The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-11-19
EBENsBURG, PA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10. 1890

assurance that she was perfectly happy, and /
in a few seconds belied her words by burst /
ing into tears and owning that she was very
unhappy.
'eBut l cannot, dear Hannah she ex-
claimed; Il cannot tell the cause-not oven /
to you"
Don't say so, my poor Catharine, replied
Hannah, cit is no curiosity that bids me in
terfere."
'Oh, no, Hannah - replied the young wife;
81 know you speak from love to me-"
''Weu, them" continued the dame, "open
your heart to me Catharine. Age Is a good
adviser. Is your husband harsh - asked
Hannah.
''No no." cried the wife ''man could not
be kinder TO woman than he is to me-"
Perhaps he INDUCES in drink-in 'pri-
vate-"
Hannah, you mistake him altogether
was Catharine's reply; "my husband is as
free from all such faults as man ever was
My dear child said the Old woman, al
most smiling as the idea entered her head,
'svou are not suspicious-nOt jealous 2'
i have never had q moments cause, Han
nah, answered Catharine. "No, my griefs
are not of that nature. He is one of the best
and dearest OF husbands"
Old Hannah was puzzled by these replies
as much rs she was distressed by the now
open ayowal of Catharine's having some hid
den cause of sorrow but seeing that her
young friend could not make uD her mind 10
/ disclosure at this time, the aged dame gave
/ up her inquiries, and told CathaIiue Ia think
seriously Of the propriety of conGdng all to
her.
Hannah conceived that, on mature consid-
Grafton, Catharine would come to the resolu-
/ tiau Of seeking counsel at the cottage. And
/ She was not wrong. In few days after
their late conversation the young wife came
TO visit Hannah again, and after little alb
sent and embarrassed talk, entered upon the
subject which was uppermost in the minds
Of both
Hannah, said Catharine, 4 fear you
can serve me nothinE-I fear ne living being
can serve. Oh Hannah good as my nus
band appears to be-good as he is-thcre is
some dreadful weight pressing ON his mind,
which destroys his peace and mine, too.
Alas the gloomy fits which you as well as /,
have noticed in him, are not, I fear without
4 cause
Cathariue wept in silence for moment
and continued
All that 1 know from this cause arises
from his expressionS-his dreadful express
sions-whiie he is sleeping 0y my side. Han
nah! he speaks in broken language Of muir
der He mutters about the streaming blood
that his hand drew from an innocent victim
Alas, | have heard enough to tell me thathe
speaks OF a young woman. o Hannah,
perhaps a woman was deceived and killed 10y
him -
As Catharine said this she shudGered and
buried her face ia that of the babe which she
carried in her arms.
: Hannah was shocked to hear this, but her
/. good sense ed her at once to suggest, for the
comfort Of the poor wife, that it was perfect
r ly possible for her husband to imagine him
I, self a murderer in his sleep and speak Of il
without the slightest reality in the whole at
, fair.
p "Ah, Hannah" said Catharine, sadly
Q these dreadful sayings are not the result o
n ones nightmare slumbers. They occur Otter
: too often. Besides, when 1 first heard hin
r mutter in his sleep these horrible things,
e mentioned the matter to him in the mornint
4 at onr breakfast and laughed at it; but h
r grew much agitatcd and telling me to pa.
4 no attention to such things, 'as sometimes IN
o talked nonsense, he knew, in his sleep il
= arose ana went away, leaving his meal un
r fiuished-indeed scarcely touched. 1 az
- sure he does not know how often he speak
n in his sleep forI have never mentioned tn
, subject again though my RESI- is dSstroyc
10 by il. And then his fits Of sadness at ord
!. nary moments, Hannah Hannah there
g some mystery-sorne terrible mystery undg
it! Yes - continued the poor young wifi,
p che is so good-kiud-s0 dutifni TO God an
# man. He has too much tenderness and fee
r ing to harm a fly. Hannah, what am 1 {
y, do. for avn very wretehed at present -
2. It was long ere the old dame replied to th
It question She muscd deeply ON what ha
" been told to her, and ia the end said to Catl
Ia ariue:
A. ''NIy poor child, ! cannot believe that WI
20 liam is guilty of what these circumstances ia
,v seemingly TO his door. But IT, the worst
A. true, &c IS better for you to know 20 than to
d in this killing suspense forever Go and ga
e. his confidence, Catharine; tell him all th
af has come to your car; and say You DO SO
of advice 80
at- Hannah continued to use pcTsuasions
j.. the same kind for some time time longer, al
he at length sent Catharne home, firmly resol
ell to follow the counsel given her. On q
ne following day Cathariue again presented he
We self a. the abode of Hannah, and as soon
y. she entered exclaimed:
he Dear mother, I have told him all !
a viii soon be here to explain everything TO
" both g.
II The old woman did not exactly comp
de hend this. 'IIas he not said she, 'gjy
he an explanation, then to you 80
III "No, Hannah" said Cathariuc; "but G
ok he is not guilty When I had spoken to h
70 as You desired me he was silent for lo
nd time, and nc took me in his arms and kiss
ct. me. saying. my darling Catharine, l oua
az 60 have conGded in Won long before. l ha
tn been unfortunate; but not guilty. Go
air Iianuah's aud / will soon follow You and
at vour minds at ease rs far as it can be dor
i've Had known how much you had been suf
led ing, I woa,d have done this ionE befoT
&c. These were his words, Hannah Oh, he N
ich be unfortunate. but not guilty
he Hannah and Cstnariue said little more
the each until the husband of the latter came
APP the cottage William sat down eravelv
BON the side OF his wife, and commenced to
be his story:
1t ''The reason os the unhappy exciamati'
leir in Sleep" said he, (which have weighed
ing much on my mind, my dear Catharine, n
va be very sooE told. They arose from a
see cumstance which has much embitteTed
uu- peace, but which, hope, is to be regar'
on as sad calamity, rather than crime. W
she l entered the army, which 1 did at the ag
4I,n roo,ttitsr,cr r,ortx- IN