The Penn's Grove record., 1884-10-11
A wIFE's SECRET.

sMamma. / must tell him." said
Grace Sweeney, weeping and wringlng
her hands ''there would be a curse
npon me if l practised such odious de-
ceit upon him. He is so good that he
will hear my story with indulgence"
go and try him." cried Mrs. Swee-
ney, striking Il dramatic attitude and
pointing to the door. She was an iras-
chile little dame, with a mass of gray
curls which quivered as she stamped
her foot. "Yesi go and tell Mr.. De
Roy of Roydale, that Miss Grace Swee-
ney, whom he wants to marry, eloped
two years ago with a circus rider, who
took her to America and wanted to
teach her to Jump through paper hoops.
Very indulgent he will be, | should
think. Not a doubt of it !"
But, mamma, L should only have to
tell him that | had been deceived ~
sobbed Grace, purple with shame 81
believed my husband was what he rep
resented himself to be, and l thought
our marriage was valid"
Nobody else will think so, " sneered
Mrs. Sweeney, "You made a runaway
match with an a%dventurer, who turned
out to have a wife still living. Then
you came back to us whimpering for
forgiveness, and bringing a baby In
your arms. We did forgive you. We
had hushed up youT escapade, saying
that you had gone to stay with some
friends of ours, and we fastened to put
your baby out to nurse, so that not a
soul in this place knows OF your dis
grace. Well, when we have
AN.-, --ha- mo h VIC TaufnrQh
your character and put you in the way
of making an honorable marriage, you
must needs kick down the results of
our efforts. and talk of making your
shame public Thank you, miss You
understand what gratitude towards
parents is Look at your poor father,
whose heart you will break ~
..Rut. mamma, what must | do?"
; cried Grace, in despair. 'ifI keep this
secret from Mr.. De Roy and he dlsC>.'
ers it afterwards, what will he think of
me ?"
Look at your father, | say" repeated
Mrs. Sweeney, with another tragic ges-
ture, and a new stamp of her foot.
Nj. Sweeney, who was seated In an
armchair near the fire with a comic
newspaper on his lap, uttered a doleful
SWIVEL. When there was any talking to
be done, he generally allowed his wife
to do It, deeming her more proficient IN
this art than himself. But he could
talk too when occasion required it. Rls-
ing from his seat-a spare lanky man,
with yellowish-gray hair, a piace-nez,
and shepherds'-plaid trousers-he put
his back to the CRATE, with his coat-talls
under his arms, and said ENORMOUSLY !:
''Grace, | think your behavior heart
less. You know what trouble l have
had to bring up you children, with my
limited income. One of your sisters is
happily married, but two are still I'M
provided for. Then there are your
three brothers Mr.. De Roy has gener-
ousIy promised to send the eldest to
college, and to give him a living by-and-
by he is going to obtain a post under
government for Frank, and to put Jack
into the navy. If you like now to take
this bread out of your brothers and
sisters mouths, we can't, of course,
stop you. Your mother and l Will, |
daresay, find a refuge in the work
house some day." and Mr.. Sweeney
snivelled again.
sob papa, have pity on me p'lmplored
Grace, 81 want to act rightly, and
must be guided by you But you know
l cannot give up seeing my child"
who wants you to give up seeing
it ?" exclaimed Mrs. Sweeney shrilly.
Your husband won't keep you like a
slave. You will be able to go out with
out his spying Oh you. Besides, if you
like, we can have the child brought
here, and say she is an orphan whom
we have adopted-the child of II OF
your fathers old friends"
"Yes, of one of my old friends, -
echoed Mr.. Sweeney, ratifying the false
hood as solemnly as If he were putting
the seal to 8 highly m~eritorious deed.
A few moments of silence ensued,
during which Grace sat with her head
bowed In her hands The poor girls
anguish was extreme. FalsehOod had
never been one of her sins she lOathed
it. Two a previously, when little
more than a child, she had eloped with
an adveuturer, who had described him
self as a struggling artist, and touched
her with a tale of his woes but she
had acted thus, less because she truly
loved her deceiver, than because she
could not stoop to the hypocrisy OF hay-
ing stolen interviews with him after
her parent q had forbidden her to hold
intercourse with the man. Her fault
had led to miserable consequences, and,
SINCE her return home, she had been
most unhappy in being obliged TO tell
untruths to all her parents friends
about what she had done during her alb
sence-in being compelled to see her
child clandestinely, in hearing covert
reproaches from her family, and so
forth. There vas now a prospect OF
escape from this wearisOme life by her
marriage with Mr.. De Roy, but she re-