would, in the course
of time, never forgive yourself for having
created. Can yvu not trust me? l do as
sure you that am acting completely for the
best
My dear Alma. he said, rising from the
hassock, and thereupon assuming very
serious tone, 81 am perfectly aware that we
cannot mutually trust as we could had we
known each other for years, or even months,
before we became man and wife. l am
conscious of the fact that we were married
even before we had quite accustomed our
selves to call each other by our Christian
names. But venture to think that those
very drawbacks to our happiness, seeing that
they are inevitable, should render us both
more confidential the one with the other
for am sure we love mutually and dear
ly.'
yes, indeed we do, dear Benet feel
that, but-but cannot speak
'Ah, because, four months SINCE we had
never seen each other =
NO, indeed Benet!'
There was a long and even painful pause
during which these two poor, honest per.
sons remained quiet and suffering afraid
even, during these moments, to look at each
other. So great was their anxiety, so in,
tensified were their senses, that both dis.
tinctly heard the iuttering of the moths
about the lamp.
'Benet, DEAR she said at last, apart from
my small secret, which l cannot tell yo,
now
Benet Armsgarth stamped his foot, ant
half turned away.
She waited for a moment, and the n sh
continued meekly: Which | cannot tel
you now, must confde to you piece G
= business, about which need not, be lievt
consultsyou, but, concerning which l. war
your permission
a What for, Alma? You know I nevt
thwart you in any plan. You know enoug
v of me for that and surely you may give n
credit, without any assurance on my par
:. for a desire never needlessly to interfere vii
you
n Here again the terrible sense of their sho
q acquantanceship clashed with the intima
y position they held toward each other.
IS You know. dear she began. with consi
n erable hesitation, that my fortune was s,
,e tied upon myself-not that l require
1t should be So she added, as she saw hi
fash.
- 1T is the common practice now, he a
ID swered, and | was more than desirous tn
,r this plan should be adopted in our case sc
d ing that we knew so little of each other
'o There it was once again The phanto
of their short acquaintance previous to th
" marriage was forever leaping up and shs
10 owing it.
}; of course, she meekly continued, Il co,
ir induce my trustee toto do what l wa
without any reference to you, dear Bene
le but would not for the world do anythi
in before gaining your consent
d, You have it, dear Alma, before you spe
he But if you want money, why do you not
lie me forit? You know that am rich, an
IT. hope LIBERAL
But want rather large sum-
ito Indeed How much p
ed "A thousand pounds
en- He whistled, as well he might.
an He thought for some moments and p
hut dered deeply.
~ Meanwhile she crept up to him, and
'" ing her head against his breast, she said
- When everything Is settled you s
''.,' know ALL
md Suddenly he took determination
in Alma, he said, here is bargain.
an me why you want this fl000-I hay
needlto be further informed that it is va
in connection with your secret-ant
give you a check within the next fl We
utes.'