Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-12-26
An Awful Secret.
BY MRS. Z. H. HoUGH.

BY MRS. Z. H. HOUGH.
You seem very unhappy this morn.
ing, Aurelia I" said Harry Newoome,
addressing his pretty young wife, who,
with pale face and downeast eyes, eat
before her almost untAsted breakfast.
" In fact, you did not look or act like
yourself whom I returned last evening.
Hes anything particularly unpleasant
occurred during ny two days an
"Pleass do not ask mo that question,
Harry 2" responded his wife, bursting
Into tears, and weeping - II her heart
would break.
swell, now, what 10 the matter ?"
exclaimed Harry, with anxious sur.
prise. ST have never before seen In you
any such manifestation ~ this. must
know what hss happened 70
Nothing has happened, HAIRY
agitation, "that / can speak Of with.
out Increasing the tloublel''
IDEALLY, my dear, do not quite
know what to make Of this" said her
husband, perplexed. "Eome trouble,
I am sure, which I could explain and
remove II you would lot mo know what
1t Ia"
az toll you, Harry, I cannot and
must not r. exclaimed Aurelia, with
almost hysserical vehemeuoe. "Some-
thing has happened, Of course; can
not deny that but, with my hand on
she Bible, have solemnly sworn never
to reveal to you the strange and start
ling story that has been told TO me-"
"What--what?" CALCULATED Harry in
angry surprise. Have you been lis
tenipg TO come Internal, malicious
story affecting my welfare and yours.
and have promised to conceal It from
me? This is something very extraordi.
nary, my dear, and more serious than
You srem to suppose! You had no
right to accept any such damaging
statement, unless with the reserved
privilege Of reporting every thing to me.
Yot have evidently been basely impos-
ed upon by come designing person, and
| I cannot and will not permit the matter
10 remfin In this shape. / must know
what you have heard, and from whom
We have been married nov seven
months; everything has passed pleas
antly thus far; bat now, when return
ling from short business tour, I I'm &
you In o state of mind that indicates .
confident belief that I have been say
ling or doing something Of the mos
shocking character. Really, canno
and will not permit the covering MP Of
any thing of this sort. If had murder
cd half dozen persons, would soone'
take the consequences of letting 20,
know all about It than to endure any
concealmept Of this na'ure."
Please do not continue TO tortur
and vex me In this manner |" replied
the young wife, with another and NOR
violent burst OF grief. "Tbe promis.
] have made must DO kept !"
!, Bat do you not know that in com
, mon Justice every person should b
} permitted to defend himself sgstast
damaging charge? ?" demanded Harry
with growing Indignation. " hav
never done anything, either befor
or since our marriage, that coul'
Justify your bsiug made the rScipien
.of any suoa sos3dslous story IS .yo'
must have heard. You must hax
made the promise before you receives
, that disclosure, whatever 1t was
whereas you should have c ,nsented I
,, hear It only on conditi OF bsin
4 Ipsrmitted to repeat everything to me
. and give me an opportunity to confron
the party, IL necessary"
III did not consent to receive tn
1 Inform alton under the seal of cont
i dsnce and secrecy" said Aurelia. sti
: sobbing, "uutil Was assured that
!. revelation of tho N after to you woul'
! ! endauger tn, life OF the party VIII
gave It,"
II What - repeated Harry, uncertai
i at the moment whether TO laugh c
il lswear. " Am I, then, to murder tn
1 fool ?-and you also, perhaps Really
= this is utterly amazing ! give you ia
warning, Aurelia, that 1 will not con
n sent to y continu atiOn Of this ada !
"a Whatever the consequences may be,
b must aud will know exactly what yc
d have heard, and from whom the SOL
has come. ssp obliged TO leave tow
lagain this aftenAoou on business, al
. lshall be absent three, or perhaps 10.
ldays. The best thing you can do In q
, meantime is to see the busybody WI
= has been stuffing you with this myss
. rious Islander, and let that psrson kno
\ that your peace and happiness depel
. upon o full and clear understanding
lreQard to this matter. [ must know
: about 1t. 30 good bye, dear l must
T on the three O'Clock train, and shall
Il. too busy to return to lunoh."
OF A moment later the door closed
hind him, while pretty Mrs Newcou
in o whirlwind of distress, perplexi
D and trepidation, sank back In her cha
sobbipg 20 II her heart would break.
. well: are you ready to give up I
idresdiul sAcf6tp" Was HAIRY ne
"a come's first question on again meeti
Az his wife, You look q little MT
lcheerful," he added, and I Nd
Ihopes that the bugbear OF 4 secret
; about to be exorciseS."
!" Well, yss," said Aurella, seat
herself by the side Of her husband, q
resuuing some Of her old winni
ways. I think am In . fair way
iset the matter properly settled.
have told the whole story, CONFIDENT
Ily, Of course, to our pastor. DIR. BIZ
gett, and he has consented to inqu
Into the matter, and learn the VII
truth, after which he will report to
= u Il