Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-05
LOVE OR MONEY;
OR,
A PERILOUS SECRET.
By CHARLES REIDE,
Author of 'Put Yourself In His Place.
etc., ETC., etc

very careful, and. above all, not irritate
nor even excite him.
All this time tOrmentS of another
kind had been 0verpOWered but never
suppressed in poor Grace's mind; and
these now became greater as Walter S
danger grew less and less.
What would be the end of all this?
Here she was installed, to her amaze
ment, in Clifford Hall. as Walters wife.
and treated all of sudden. with mark
ed affection and respect by Colonel Cliff
ford, who had hitherto seemed to abhor
her. But it was all an illusion; the
whole house of cards must come tumb-
ling down some day.
Some days before the event last de-
scribed, Hope had said to her.
My child, this is no place for you
and me-"
NO more it is, papa" said Grace. Il
know that too we'll"
Then why did you let them bring us
here?"
Papa" said Grace, "I forgotall about
that"
Forgot it,"
ut seems incredible, does it not? But
what | saw and felt thrust what / had
only heard out of my mind. Oh. papal
you were insensible, poor dear; but if
you had only seen Walter Clifford when
he saved uSl | took him for some giant
miner. He seemed ever SO much big
ger than the gentleman | lOved-ay and
| shall love himtO my dying day, wheth-
er or not he has-But when he sprang
to my side, and took me with his bare
bleeding arms to his heart, that painted
so. | thought his heart would burst and
mine too, could | feel another woman
HOT ,,r 1,,L - l. l.,
but it was unreal. That he loved me,
and had saved me. that was real. And
when we sat together in the carriage.
your poor bleeding head upon my
bosom, and his hand graSping mine.
and his sweet eyes beaming with love
and joy, what could realize except my
fathers danger and my husband S nigh
ty love? | was all present anxiety and
present bliss. His sin and my alarms
seemed hundreds of miles off; and
doubtful. And even since / have been
here, see how greater and nearer things
have overpOWered me. Your deadly
WeakneSs-yOu, who were strong, poor
dear-Oh, let me kiss you, dear darling
till you had saved your child: Walter S
terrible danger. Oh. my dear father.
spare me. How can poor weak wo-
man think of such different woes, and
realize and suffer them all at once?
Spare me, dear father, spare mel Let
me see yOustronger; let me see him safe;
and then let us think of that other cruel
thing, and what we ought to say to
Colonel Clifford, and what we ought to
do, and where we are to 60"
My poor child" said Hope, family,
with tears in his eyes, at say no more.
Take your own time"
Grace did not abuse this respite. So
soon as the doctor declared Walter out
of immediate danger, and indeed safe,
if cautiously treated, she returned of
her own accord to the miserable subject
that had been thrust aside.
After some discussion, they both
agreed that they must now cOnfide their
grief to Colonel Clifford, and must quit
his home, and make him master of the
situation, and sole depository of the ter
rible secret for time.
Hope wished to make the revelation.
and spare his daughter that pain. She
assented readily and thankfully.
This was WOman'S first impulSe-to
put man forward.
But by-and-by she had one of her fits
of hard thinking, and saw that such a
revelation ought not to be made by one
straightforward man to another, but
with all WOman's soothing ways. Be
sides, she had already discovered that
the Colonel had great esteem and
growing affection for her; and, in short,
she felt that if the blow could be soft
ened by anybody, it was by her.
Her father objected that she would
encounter terrible trial, from which
he could save her; but she entreated
him, and he yielded to her entreaty,
though against his Judgment.
When this was settled. nothing re-
manned but to execute it.
Then the woman came uppermost,
and Grace procraStinated for one insult
ticient reason and another.
However, at last she resolved that
the very next day she would ask John
Baker to get her private interview
with Colonel Clifford in his study.
This resolution had not been long
formed when that very John Baker tap
ped at Mr.. Hopes door, and brought
her note from Colonel Clifford asking
her if she could favor him with a visit
in his study.
Grace said, "Yes, Mr.. Baker, I will
come directly"
As soon as Baker was gone she began
to bemoan her weak procraStinatiOn.
and begged her fathers pardon for her
presumption in taking the matter out
of his hands. you would not have put
it off day. Now. see what | have done
by my cowardice."
Hope did not see what she had done,
and the quickwitted young lady, jump
ing at once at conclusion, opened her
eyes and said:
why, don't you see? Some other
person has told him what it was so i'm
no Chn11lI hnor E,.S+
Ali it is the same gentleman that came
and warned me. He has heard that we
are actually married, for it is the talk
of the place, and he told me she would
punish him if he neglected her warning.
Oh, what shall dO?"
You go too fast, Grace, dear. Don't
run before trouble like that. Come, go
to Colonel Clifford, and you will find it
is nothing of the kind"
Grace shook her head grandly. Ex-
perience had given her faith in her own
Instincts, as people call them-though
they are subtle reaSoningS the steps of
which are not put forward-and she
went down to the study.
Grace. my dear" said the Colonel, 81
think / shall have fit of the govt"
"Oh no." said Grace. "We have troub-
lie enough"
ut gets less every day. my dear;
that is one comfort. But what
meant was that our poor invalids eclipse
me entirely in your good graces. That
is because you are d true woman, and
an honor to your sex. But | should
like to see a little more of you. Well,
all in good time. [ didn't send for you
to tell YOU that. Sit down. my girl; it
is matter of business"
Grace sat down, keenly on her guard,
though she did not show it in the least.
Colonel Clifford resumed:
You may be sure that nothing has
been near my heart for some time but
your danger and my dear sons. Still, /
L, - n+h 4