Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12
LOVE o. MONEY;
OR,
A PERILOUS SECRET.
By CHARLES READE,
Author of PUT Yourself in His Plaza, .
etc., etc, etc.

L see, SIT, Sa1G he, the witness is
William, Hope: May | ask if you know
this William Hope?"
Il was not present at the wedding.
sir" said Monckton. so I can savnotR--
ing about the matter from my own
knowledge; but if you please, viii ask
the lady,"
why didn't she come herself instead
OF sending your" asked the Colonel, dis
trustfully.
THAT'S just what | asked her. And
she said she had not the heart nor the
courage to come herself. | believe she
thought as | was clergyman. and not
directly interested. | might be more
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 so into this matter seriously"
Monckton was equal to the occasion.
You are quite right, sir" said he.
"And what business has she to put me
forward as evidence of a transaction /
never witnessed? l 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 | have sufficient in
fuence?"
Bring her tomorrow, as early as you
can"
well, 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 a Well-appOinted carriage
and pair. For we must inform the read-
er that he had written to Mr.. Middleton
for another e100, not much expecting
to get it, and that it had come down by
return Of post liz draft on bank in
Derby.
Stout Colonel Clifford was now very
unhappy man. The soul of honor him
self, lie could not 1ully 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. lie had been
easily convinced that the lady herself
ought to have come and said more
of the certificate in his Colonel Cliff
ford's) hands with a 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 a suspicion in his mind
that this witness was the William Hope
lying in his own house so weak and i'll
that he did not like to 90 to him, and
enter upon such terrible discussion as
this. He sent for Mrs. Milton, and ask
ed her ii Mrs. Walter Clifford was quite
recovered.
Mrs. Milton reported she was quite
well, and reading TO her father. The
Colonel went upstairs and beckOned
her out.
"My child" said he, q am sorry to re-
new an agitating subject, but you are a
good girl, and brave girl, and you
mean to contide III me sooner or later.
Can you pity the agitation and distress
OF father who for the first time is
compelled to doubt his sons honor?"
L can" said Grace. "Ah, something
has happened since we parted; some
body has told you; that man with a GER
tificate"
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
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. 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 dun
geon."
Come to my arms, you pearl of good
ness and nobility and unSelfish Lowell"
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
tlticate very carefully"
Il saw enough to break my heart. I
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, cycling her keenly.
"Oh, l 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 I
tottered into my fathers study, and, as
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 l did not fall dead at
their feet"
My poor grill" said Colonel Clifford.
Then he reflected moment. "Have
you the courage to read that document
again, and to observe in particular who
witnessed it,"
Il have" said she.
He 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, ''is Will
liam Hope"
rs that your father?"
Its my fathers name," said Grace,
beginning to turn her eyes inward and
think very hard.
But is it your father, do you think?"
''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 certifi-
cate"
1.-The clergyman"
es, my dear. it was a clergyman.
apparently a rector, and he told me-"
Are you sure he was clergyman?"
quite sure; he had a white tie,
broad-brimmed hat, clergyman all
over; don't go off on that. Did your
father and my son know each other in
Hull?"
aThat they did. You are right" said
Grace, this witness was my father; see