The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-04-08
Select Story.
A FAMILY SECRET,
BY MRS. ADoLPIUs BELL.

1t was proud and happy day for
Mrs. Sinclair on which her elder daugh
ter had become Sir Edgar Estebrooke's
wife. She had been n widow many
years, and since her husbands death life
had been a hard struggle with her; nor
was it the snow of many winters that
lay upon her hair, but the touch of
heavy trouble which had fallen upon her
when Ida and her little sister Minnie
played together in white embroidered
frocks and never 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, determined never
to bring it to light,
Ere she had attained her eighteenth
birthday, Ida became Sir Edward West
brooke's wife. lie had come down to
their little secluded village in the early
summer, and had there made the ac-
quaintance of the widow and her two
pretty daughters Ida had learned to
| love him, though twenty years her senior
and before the summer passed they were
| married.
He took her to her luxurious home in
London and they were as happy as the
days were long,
She knew very little of the world,rear,
cd all her life in country home, and
was as pure and guileless as the infant
she gave birth to one twelvemonth latcri
but the trouble which had turned her
mothers hair to silver had never once
been mentioned. Indeed, Ida even trem,
bled at the idea of her husband ever dis
covering it,especially now that son had
been born to bear his honorable name.
Two or three months after the birth
of her child, Lady Westbrooke accompa
MED Sir Edgar to ball, given by one
of his friends, and there she was intro
duced to Mr.. Chesterfield, whom, hel
hostess previously informed her, was ;
very rich banker. Sir Edward West
brooke stood watching his wife as the in
PRODUCTION was made, and wondered a
the change that came over her fair young
face; he noticed, too, that as she hung
on his arm, her breath came i'll short
quick gasps, and that she was apparent
: " agitated. He was man old enough
to be her father,this George Chesterfield
the banker Could she have ever me
him before, and even if she had, wha
was the reason of this strange emo
ton?
lie was above so paltry feeling a
jealousy, and yet he felt wounded an
aggrieved, he knew not why. He love
her so well, and deemed her utteraly in
capable of anything like duplicity.
1t was during their drive home thG
he broached the subject, when she wa
lying back in the carriage with her hea
half resting upon his shoulder.
"IIave you ever met MIR. Chesterfield
before, Ida?"
She paused moment, and then al
swered
"No Edgar, never in my life. Why
"Nothing, dear, only | thought pc
haps you might have done so, said he
husband quietly.
She spoke the truth, he was sure, an
n his mind was relieved.
g. But Ida was Il little nervous ne'
to morning in speaking of the ball, and he
face was two or three shades paler tha
usual, but that, no doubt was in cons
quence of its tatigues, Sir Edgi
thought.
The matter was never again refeTt
to until Mrs. Sinclair came on visit
her daughter, and then Sir Edward e
pressed his intention of giving dim
party solely in her honor.
"We will invite Mr.. Chesterfield, Ida
said her husband one evening, while MI
Sinclair was paying her usual visit to L
nursery. "He is an exceedingly good Il
low"
r 'Mr. Chesterfield! Oh no, Edgar plea
, don't" interrupted Ida neryously, ,dnyil
( the pretty color out of her face
"Why on earth not, dear?' ask
, Edgar, somewhat impatiently, "Y
seem to have taken strange anti
t thy toward that man"
+ "Well,I suppose we all do sometime
! said Ida, evaslyely.
!, "Not without reason at any rate"
Piled the baronet in the same strain.
: should really like you to overcome yc
!, prejudice, Ida; although at the same Vi
+ | have no wish to invite any one who
}. disagreeable to YOU"
a He spoke coldly and his tone sen
), chill to her heart.
. Oh, was this secret, which she felt
p her duty to conceal even from him goi
l. to make breach between herself {
.G husband she loved so well? If she !
I; only had courage to tell him before til
~ marriage how much better it would hi
ii been; for she felt that she never da
nt reveal it now-the consequences mi!
Sc prove too serious.
" She left the room and sought
q mother, who had left the nursery
as gone to her own apartment lda's WI
ne face startled her, but when the yov
Ir wife sat down and told her of her in
as duction to Mr., Chesterfield, and of
he Edgar's intention of inviting him to
house, the mothers countenance
changed, and for moment she conf
- ed herself unable to offer any advic
the matter
81 cannot leave suddenly, Ida"
isaid, "or make an excuse that MINI