Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-15
A WIFE's SECRET.

Mamma. | must tell him." said
Craze Sweeney. weeping and wringlng
t.r hands there would be a curse
mon me if | practiSed such odious de-
e+,t mop him. He is SO good that he
viii hear nv story with indulgence.
60 and trv him. cried Mrs. Swee-
rsy striking a dramatic attitude and
n5irtiuC 10 the door. She was an iras-
me little dame, with mass of gray
rgrls which guivered as she stamped
her foot. Yes, go and tell Mr.. De
Ray Of Roydale. that Miss Grace Swee-
D.y. whom he wants TO marry, eloped
two wears ago with a circus rider, who
-ook her TO America and wanted to
teseh her 10 Jump through paper hoops.
Very ndulgent he will be, | should
think. Not a doubt of it ~
But. mamma. | should only have to
tel lin that | had been deceived J"
s5bted Grace. purple with shame. 81
believed nv husband was what he rep
resented himself to be, and thought
our marriage was valid. "
NOBODY else Will think So" sneered
MrS. Sweeney. You made runaway
match with an adventurer, who turned
out 10 have a wife still living. Then
YOU came lack TO US whimpering for
forgiveness. and bringing a baby In
YOUR arms. We did forgive you. We
had huShed up your escapade, saying
that YOU had gone TO stay with some
friends Of ours. and We hastened 10 put
your baby out 10 nurse, so that not a
soul in this place knows OF your dis
grace. Well. when We have
done all this; when We have restored
yOur character and put YOU in the way
Of making al honorable marriage, you
must needs kick down the results Of
UuE efforts. and talk of making your
shame public, Thank YOU, miss J You
understand what gratitude towards
parents Is, Look at your poor father,
whose heart you will break ~
But. mamma, what must l dog"
cried Grace. in despair ''If / keep this
secret from Mr.. De Roy and he discoy-
ers il afterwards, what will he think of
me ?"
Look at your father, l say" repeated
Mrs. Sweeney, with another tragic ges-
tuTe, and a new stamp of her foot.
Mr.. Sweeney, who was seated In an
armchair near the fire with comic
newspaper Oh his lap, uttered doleful
snivel. When there was any talking 10
be done, be generally allowed his wife
10 do It, deeming her more proficient in
this AIT than himself. But he could
talk too when occasion required il. Rls-
lng from his seat-a spare lanky man,
with yellOwish-gray hair, a ptnce-nez,
and Shepherds'-plaid trouSers-he put
us back to the CRATE, with his coat-talls
under his arms, and said querulously !:
Grace. | think your behavior heart
less You know what trouble l have
lad to bring uD you children, with my
limited income. One of your sisters is
happily married, but two are still un-
provided for. Then there are your
three brothers Mr.. De Roy has gener-
ously promised to send the eldest to
college, and to give him living by-and-
by; he is going to obtain a post under
government for Frank, and to put Jack
lute 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 | will, L
daresay, lind a refuge in the work
house some day" and Mr.. Sweeney
sniYelled again.
oh papa, have pity on me ~ lmplored
GIace, Il want to act rightly, and
must De guided byyou But you know
lcannot give up seeing my child"
Who wants you to give up seeing
Il Z" exclaimed Mrs. Sweeney shrilly.
Your husband won't keep you like a
Save. You will be- able to go out with
out ms spying on you. Besides, if you
Ike, We can have the child brought
here, and say she is an orphan whom
We have adopted-the child of one Of
your fathers old friends"
Yes, Of one of my old friends, y
echoed Mr.. Sweeney, ratifying the false
mood as SOlemnly as if he were putting
tile seal to a highly meritorious deed.
\ 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
II. Two Years previously, when little
more than child, she had eloped with
an adventurer, who had described him
sell as struggling artist, and touched
her with 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 hav-
ing stolen interviews with him after
her Parents had forbidden her to hold
intercourse with the man. Her fault
mad led TO miserable consequences, and,
Since her return home, she had been
most unhappy in being obliged to tell
uhtruths to all he parents friends
about what she had done during her alb
sence-in being compelled to see heI
ehllG clandestinely, in hearing covert
Leproaches from her family, and SO
forth. There was now a prospect OF
escape from this wearisome life by heI
marriage with Mr.. De Roy, but she re-
Quilted her new lovers affection toe
heartily to bear the idea OF practising
an lmpOsture on HIM. Yet how wa
sue TO act consistently with her duty
towards her parents ? Her mother
WHO had been anXiously watching her
AZ last put this peremptory question
Wen, Grace, what do you decide
our fate is bound up in your answer
Ioi you must know that If you resolve
70 publish your shame. we shall be con