The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-22
HER FATHERS SECRET.

Emily Vane sat at the drawing-roon
window which overlooked the sea ant
the Cleveland hills, but she saw neither
sea nor hills. She and her father, with
the servants, had been now some five
weeks at Saltburn, in a large house
which Mr.. Vane had rented for the
summer. Henry Vane, Esq, owned &
good sized mansion in Belgravia, where
he had lived for the past eight years
during the London season; and an es-
tate near Nottingham. amid pictur-
esque scenery, where he generally re-
sided when not in London. Each sum-
mer. however, he rented his house al
Saltburn; for not only Emily, but him
self, too, was charmed with the quiet.
| beautiful Yorkshire watering place
From all of which it will be at once
surmised that Henry Vane, Esq, was
a man of wealth.
His money had been acquired abroad,
and though of his family nothing or
little was known by society, he was
well received by some excellent houses,
for even a titled person does not care
| lightly to offend one whose income is
100000 a year.
Emily Vane saw neither sea nor hills.
Her thoughts were wholly occupied by
two letters in front of her. Both had
come that morning, and both We're pro-
posals for her hand. The first of them
was from the Earl of Seacroft, who for
some time had been paying Miss Vane
noticeable attentions, and who, both as
regarded personal qualities and posi-
ton, was indeed no bad match for any
English maiden. He was yet young
and fairly wealthy, and for some
months, in fact, since Emily had come
out had been a victim to her beauty
and charms She admitted to herself
that Lord Seacroft'S proposal was not
one to be lightly set aside.
The other letter was from Mr.. HUI
bert Wells. Emily had met him about
six months ago at a country house.
since which time he had been her de-
voted admirer. She frankly confessed
to herself that she liked him, that she
liked his society, and that she knew
that he loved her. But Hubert Wells
was not rich and had no particular po-
sition. He had only about f400 a year,
which his father, long since dead. had
left him to live upon.
Emily Vane still sat, looking first at
this proposal, then at that. She had.
for the past week or two, expected
both, and so unsettled and doubtful
was she that she had given neither
sutton any chance of proposing person
ally. But now it had come-both on
one morningl The ordeal had to be
faced; the decision to be made. Her
pride, her love for her father, her wish
to raise the name Of Vane, said: Sea
croft" yet there was a small voice I'M
derneath which whispered: Hubert"
In her perplexity she picked up the
letters and went to see her father in
his study. Emily Vanes mother had
died at her birth; her father was her
closest confidant. AS Emily entered, he
rose up and kissed her lovingly. then
smoothing her hair, said quietly:
(Which of the two is it to be. lover"
The beautiful girl gazed at him with
eyes half dimmed with tears, as she an
swered, blushingly:
"Whichever my papa likes. He al
ways chooses for the best"
''Well, my dear, suppose l should say
Lord Seacroft? 1 have always wished
such a husband for you-titled, yet no
BILE in natures best way
Yes, papa"
yet I like this Mr.. Wells.''
Emily's heart beat a shade quicker.
He cannot give you what the Earl of
Seacroft can, and what 1 have SO often
pictured you; and yet-and yet-he is
his fathers son.
The girl gazed, half in fear and as
constituent, for her father was as pale
as death and shook visibly.
What is it, papa?" she said.
"Sit down, my love-" replied Mr.
vane. 1T has only come, as 1 felt GER
tain some day it would God has
brought it out in his time. 1 must tell
you now. Don't be afraid, Emily. 1t
is the secret of my life, which I have
hidden for thirty-five years; now you
must share it. [ feel I should not be do |
ing right if I let you choose today with
out telling you of it. When you have |