The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-11-28
LOVE OR MONEY;
OR,
A PERILOUS SECRET.
BY CHARLES IEADE,
Author of ''Put Yourself in His Place."
ctc., etc, ETC.

lay his difficulty. Two attractive villain
les presented themselves to his ingen-
ious mind, and he naturally hesitated
between them. One was to levy black
mail on BARLEY. the other, ito sell the
secret to the Cliffords.
But there was a special reason why he
should incline toward the CliffOrds, and
whilst he is in his brown-study, we Will
let the reader into his secret.
This artful person had immediately
won the confidence of young Clifford,
calling himself Bolton, and had prepar-
ed a very heartless trap for him. He
introduced to him IL most beautiful
young woman-tall, dark, with an oval
face and glorious black eyes and eye
brows, slight foreign accent, and in
gratiating manners. He called this
beauty his sister, and instructed her to
win Walter Clifford in that character,
and to marry him. As she was twenty
two, and Master Clifford nineteen, he
had no chance with her, and they were
to be married this very day at the
Registers Office.
ManGuvring Monckton then inclined
to let Bartley's fraud go on and ripen,
but eventually expose it for the benefit
of young Walter and his wife. who
adOred this M0ncktOn, because, when
guard, she never does it by halves.
But he had no sooner thought out this
conclusion than there came an obstacle.
Lucy Miller's heart failed her at the last
moment, and she came into the Office
with q rush to tell her master so. She
uttered cry of JOY at sight of him, and
came at him painting and full of love.
Leonard, dear Leonard pray do not in
sist Oh my marrying that young man.
Now it comes to the time, my heart
fails me-"
Never mind your heart; think of
your interest" said MOnckt0n.
why, he is no such great catch. am
sure"
Il tell you he is, more than ever;
have just discovered another 10000 he
is heir to, and not got to wait for that
any longer than choose"
Lucy stamped her foot. II don't care
for his money. Till he came with his
money you loved me-"
81 love you as much as ever" said
MoncktOn, cOldly.
Lucy began to sob. mo, you don't,
or you wouldn't give me up to that
Young fool"
The villain made cynical reply. that
not every Newgate thief could have
matched. You fool" said he, cant
you marry him, and go on loving me?
you won't be the first. 1t is done every
day, to the satisfaction of all parties
AND TO THEIR UNUTTERABLE
SHAME" said clear. stern voice at
their back. Walter Clifford. coming
rapidly in, had heard but little, but
heard enough; and there he stood, grim
and pale, a boy no longer. These two
skunks had made man of him in one
moment. They recoiled in dismay. and
the woman hid her face.
He turned upon the man first. you
may be sure. $50 you have palmed this
lady off on me as your sister, and trap
ped me, and would have destroyed me-"
But if was fool enough to leave my
father, ] am not fool enough to present
to the world your cast-Of mistress as
my wife. Here, Miss Lucy MOnckton
or whatever your name may be-here
is the marriage license. Take that and
my contempt, and do what you like with
Them"
With these words he dashed into
Bartley's private room, and there broke
down. 1t was bitter cup, the first in
his young life.
The baffled schemers drank worm
wood too; but they bore it differently.
The woman cried, and took her punish
ment meekly; the man ragged and threat
ened vengeance. @
mo, no." said Lucy; lit serves us
right. 1 wish had never seen the fell
low; then you would have kept your
word, and married me-" fE
:" / will marry you now, if YOU can
obey me-"
obey you, Leonard? You have been
my ruin; but only marry me, and will
he unrrr oIava II, auarx,tl, Hmm will
ing, devoted, happy slave"
"That is bargain" said MOnckton,
coldly. "I'll be even with him; will
marry you in his name and his place."
"Why in his name?" said she. well,
never mind the name, SO that it is the
right man-and that is yOu."N
Then Monckton's fertile brain, tenn
ing with villainies, fell to Matching a
new plot more felonious than the last.
He would rob the safe, and get Clifford
convicted for the theft; convicted as
Bolton, Clifford would never tell his real
name, and Lucy should enter the Cliff
fOrds' house with u certificate of his
death and certificate of his marriage,
both obtained by substitution, and so
collar his share of the 10000, and off
with the real husband TO fresh pastures.
MOncktOn reflected moment. what
is the first thing2 Let me see. Humphl
1 think the first thing is to get married"
"Yes," said Lucy, that is the first
thing, and the most understandable"
And she went dancing off with him as
gay as lark, and leaning OH him at an
angle of fOrty-five; whilst he went erect
and cold, like a stone figure marching.
Walter Clifford came out i'm time to
see them pass the great window. He
watched them down the street and
cursed tllem-not loud but deep.
incoming, as usual" said a hostile
voice behind him. lie turned round and
there was Mr.. BARLEY seated ut his own
table. Young Clifford walked smartly
TO the other side of the table. determin-
ed this should be his last day in that
shop. ~
There are the payments said he,
cavalierly. 70
About one in five," said BARLEY, in
specting them.
Whereabouts" was the reply.
You can't have pressed them much"
well, am not good at dunning."
what are YOU good at!'
SHOULD he puzzled To say" ~
"YOlI urn mt ~ fpr raIa ~