Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-02-05
LOVE OR MONEY!;
BY CHARLES READE.
A PERILOUS SECRET


mean to confide in me sooner or later.
Can you pity the agitation and distress
OF father who for the first time is
compelled to doubt his son honor?"
Il cam said Grace. "Ah. something
has happened since we parted; some
body has told you; that man with GER
tifcate!"
"What, then" said the Colonel, "is it
really true? Did he really show you
that certifcate?"
"He did"
"And warned you not to marry Wal
teri"
"He did, and told me Walter would
be put into prison if l did, and would
die in prison. for a gentleman cannot
live there nowadays. Oh, sir. don't let
anybody know but you and me and
my father. lie won't hurt him for my
sake; he has wronged me cruelty, but
I'll be torn to pieces before I'll own my
marriage, and throw him into dur
geon."
Come to my arms, you pearl of good
ness and nobility and unseltish love-"
cried Colonel Clifford. "How can | ever
part with you now | know you? There,
don't let us despair, let's fight to the
last. | have one question to submit to
you. OF course you examined the GER
tifcate very carefully?"
Il saw enough to break my heart. |
saw that ON a certain day. many years
ago, one Lucy Muller had married Wal
ter Clifford"
And who witnessed the marriage?"
asked the Colonel, eyeing her keenly.
"Oh. | don't know that" said Grace.
when | came to Walter Clifford, every
thing swan before my eyes; it was all
could do TO keep from fainting away. /
tOttered into my fathers study, and, as
i soon as | came to myself, what had to
do? Why, to creep out again with my
broken heart, and face such insults
All! it is a wonder | did not fall dead at
their feet"
my poor girl.' said Colonel Clifford.
Then he reflected a moment. "Have
you the courage to read that document
again, and to observe in particular who
witnessed it?"
Il have" said she.
lie handed it to her. She took it and
held it in both hands, though they trem-
bled.
"Who is the witness?"
THE witness" said Grace, sis Viii
liam Hope"
rs that your father?"
It's my fathers name," said Grace,
beginning to turn her eyes inward and
think very hard.
DuU is IL NOllI ldllltI, uO you
"No, sir, it is not"
"Was he in that part of the world at
the time? Did he know BARLEY? the
clergyman who brought me this certif-
Cate-'
The clergyman"
"Yes, my dear. it was clergyman,
apparently rector, and he told me-a
Are you sure he was a clergyman"
Quite sure; he had a white tie, a
broad-brimmed hat, a clergyman all
over; don't go off ON that. Did your
father and my son know each other in
Hull?"
THAT they did. You are right" said
Grace, "this witness was my father; see
that, now. But if so-Don't speak to
me; don't touch me; let me think-there
Is something hidden here;;" and Mrs.
Walter Clifford showed her father-in-
law that which we have seen in her
more than once, but it was quite new
and surprising to Colonel Clifford.
There she stood, her arms folded, her
eyes turned inward, her very feature,
and even her body, seemed to think
Ihe result came out like lightning from
q cloud. Its all falsehood," said she.
"A falsehoodp said Colonel Clifford.
Yes, a falsehood upon the face of it.
My father witnessed this marriage. and
therefore if the bridegroom had been
our walter he would never have allow
ed our Walter to court me, for he knew
OF our courtShip all along, and never
once disapproved Of it,"
Then do you think it is mistaken"
said the Colonel, eagerly.
No, do not" said Grace. 81 think
it is an imposture, This man was not
clergyman when he brought Inc the
certiiicate; he was a man of business,
ri g
he had a colored necktie, and some rath-
er taWdry chains"
Did he speak ina kind of sing-song?"
Not at all; his voice was clear and
cutting, only he softened it down once
or twice out OF what took for good
feeling at the time. He's an imp0stor
and a villain. Dear sir, don't agitate
poor Walter or my dear father with this
vile thing (she handed him back the GER
tltlcate). 1t has been a knife to both
our hearts; we have suffered together,
you anG !, and let us get to the bottom
Of it together"
eve shall soon do that" said the
Colonel, for he is coming here to-mor-
row again."
'All the better"
with the lady"
"What lady?"'
ter Clifford"
Indeed" said Grace, quite taken
aback. They must be very bold"
oh, for that matter" said the Colo
mel, Il insisted upon it; the man seemed
to know nothing but from mere hear
say. He knew nothing about William
Hope, the witness, so told him he
must bring the woman; and, to be lust
to the man, he seemed to think so too.
and that she ought to do her own bust
ness"
"She will not come" said Grace. rath-
or contemptuously. "He was obliged to
say she would, Just to put face upon
1t. Tomorrow he'll bring an excuse
instead of her. Then have your detec-
tlyes about, for he is villain; and, dear
sir, please receive him in the drawing
room; then | will find some way to get
a sight of him myself"
"lt shall be DONE" said the Colonel.
Il begin. to think with you. At all
events, if the lady does not come, / shall
hope it is all an imposture or a mis-
take"