Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-12-13

: js.~rS servants, d
80 been now some
five weeks at Saltburn, IN a large
house which Mr.. Yane had rented for
the summer 4enry Vane, Esq,
owned a good.sized mansion in Bel
gravla, where he had lived for the
past eight years during the London
season: and an estate near Noting.
ham, amid picturesque scenery, where
he generally resided when not in Lon
don. Each summer, however, he
rented his house at Saltburn: for not
only Emily, but himself, 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 man of
wealth.
His money had been acquired
abroad, and though of his family
nothing or little was known by society,
he was received by some excellent
houses; for even a titled person does
not care lightly to offend one whose
income is e40,0 a year.
Emily Vane saw neither sea nor
hills. Her thoughts were wholly &C.
cupied by two letters in front of her
Both had come that morning, and
both were proposals for her hand
The first OF them was from TIE Earl of
Seacroft, who for some time had been
paying Miss Eahe noticeable attcn-
tions, and who, both as regar ded per-
sonal qualities and position, was in
deed no bad match for any English
maiden. He was yet young and fairly
wealthy, and for some months in
iact, since Emily had ''come out
had been victim to her beauty and
charms. She admitted to herself that
Lord Seacroft's proposal was not one
60 be lightly set aside.
The other letter was from Mr.. HUI
bert Wells. Emily had met him about
six months ago, at country house,
since which time he had been her de-
voted admirer. She frankly con-
fessed to herself that she liked him,
that she liked his society, that she
knew that lie loved her. But Hubert
Wells was not rich, and had no par.
ticular position. He had only about
G400 q year, which his father, long
since dead, had left him to live upon.
Emily Vaue 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 per
sonally. But now it had come-botl
on one morning! The ordeal had tt
be faced; the decision to be made
Her pride, her love for her father, he
wish to raise the name of Vane, sat
"Soacroft;" yet there was a small
voice underneath which Whispers
"Hubert.
In her perplexity she picked up til
letters, and went to see her father i
his study. Emily Vane's mother ha
died at her birth her father was he
closest confdant As Emily entered
he rosed up and kissed her lovingly
then, smoothing her hair, said quietly
(Which OF the two is it to be love
The beautiful girl gazed at him wit
eyes half dimmed with tears, as she al
swered, hlushingly:
(Which ever my papa likes! E
always chooses for the best"
"Well, my dear, suppose I shoul
say Lord Seacroft? l have alwa,
wished such husband for you
titled, yet noble in natures be
ways"
''Yes, papa"
''Yet I like Mr.. Wells"
Emily's heart beat shade quicke
Gle cannot give you what the Earl
Seacroft can, and what I have so oftt
pictured you; and yet-and yet
is his fathers SOM"
The girl gazed, half in fear and q
constituent, for her father was as pa
as death, and shook visibly.
"What is it, papa" she said
''Sit down, my love-" replied N
Vaue. cit has only come, as I fe
certain some day it would. God h
brought it out in His time. / mu
tell you now. Don't be afraid, Emil
It is the secret of my life which T.
hidden for thirty-fve years; now y,
must share it. feel should not
doing right il I let you choose tod
without telling you of it. When "
have heard my story you must choo
for yourself, and be assured yo
choice, whichever it is, will please m
As for what you will hear, it will I
main your secret and mine; I ,,sh
keep it as before, and [ must beg
you to do the same allSyour life. ev
from you husband"
Emily sat in doubt and fear, su
that the kind father who had so Low
her would not tell anything to distrt
her, if he COLD help it; and yet an
ious as to what such an awful secl
could be. The master of Olton sat
chair with his face away from t
light, watching intently that def
sweet face of his daughter, upon viii
the full sunlight shone.
"fhirty-fve years ago cow.
ship was sailing from England +
Botany Bay, under the command of
brave captain and crew. There We
no fewer than forty convicts on boa