The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-01-22
THAT WOMAN'S SECRET.
CONTINUED.

the affair remain secret. 1t seems to
me that we ought at once to make the
matter public, and institute search for
the perpetrator of this outrage"
DIR. Oakley, returned Mrs. Clayton,
% fear, almost, to confess the fact to
myself, but believe know who Wal
ter's assailant was. 1 do not wish this
man to know that his intended victim
lives till 1 myself tell him, and confront
him with proofs of this and other foul
crimes. This is my reason for the re-
quest made"
"Then, SIR" said DIR. Oakley, turn
ing to the boatman, "you will do as
this lady wishes ?"
" Certainly" the man replied. "And
when the gentleman RECEIVERS, If he wants
me to testify to what know about the
affair, let him send for me. My names
John Daniels, and I'm always to be
found here"
"Thank you, Mr. Daniels" the doc
tor said; "and you may be sure that
what you have done tonight will not
be forgotten. Madam" he added, ad-
dressing Mrs. Clayton, " whom do you
belieye to be the perpetrator of this
crime 2"
"I will not mention his name now"
the lady said, quietly; "but when Wal
ter is able to bear the shock l have a
strange revelation to make. In the
meantime let the villain suppose that
his murderous purpose was accomplish
ed; let him, for a while, triumph in his
guilt. A day of retributioh is surely
coming; day when atonement shall be
made for this crime, and for another,
which for more than twenty years has
embittered my life"
An hour later carriage containing
Mrs. Clayton, DR.. Oakley, and Walter
Oakley, and Walter Gilmore, halted in
front of two-story cottage in Nor
risiania
''This is my home," Mrs. Clayton
said; It's an humble place, but it has
for years shut me out from the world
and all its vain ambition.n
Ndlt6I IJlHiOIt was SOOn It1lONtu
from the carriage, and conveyed to an
apartment in the cottage.
And there for three weeks he lay,
burning with fever and raving in de-
lrium. All this time Mrs. Clayton
scarcely left his bedside. At last came
the turning point in the disease, and one
bright winter morning Mrs. Clayton and
DR.. Oakley stood together by the inva-
lid, watching him in breathless sus-
pense.
g A few moments will decide" the
doctor said. Hal there is perspira-
ton upon his forehead" Henry Oak
ley bent his head; quickly raising it, he
added " Madam, the critical moment
has passed. Walter will, in all probabil-
ity, recover.
" Thank Heaven!" burst from the
woman's lips.
In half an hour the invalid's eyes
opened.
Henry-Mrs. Clayton ~ he exclaim-
ed, as he gazed wonderingly through the
apartment. Have / been ill? Where
am ?"
"You are in my house, Walter" Z"
Mrs. Clayton said, taking his hand in
her own. "You have been very ill, my
dear boy, but you are better now"
"Ah, l remember it all now!" the
invalid exclaimed, as his ideas began to
assume form. "The strange mantle
boat-a fearful blow-a plunge into the
dark water-a-but the man. 1 saw
his face; knew him. Who was he p
Let me think -
/" Be calm, Walter" said Mrs. Clay
ton, stroking his forehead. Do not
excite yourself thus, my poor boy"
"Who was he?" persisted the inva-
lid. "Ah, 1 remember
Mrs Clayton listened with breathless
interest.
Twas Major Heith -
The woman turned away so that he
should not see her face.
g was right, she murmured "Oh
Heaven, could he have known who Wal
ter was? No - no; cannot believe
itln
DR.. Oakley gave the invalid sooth
ing draught, and the young man soor
sank into peaceful sleep.
X
The marriage Of Mara Sydney anC
Henry Oakley had been postponed OF
account of Walter Elmore's illness bu
now that the crisis was past the wed