The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-02-15
A DARK SECRET.
The Story Of a Tragic
Life Drama.
BY E. NJ. DAVY.
CHAPTER vIII-COntinued

Mrs. Harereaye looked more careworn
and aged than ever, and sank back wea-
rily in the chair placed for her. She had
some papers in her hand and held them
ont to me. As took them she pointed
to photograph lying on the top.
i have just pure based that little es-
tate" she said. and those deeds l give
into your keeping. George took quite a
fancy TO the place The owner is obliged
to live abroad The house is furnished
servants engaged. We move to Lang
dale Grange tomorrow. There is no
time to lose she continued, feverishly;
and evidently with great effort: DR.. Gas
coigne examined my heart again to-day.
The result is | sent for lawyer
and made my will. Mr.. Dudley, l can not
die and leave George without protector.
VIII you refuse the request | am about
to make TO you!'
Certainly not, if l can help it.
L wish you to marry my stepdaughter
without delay.
looked at her, dumfounded.
L know what you are thinking about, }"
she went on, breathlessly, but there Is
no impediment that l can see-not one.
George loves you, and l believe-with
God blessing you will make her happy
She is not about TO marry poor man,
but one who is fairly well endowed with
this worlds goods. The estate | have
bought is made over, by deed of gift, to
you-John Dudley. Don't thank me,
pray, don't" she cried. What have
done is not for your sake-Itell You so
plainly-but for Georges. All that L
have is only mine on trust lou will I'M
derstand this better some day, perhaps.
Will you let your mother in law live in
your house-for the short time that re-
mains?" she asked, smiling family up at
me.
You ask me this-you whom l
You owe me nothing" she said, stiffly:
and for the last time | beg you not to
speak of Indebtedness again. Ask George
to fix the day, and until the marriage it
would be as we'll for you to continue to
reside here. Afterward, Your home is at
Langdale Grange, where a couple of
rooms set aside for me"
But just then my love came in singing
gayly.
when will you marry me?" | whis-
pered, taking her hands and looking into
her beamng eyes.
This is Monday. What do you say to
Friday. Jack? Mother is so anxious to
he rid of mel
| could scarcely believe my happiness,
and said So
But mind, it is TO be kept profound
secret. Not soul to know it until we
come out of church.
Thank heaven," exclaimed, fervent-
". No bridesmaids, no"
No anything" she laughed. Il have
stopped all chance of Edna talking about
our being so much together, she con-
tinued. She believes We are cousins. l
told her So"
ping her hands and stepping back pace,
gazing IN amazement at her beauti-
ful, glowing face. Her eyes sparkled
with mischief she replied:
Yes. 1t was intensely amusing-in
fact, glorious bit of fun. l first told
her You We're a relation that day | APP
pointed the meeting in the fernery; but
when she had seen YOU kissing me |
thought I'd get over it i'll this way Have
you a cousin-a male cousin, Edna |
asked. She said she had not But if
You had and You liked him-just in a
couslnly way, YOU know-you d not think
it wrong to let him kiss you? [ asked
She acknowledged she would not Well,
then, | said, there's no harm in Jack
Dudley Hi ng me- as you saw him do
to-day. She understood and flushed
scarlet.
But you lid not tell her. You only led
her to supp ose- | urged, and waited
with hated breath for her reply.
"How aesurd You are to make so much
of such :. III life she exclaimed. with some
Impotence. Il told Edna You are nv
cousin. If you think she doubts it. Will
swear You are With that she swept
across the room to the piano, and began
singing With exquisite pathos an evening
hymn
As she proceeded, tears tsickled, I'M
checked, down Mrs. Hargreave's pale
checks, aud l must own never had |
heard Georgia sing with deeper feeling
Nevertheless, 1t failed TO affect me pleas
urably. | knew the performance WIS
perfect IN its way, and yet felt as though
| had detected discord somewhere