The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-10


dered me abroad-to the South
France; all business responsibilitit
devolve upon my brother; l tax
my departure next week, and thel
is but little chance of my ever treac
ing English soil again.
Ida's heart was too full for word:
and she silently suffered Georg
Chesterfield to take her hand an
carry it to his lips, unconscious tha
her husband saw all from the stail
case.
1t was late when the last of tn
guests took their departure an,
then Ida, all unconscious, sough
her husband in his library.
He stood there, turning over q fey
letters, but he put them down whe,
his wife entered, and turned his fac
toward her.
'Ida, / wish to speak to you
come in and shut the door,"
The tone of his words fell like ic
upon her heart. and she saw that af
ter all, the truth was to be told.
Silently she obeyed him.
"What were you saying TO Mr.
Chesterfield in the ante-room to-
night ?"
The silence that followed was aw
ful, and then she came forward with
a faint cry, but he put out his arm
to keep her back.
'Pray remain where you are," he
said; 1--WE can talk perfectly well al
this distance"
He gazed at her moment as she
stood dumb before him, in her SUI
perb dinner dress, with the diamonds
that his mother had worn shining
on her neck and arms, and her love-
ly face, pale and quivering now,
above them.
II wish for an answer to my ques.
tion," he said, again, "and we will
mt leave this room until | have
one"
The diamonds upheaved and fell
then she spoke, not exeitedly, but
clearly, and distinctly:
"The time has come, then, Edgar,
when | must tell you that which l
fear you will reproach me for not
having told you before ourm urmarriage, +"
she began. Il know it was wrong
of me, now, but | did not think so
seriously of it then; and it has al
ways been secret between my
and myself. don't think
even Minnie knows all the truth.
1t is about my father-he was a
partner in George Chesterfield's
bank; and shortly after was born,
he lost large sum of money in
speculations. He used to gamble
too; but alas my mother, who low
ed him only too well, never knew it
until it was too late. He was often
out half the night, but he told her
hat it was his business that kept
aim; and she, in her innocence, be-
ieved him. One day seem to
nave a faint recollection Of it-he
vas arrested on a charge of having
,obbed George Chestertield's bank
If fifteen thousand pounds. He was
ound guilty, transported, and died
n penal servitude." +"
Again there was 4 brief silence,
which was broken soon by a wild
md bitter cry from Ida.
"Oh, Edgar, | know | was never
it to be your wife-I, the daughter
If a convict" she burst forth. "But
loved you so well, and feared /
hould lose you if you knew what l
vas. And still more unworthy am
now to be the mother of your
,hild. Oh, Edgar, my husband, say
o-tell me you can never love me
ny more, and l will go away as
quietly as possible-away with my
notherr y
She sank down upon the floor in
Ter agony, and ran her jeweled fin
,ers through the loosening tresses of
Ter hair. The next moment she
vas lifted tenderly to her feet, and
altered to Edgar's breast.
rs this all, my poor, foolish, lit
lie Ida?" ne said, soothingly, and
.issed her bedewed brow. "To
hink that the fault of another could
yer lessen my love for you. Your
ather is dead-heaven rest his soul
and the skeleton of his crime shall
lever rise up between me and my
7ife. This, then. has caused your
ear of George Chesterfield. My
arling, how much uneasiness you
night have spared yourself if you
ad only told me all this before!"
"And you won't love me any the
ess, Edgar?" she said, timidly seek
ng his face.
ANY the less ?" he repeated with
smile. ''More, if that can be pos
ible: for it has convinced ME to the
tmost of what precious wife
ave got. No, darling, set your
cart at rest ON that score, at once
nd for all. And your fathers crime
hall remain buried with him. We
ron't let that be skeleton in our
cupboard, Ida, will we? What do
GU say, dear ?"
But Lady Westbrooke had moth
lg to say-she was sobbing out her
~ and thankfulness upon her hus-
and's breast.