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

And we hope to welcome with it
Angc. footsteps at the door.
l FAMILY SFCRET.
II was a proud and happy dav fol
Mrs. Sinclair on which her elder
daughter had become Sir Edward
Westbrook's wife. She had been q
widow many years, and since her
husbands death, life had been a
hard struggle with her; nor was il
the "snow of many winter" " that lay
upon her hair, but the touch of a
great trouble when Ida and her lit
tie sister Minnie played together in
white embroidered dresses, and nev-
er knew then why their mother so
often wept. Ida gained an inkling
of the cause, however, which grew
! in detail year by year with her own
growth. until it became the family
skeleton. which she and her mother
hid away in the cupboard, deter
mined never to bring it to light.
Ere she had attained her eigh-
.centh birthday, Ida became Sir
Edgar Westbrook,s wife. He had
come down to their little secluded
village in the early summer, and
there made the acquaintance OF the
widow and her two pretty daugh-
ters. Ida had learned to love him
though nearly twenty years her
senior, and before that summer
passed they were married.
He took her to his luxurious home
in London, and they were as happy
as the days were long.
She knew very little Of the world,
reared all her life in a country home,
and was pure and guiltless as the
infant she gave birth to twelve
month later, but the trouble which
had turned her mothers hair to sill
yer had never once been mentioned.
Indeed, Ida even trembled at the
idea of her husband ever discover
ing it, especially now that son had
been born to bear his honored
name.
Two or three months after the
birth oftheir child, Lady Westbrooke
accompanied Sir Edgar to ball,
given by one of his friends, and
there she was introduced to Mr..
Chesterfield, who, her hostess in
formed her, was very rich banker.
Sir Edgar Westbrooke stood watch
ing his wife as the introduction was
made. and wondered at the change
that came over her fair young face
he noticed, too, that as she hung on
his arm, her breath came in short,
quick gasps, and that she was APP
parently painfully agitated. He
was n man old enough to be her
father, this George Chesterfield, the
banker. Could she have ever met
him before, and even if she had,
what was the reason of this sudden |
He was above so paltry feeling
as jealousy, and yet he felt wound |
ed and aggrieved, and knew not |
why. He loved her so well, and |
deemed her utterly incapable of any
thing like duplicity.
1t was during their drive home |
that he broached the subject, when
she was lying back in the carriage,
with her head half resting upon his
shoulder.
"Have you ever met Mr.. Chester
field before, lda?,'
She paused a moment, and then
mo, Edgar; never. Why2"
Nothing. dear; only | thought |
perhaps you might have done so,
said her husband, quietly.
She spoke the truth, be was sure.
ana his mind was relieved.
But Ida was little nervous next
in speaking of the ball,
md her face was two or three shades
oaler than usual, but that, no doubt,
was in consequence of its fatigues,
thought Edgar.
The matter was never again re-
erred to until Mrs. Sinclair came on
/ visit to her daughter, and then
Sir Edgar expressed his intention
If giving a dinnerparty solely in her
lonor.
ave will invite Mr.. Chesterfield,
Ida." said her husband one evening,
while Mrs. Sinclair was paying Her
Usual visit to the nursery. He is an
exceedingly good fellow, and"
"Mr. Chesterfield J Oh, no, Edgar,
1lease don't" interrupted Ida, ner-
Yously, the pretty color dying out
If her face.
"Whv on earth not, my dear?"
lsked Edgar, somewhat impatiently.
You seem to have taken strange
to that man."
"Well, / suppose we all do some
.imes," said Ida evasively. Il
"Not without reason at any rate,
'eplied the baronet in the same
train. II should really like you to
overcome your prejudice, Ida; al
hough at the same time have no
wish to invite anyone who is disa-
yreeable to you" +
He spoke coldly, and his tone sent
/ chill to her heart.
Oh, was this secret, which she felt
t her duty to conceal ever from HIM,
.oing to make a breach between her
elf and her husband she loved so
veil? If she had only had the
courage to tell him before their mar
.iage, how much better it would
nave 5een: for she felt she never
lare revealit now-tho consequences
night prove too serious.
She left the room aud sought her
mother. who had left the nursery |