Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-12-26

s. Her Fathers /
81 Secret. 4
lSaE&&G181lsllss>llglg
Emily Vane sat ct the drawing-r0om
window which overlooked the sea and the
Cleveland Hills, but she saw neither sea
nor hills. She and her father, with the
servants, had been now some Ave weeks Of
Saltburn, in large house which Mr.. vane
had rented for the summer. Henry Vano.
Esq, owned gO0dsixod mansion In Bel
gravia, where he had lived for the past
eight years during the London season;
and an estate near Nottingham, amid pic
turesque scenery, where he generally re-
sided when not In London. Each summer,
however. he rented his house ut Saltburn:
for not only Emily, bur himself, too, was
charmed with the quiet, beautiful York
shire watering place. From Ill of which
it will be Ut once surmised that Henry
Vane, Esq, was man OF wealth.
His money had been acquired abroad,
and though of his family nothing or little
was know by society, he was welt received
by some excellent houses; for even titled
person does not care lightly to offend one
whose income is R4O.OOO year.
Emily Vane saw neither sea nor hills.
Her thoughts were wholly occupied by
two letters.in front of her. 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 position,
was indeed no bad match for any English
maiden. He was yet young and fairly
wealthy, and fol- some mOnths-in fact,
| since Emily had ''c0me 0ut"-had been q
victim to her beauty and charms. She
admitted to herself that Lord Seacrott's
proposal was not one to be lightly set
aside.
The other letter was from Hubert w ellis.
Emily had met him about six months ago
at q country house, since which time he
had been her devoted admirer. But
Hubert Wells was not rich and had no
particular position He had only about
E4OO 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 snit0r any chance OF
proposing personally. But now It had
come-both on one morning! 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:
..Seacr0ft;;" yet there was small voice
underneath which whispered: sHubert. y
In her perplexity she picked NJ the let
tiers, and went to see her father In his
study. Emily Vane's mother had died al
her birth; her father was her closest con.
fidant AS Emily entered, he rose up and
kissed her lovingly, then smoothing hel
hair, said, quietly:
(which of the two is 1t to be. loye?"
whichever my papa likes. He always
chooses for the best"
"Well, my dear, suppose should say
Lord SeacroftY / have always wished
such husband for you : titled, ye
noble In natures best way
Eyes, papa"
"Yet l like this Mr.. Wells"
Emily's heart beat . shade quicker.
He cannOt give you what the earl OF
Seacroft can, and what have so often
pictured you; and yet-and yet-he Is hi,
fathers sonw
The girl gazed, half In fear and astonish
ment, for her father was Is pale Is deatt
and shook visibly.
What Is It.. papa?" she said.
''Sit down, my love-" replied Mr.. vane
ut has only come, as fet certain one day
it would. God has brought It out In Hi
time. | must tell you now. Don't bs
afraid, Emily. 1t Is the secret Of my lifs
which I've hidden for IS years; now you
i ~ he I fool chrsvfA sanA ~ Ar,f~.r
right ii / let you choose today without
telling you of 1t. When you have heard
my story, you must choose for yourself,
and be assured your choice, whichever Il
IL, will please me. As for what you will
hear, It will remain your secret and mine;
shall keep Il Is before, sud must beg
Of you to do the same Ill your life, even
from your husband"
Emily sat In doubt and fear, sure that
her kind father who had 80 loved bel
would not tell her anything to distress her,
II he could help It; aud yet anxious q Il
what such an awful secret could be. The
master Of Olton sal Id chair with his face
away from the light, watching intentlJ
that dear, sweet face his daughter, upor
which the tull sunlight shone.
..Thirty-fve years ago . convict shiy
was sailing from England to Botany bay
under the command OF q brave captain and
crew. There was no fewer than 20 con
victs on board desperate fellows of every
description; thieves, highwaymen, man
slayers, all kinds Of Williams. AmOnf
them was one whose case had excitet
much interest at home, since many pe0pl,
believed him innocent ct an,
rate-0f the crime he was said to hay,
committed. Among 4 gang OF poachers
one night he, their superior In rank, hal
had the misfortune to shoot ono Of tn,
keepers who had watched for them IN.
attacked them. The shot had killed tn,
keeper. but there was some doubt as I.
whose gun 1t had come from, and Whel
the convict In question was arrested AMI
charged the keepers swore that b E hal
fired the shot For himself, be knew no
whether this was 50; several of his fellow
poachers said he was innocent, and tina
the real culprit had escaped. His sentence
J however, was that Of penal seryitude I
Botany bay for life probably the do1b
alone saved him from being hanged.
Naturally his spirit wss CALLED; he be
came mor0se, wild severe Ii aspect % Ii
i ~