The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-14

i n
She has got s6cret--o secret that soeighs
On her night and aay.
IA secret that weighs on her night and
day and would ruin her IL found out At
hotels and constantly on the move, Ihave
had no chance Of discovering what 1t is
she has kept so much by herself; but
here In this quiet place she will be OFF
her guard. She shall never stand in my
shoes II | can get chance to GUST her
II would be hard II ten years faithful
service were to be forgotten for this new
fancy. It shall never be-never II can
help It'll o, no, no, no Y
She screwed her thin lips together and
turning toward the servant who came
running briskly from the house, gave her
the necessary orders about the luggage In
. composed manner that showed nothing
Of the jealous wrath she really felt. For
merly she had been undisputed mistress
Of Mr.. Bowyer's house, and, being a con-
nection Of his, had half ignored the fact
that she was his housekeeper as well,
with no other source Of income than the
wages she received.
She had been bar-maid in Montreal,
where Mr. Bowyer's younger brother had
first met her, and, falling desperately in
love with her. married her. He had lived
only few years though long enough to
repent his infatuation-and had left her
30 well provided for that she had had no
difficulty in finding second husband.
From the crowd of needy Adventures
who soon surrounded her she chose an
Italian named Priolo, some years young
er than herself. crafty and INSCRIPTIONS,
scarcely even pretending 70 return the
affection she professed for him. They
were married and month later he alb
seconded. taking with him her whole for
tune, which lie had managed to have
transferred to his own hands, She was
left SO utterly destitute that no course
remained but to write to the brother Of
her first husband and state her case.
He answered by offering her the situa-
tion of honsekeeper, which she gladly ac-
cepted. meaning in time to sink the
mental position in the more honorable
one OF sister-in-law and natural mistress
of his household.
She had been with him nearly nine
years, when, after a severe illness,
through which she had nursed him with
exemplary fortitude and care, Mr.. Bow
yer determined to make his WILL and
summoned q lawyer for that purpose.
During the interview, which Yves a long
one, the housekeeper, unable to control
her curiosity, crept noiselessly upstairs,
and stood for awhile with her ear to the
keyhole. What she heard amply repaid
her for her patience.
To Harriet Priolo. She is my sister,
in-law as well as my housekeeper-the
only connection ! have in the world, % the
old man said and the woman went back
to her room trembling with excitement.
Once more she would possess wealth
and next time would know how to keepit.
After that illness Mr.. Bowyer realized
his fortune with the intention OF return
ing to his native land. Mrs. Priolo
accompanied him to Sydney, their pas
sages being already taken in ship bound
for Marseilles. On the day before they
were to sail the old man vert out on.
business, but he never came back to the
hOVSl. MIS- I6CclNbu u letter
from him the next day, however, saving
that he had been Unexpectedly called
away, and inclosing money for her ex-
penses until he should write to her To
join him. This he did three months
later; but great was the housekeeper's
disgust TO find that she no longer ruled
alone-that a young lady in deep mourn
ing, introduced to her as miss Ellen
Warde-my niece" had been with him
during her absence.
There was some mystery, and it should
be the business Of her lie to find it out.
She remembered well his Words the
only connection l have in the world, -
and now this niece had appeared from
Heaven knew where? In the relation
ship she did not believe one whit and
the girl scarcely attempted to keep up
the fiction, for she seldom called him
.unele, " and then always In an apollo
getic tone which eontradicted the word.
But whatever the link between the
two, it was close one, for the old man
was evidently fond Of her, and she spent
her whole time In striving to afford him
pleasure. Mr.. Bowyer turned to Miss
Ellen for everything, and Mrs. Priolc
was kept more strictly than ever In the
place he had assigned to her.