The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-11-19
NOT GUILTY.

One day good many years ago, young
woman knocked at the door of a little cot
tare in the suburbs of the town of Newcastle
upon Tyne The knock was immediately
responded 70 by the opening Of the door from
within. An aged woman neatly dressed, and [
who had evidently risen from her wheel, was
the sole inmate Of the little cot.
BLESS your heart, girl said the dame, as
She entered with her visitor, and sat down to
the wheel again; ''Uhere must surely be
something particular about you to-day, for
Won did not use to knock
4 was afraid some one might be with you,
mother" said the girl, who had taken seat
opposite the spinner.
"And though a neighb0r had been here -
replied the dame, ''this surely wouldn't have
frightened YOU away. But the truth is, you
have got somethingt to say to me. Catharine,"
continued the speaker, kindly "out with it,
my dear, and depend upon the best counsel
that old Hannah can give"
The young woman blushed, and did not
Immediately speak.
Has William Hutton asked you to be his
wife. Catharine 90 said the dame who easily
and rightly anticipated the matter that was
occupying the mind of her youthful visitor,
che has. mother" was the reply.
The old woman 1egaH to BiTr earnestly at
the wheel.
"Weu, my dear, said she after Il short
pause, sis not this what you have long ex-
pected-ay, and wished? He has your heart,
and so I suppose it needs no witch to tell
what viii be the end ont
This might all be true, but there was some
thing upon Cathariue's mind which struggled
to be out, and ont it came. Dear Hannah,
said she, seating herself close by the old dame
and taking hold Of her hand. "you have been
a kind friend-a parcnt-to me, since my
poor mother died, and have no one else to
look to for advice but yourself. I have not
+ given William an answer and would not un-
+ til had spoken to you especially as some
tlug-as you once said"
'.}yhat did I say Cathariue ." interrupted
the Old woman; nothing as against the man
You love, surely, lie IS from all that I have
seen and heard, kind-hearted, industrious
and every way well behaved"
Yes, Hannah" replied the young wo-
man. ''but You once said, after had brought
him once or twice to see you, JuJt you did
not like th5se-th0se sorts of low fits that
sometimes fall upon him even in company.
have often noticed them since, Hannah,
continued Cathariue, with a sigh.
Plague my old thoughtless tongue for
saying ary such thing to vex you, MY dean
child! Heed not so careles, d speech, Cath
arine. lie was a soldier, you know, good
many years ago-before he was twenty-and
fought for his country. lie may have seen
sights then that make him grave TO think
upon, without the least cause blaming him.
self But, whatever it may be- I mean rot,
Catnarine, that you should take such pass
ing word to heart. Ifhe has some little cares
YOU will easily sOothe them and make hin
happy"
As the worthy dame spoke, her visitor!
brow gradually cleared and, after s0In'
further conversation. CathaTine left the cot
tage light at heart with the thought shat hei
old friend approved Of hey following tht
course TO which her inclinations led her
Catharine Smith was indeed we'll entitled tJ
paw respect to the counsels OF Hannah. Th
latter had never been married, and spent th
greater part Of her life IN the service of
wealthy family at Alorqeth When she wa
there the widowed mother Of Catharine ha
died in Newcastle, and on learning of th
circumstance, Hannah, though frieIu
merely and no relation, had sent for the ol
phau girl, then about ten years OF age, an'
had taken care Of her until she grew fit
maintain herself by service. On finding her
self unable to continue a working life Longer
Hannah had retired 10 Newcastle, her natiy
place, where she lived in humble comfort o.
the earnings of her long CaTecr of servitUd'
Catharinc came back with her to NewcastI
aud Immediately entered into service there
Hannah and CatAarine had been two year
in their respective situations when the die
logue which has been recorded took plaC,
On the succeeding expiration of hey term C.
service Catharine WAS married to the youu
man whose name has been stated as heiu
William Hutton. He was joiner by lradD
and bore, as Hannah had said. an eEceHcI
reputation The first visit paid by the new
married pair was to the cottage of the ol
woman, WHO gazed ON them with @ truly M
tenal pride, thinking she had never seen
handsome a couple. The few years spent
Hutton in the army had given to his natur,
good figure an erect manIjness, which locke
as well in one OF his sex as the slight, grac
fuI figure. land fair. ingenious couutcuance,
Catharine was calculated 60 adon one
womankind. Something Of this kind,
least, was in the thoughts Of old Hanna
when CaLharine and her husband visited Il
danes little dwelling
4 Many a future visit was paid by these san
parties to Hannah: and on each successi
occasion the old woman looked naTrovl
though unobtTusively as possible, into .
state Of the young wife's feeings-with
mothers anxiety to know if she was hapP
% For, though Hannah-seeing Catharine's
fectous to be deeply engaced-had ma
light Of her own early remarks upon I
strange and most unpleasant gloom occIsiC
ally, if not frequently, Observable in the To-
and manner of william Hutton the Old y
~ man had never been able to rid her own mi
IN altogether Of misgiyings upon the sGbje
ne For many months after Catharine's nj
for riage, however, Hannah could discover not
F. ing but open, uualloyed happiness in the
and conversation Of the youthful wife, but
length Hannah's anxious eye did percc
+. something like change. Cathariue seem
,n sometimes 60 fan, when visiting the Gotta,
'ns into fits Of abstraction not unlike those wh
Joy had been observed in her husband. I
m. aged dame felt greatly distressed at
Thought Of her dear Catharine being unh
pv. but for long time held her peace uT
the subject, trusting that the cloud might
!. a temporary one and would disappear
os. was not So unfortunately. Though in tl
Ter manner to each other. when together, moth
no no but the most cordial affection was obser
no bic Catharine, when she came alone to
Hannah. always seemed prey to some
easiness, which all her efforts could not c
-, ceal from her old friend. Even when