The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-01-27
A DARK SECRET.
The Story Of a Tragic
Life Drama.
By E. NJ. DAvY.
CHAPTER vIII-Continued.

Mrs. Hargreave looked more careworr
and aged than ever, and sank back wea
rily in the chair I placed for her. She had
some papers in her hand and held them
out to me. As 7 took them she pointed
to a photograph lying on the top.
Il have just purchased that little es'
tate" she said, and those deeds I give
into your keeping. George took quite
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 nc
time to lose" she continued, feverishlyi
and evidently with great effort: DR.. Gas.
ooigne examined my heart again to-day,
. y The results, I sent for q lawyer
and made my will. Mr.. Dudley, I can not
die and leave George without a protector.
Will you refuse the request I am about
to make to you?"
Certainly not, if I can help it."
Il wish you to marry my stepdaughtel
without delay"
Hooked at her, dumfounded.
Il know what you are thinking about
she went on, breathlessly, but there is
no impeachment that I can see-not one
George loves you, and I belieye-with
Gods blessing-you will make her happy.
She is not about to marry a poor man,
but one who is fairly we'll endowed with
this worlds goods. The estate I have
bought is made over, by deed of gift, to
you-John Dudley. Don't thank me,
pray, DON'T" she cried. What I have
done is not for your sake-I tell you SO
p%lsinly-but for Georgie's. All that ]
have is only mine on trust. You will IN.
derstand this better some day, perhaps.
Will you let your mother-in-law live in
your house-for the short time that re.
Eaips?" she asked, smiling family up al
me.
You ask me this-you-to whom I
owe"
you owe me nothing" she said, stifly;
and for the last time I beg you not to
speak of Indebtedness again. Ask George
to fix the day, and until the marriage it
would be as well for you to continue to
reside here. Afterward, your home is at
Langdale Grange, where q couple Of
rooms set aside for me-"
= But just then my love came in singing
sayylky;s vii, vor marry m.,. wn,s.
pered, taking her hands and looking into
her beaming eyes.
This is Monday. What do you say to
Friday, Jack? Mother is so anxious tc
be rid Of mel"
could scarcely believe my happiness,
and said so.
But mind, it is to be kept a profound
secret. Not a soul to know it until We
come out Of church"
Thank heaven!' I exclaimed, feryent
". NO bridesmaids, no"
mo anything!" she laughed. Il have
stopped all chance Of Edna talking about
our baing 80 much together" she con.
tinued. 'She believes we are cousins. ]
told her So" ,
.You-told-her-so?" I asked, drop
ping her hands and stepping back a pace,
gazing in amazement at her beauti-
full, glowing face. Her eyes sparkled
with mischief as she replied:
Yes. 1t was intensely amusing-in
fact, q glorious bit Of fun. I first told
her you were a relation that day I ap.
pointed the meeting in the fernery; but
when she had seen you kissing me ]
thought I'd get OVERT in this way: Have
you q cousin-a male cousin, Edna?' !
asked. She said she had not. But if
you had and you liked him-just in a
cousinly way, you know-you'd not think
it wrong to let him kiss your I asked.
She acknowledged she would not. We'll,
then,' I said, there's no harm in Jack
Dudley kissing me, as you saw him do
to-day She understood and blushed
scarlet"
But you did not tell her. You only led
her to suppose urged, and waited
with bated breath for her reply.
aHow absurd you are to make SO much
Of such q trife!" she exclaimed, with some
impatience. Il told Edna You are my
cousin. If you think she doubts it, I will
swear you are!" With that she swept
across the room to the piano, and began
singing with exquisite pathos-an evening
hymn! .,s
AS she proceeded, tears trickled, un-
checked, down Mrs. Hargreave's pale
cheeks, and I must never had
heard George sing with deeper feeling.
Nevertheless, it failed to affect me pleas
urably. 1 knew the performance was
perfect in its way, and yet felt as though
had detected discord somewhere,