The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-03-06
LOVE OR MONEY;
A PERILOUS SECRET.
BY CHARLES READE,
Author of PUT Yourself in His Place."
etc., ETC., etc.

wen, sir, SAID MOnckt0n, Il thought
the matter was at an end, and, having
discharged commission which was
very unpleasant to me, 1 had at all
tempting Mr.. Walter Clifford to his de-
struction and running herself. say, L
thought and hoped so. But it seemed
now that the young lady has defied the
warning, and has married your son aft
er all. Mrs. Walter Clifford has heard
of it in Derby, and she is naturally sur
prised, and am afraid sheis now some
what incensed."
Before we go any further, sir" said
Colonel Clifford, 81 should like to see
the certificate. you say you showed to
Miss Barley"
81 did, sir" said Monckton, "and here
it is-that is to say, an attested copy;
but of course sooner or later you will
examine the original"
Colonel Clifford took the paper with
firm hand, and examined it closely.
Have you any objection to my taking
a copy of this?" said he, keenly.
"Of course not" said Monckton; Gin
deed, i don't see why should not leave
this document with you; it will be in
honorable hands"
The Colonel bowed. Then he examin-
ed the document.
Il
William Hope. May 1 ask if you know
this William HopeT
81 was not present at the wedding,
sir" said MoncktOn, 80 can say moth
ing about the matter from my own
knowledge; but if you please, I will ask
the lady"
"Why didn't she come herself instead
of sending your" asked the Colonel, dis
trustfully.
"That's just what I asked her. And
she said she had not the heart nor the
courage to come herself. L believe she
thought as was clergyman, and not
calm than she could be, and givea little
less pain"
''That's all stuff! If she is afraid to
come herself, she knows it's an abomin-
able falsehood. Bring her here with
whatever evidence she has got that this
Walter Clifford is my son, and then we
will go into this matter seriously"
Monckton was equal to the occasion.
"YOu are quite right, sir" said he.
Sand what business has she to put me
forward as evidence of transaction L
never witnessed? 1 shall tell her you
expect to see her, and that it is her duty
to clear up the affair in person. Sup
pose it should be another Mr.. Walter
Clifford, after all? When shall / bring
her, supposing l have sufficient in
huence?"
Bring her tomorrow, as early as you
can"
swell, you know ladies are not early
risers; will twelve o'clock do?"
twelve O'Clock tomorrow, sir" said
the Colonel.
The sham parson took his leave, and
drove away in well-appointed carriage
in inf fha
er that he had written to Mr.. Middleton
for another G100, not much expecting
to get it, and that it had come down by
return of post in draft on bank in
Derby.
Stout Colonel Clifford was now very
unhappy man. The soul of honor him
self, he could not fully believe that his
own. son had been guilty of perfidy and
crime. But how could he escape doubts,
and very grave doubts too? The COM
municatiOn was made by gentleman
who did not really seem to know more
about it than he had been told, but then
he was clergyman, with no appear
ance of heat or partiality. He had been
easily convinced that the lady herself
ought to have come and said more
about it, and had left an attested copy
of the certificate in his Colonel Cliff
ford's) hands with sort of simplicity
that looked like one gentleman dealing
with another. One thing, however,
puzzled him sore in this certificate-the
witness being William Hope. William
Hope was not very uncommon name,
but still, somehow, that one and the
same document should contain the
names of Walter Clifford and William
Hope, reused suspicion in his mind
that this witness was the William Hope
lying in his own house so weak and i'll
enter upon such terrible discussion as
this. He sent for Mrs. Milton, and ask
ed her if Mrs. Walter Clifford was quite
recovered.
Mrs. Milton reported she was quite
we'll, and reading to her father. The
Colonel went upstairs and beckoned
her out.
"My child" said he, 81 am sorry to re-
new an agitating subject, but you are a
good girl, and brave girl, and you
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 sons honorr
II can," said Grace. "Ah, something
has happened since we parted; some
body has told you; that man with a GER
tificatel"
"What, then" said the Colonel, "is it
really true? Did he really show you
that certificatey
"He did,"
"And warned you not to marry Wal
ter?"
"He did, and told me Walter would
be put into prison if / did, and would
die in prison, for gentleman cannot
live there nowadays. Oh, sir, don't let
anybody know but you and me and
my father. He 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 dun
geon."
"Come to my arms, you pearl of good
ness and nobility and unselfish Lowell"
cried Colonel Clifford. "IIow can ever
part with you now L know your 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
tificate very carefullyT
II saw enough to break my heart. I
saw that on a certain day, many years
aoo one Iucy Muller had married Wal