Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-02-06
HER FATHERS SECRET.

Emily Vane sat at the drawing-room
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 five
weeks at Saltburn,in large house
which Mr.. vane had rented for the sum
mer. Henry yane, Esq, owned a good
sized mansion in Belgravia, where he
had lived for the past eight years dur.
ing the London season; and an estate
near Nottingham, amid picturesque
scenery, where he generally resided
when not in London. Each summer,
however, he rented his house OF Salt
burn; for not only Emily, but himself,
too, was charmed with the quiet, beau
tiful Yorkshire watering place. From
all Of which 1t will be at once surmised
chat 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 well
received by some excellent houses; for
even titled person does not care light
lyto offend one whose income Is { 10000
q 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 were 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 young and
fairly wealthy, and for some months
in fact since Emily had come OUT
had been u 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.. Hubert
Wells. Emily had met him about six
months ago at country house, since
which time he had been her devoted i'd
mrer She frankly confessed to her
self that she liked him. that she liked
his society. and that she knew that he
loved her. But Hubert Wc1s was not
rich and had no particular position. lie
had only about 400 Il year, which his
father long since dead, had left him to
live upon.
Emily Nanc 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 suitor any
chance Of proposing personally But
now 1t 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: "Scacroft;' yet there was
n small voice underneath which whis-
pcred; Hubert"
In her pc pleXity she picked up the
letters, and went TO see her father IN
his study. EMily Nauc's aoihcrhad died
at her birth; her father Was her closest
confdant. AS Emily entered, he rose
/ upand kissed helIovingly, thcnsmooth-
ing her hair, said, quietly:
(Which Of the two is it to be, love"
The beautiful girl gazed ut him with
eyes half dimmed with tears, as she an
swered, blnshingly:
Whichever my papa likes. lie al
ways chooses for the best"
"Well, my dear, suppose should say
Lord Seacroft? have always wished
such a husband for you-titled, yet no
bic in natures best way"
"Yes, papa
"Yct | like this Mr.. Wells"
Esays heart beat shade quicker
"lIe cannot give you what the earl Of
seocroft cnn and what have go often
pictured you; and yet and yet-he is
his fathers som"
The cirl poyed half in fearnnd aston.
ishment for her father was as pale as
denth and shook yisiblv
"Whut is II nnnaq, She said
"sitd down NV love nreulicd Mr. yone
at has ONLY come. as felt certain some
doy II wonld. God has brought II ont
in lIistime must tell YOU now. Don't
be afraid Emily. It is the secretof nv
life which I've hidden for IS years;
now you must share it. feel should
not be doing right il | let you choose
to-day without telling YOU oft. When
YOU have heard nv story, Won must
choose for yourself, and be assured
your choice, whichever it is, will please
me. As for what YOU will hear. it will
remain YOUR secret and mine shall
keep 1t as before, and must beg of YOU
to do the same all your life, even from
your husband"
Emily sat in doubt and fear sure that
her kind father who had so loved her
would not tell her ANYTHING tn distress
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