Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-02-10

Caleb Was generous-she would not
deny that-and he was sure to give
her even more than was her Just due;
SO no fear of future pecuniary distress
troubled her.
But she knew the separation would
cause great deal of gossip. People
were always so ready to discuss the pri-
vate affairs of their friends and neigh
bors.
And then there were mother and
Jane to be told. Rebecca felt sure
they would be justly indignant, and
would espouse her cause warmly when
they learned all she had suffered at
Caleb's hands.
And yet, now that she thought il
all over, what had been Caleb's exact
offense?
Their estrangement had begun with
the employment Of Jonas Stultz as
man-of-all-work. Rebecca had taken
violent dislike to him, and had
thought him too coarse and common to
be admitted into the family circle. 1t
would have been quite as easy to hire
some one not so distasteful to her, she
thought. She had no patience with
the vulgarity of Jonas. and resented
being brought into association with
him.
But Caleb had a great regard for
Jonas working qualities, and treated
Rebecca's request for his discharge as
an absurd whim not worth even mo-
ment's consideration.
This had angered Rebecca, and she
had expressed herself very sharply and
freely on what she termed her hus-
bands outrageous tyranny"
Mutual recriminations and re-
proaches had followed; old scores.
trifling enough, and almost forgotten
in the happiness and peace which had
followed them, were recalled, expa-
tiated upon and made much of. Time
and reflection did not mend matters.
The wrongs each cherished seemed to
increase rather than diminish as they
were brooded over; and finally sep
aration was decided upon.
The moment the decision was made
the husband and wife would have
rushed to the lawyers Office had it
been possible.
But there was storm raging with
out as well as within the old farm
house, and the interview with Mr..
Kane had been necessarily postponed
until the following day.
UIIouy orlad chaII ha m nyof hooIy fe
mother and Jane mused Rebecca,
continuing to sit before the breakfast
table. needless of the crying of the cat
for her mornings meal or the fact that
the cream was rising on the unstrained
milk in the pals. MY dear. beauti-
full old home! How foolish l was to
leave it and to imagine l would be
happy with such a man as Caleb
Sterling. But he was pleasant enough
before we were married. He was
careful to give me no chance to find
out his real character until he had me
bound to him. If I'd known what
he really was. I'd sooner have gone to
my grave than married him -
Then her memory reverted to Seth
Talbot, who had been her lover before
Caleb appeared on the scene. Hand
some Seth. How dey otedly he had
loved her. How considerate and
gentle were his manners to women :
Had she only been wise enough to ac-
cept him she would never have known
such misery and regret as she was suf-
fering now. And mother and Jane
had thought her SO fortunate in her
marriage ! They had admired Caleb.
little dreaming what cold, cruel heart
he really possessed. They had no
doubt of her future happiness when
they intrusted her to his keeping.
How blind they had been! In days
gone by there had been a rumor
that pretty Meg Darrow had rejected
Caleb.
"She showed her good sense" NUT
tered Rebecca now. as memory recalled
the rulnor.
The opening of the door reused her
from her painful reverie. She looked
up to see Jonas, the original bone of
contention. He stamped the snow
from his feet, pulled off his big wooden
mittens and approached the fire, while
Rebecca started up, covertly dashed
the tears from her eyes, and began to
clear off the table with an energy that
made up for lost time.
"Where's the boss?" asked Jonas,
regarding ner flushed face and wet
lashes with considerable curiosity.
He had not been unaware of the
cloud which had risen on the domestic
horizon, but did not imagine that he
was at all to blame for it.
Gone to Squire Bligh's." answered