Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-01-11
Her Fathers Secret.


Emily Nane 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 mt Salt
burn, in large house which Mr..
Vane had rented for the summer.
Henri Nane, Esq, owned a good sized
mansion in Belgravia, where he had
lived for the past eight years during
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 at Salt
burn for not only Emily, but him
self, too, was charmed with the quiet,
beautiful Yorkshire watering place.
From all of which it will he at once
surmsed 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 socie-
ty, he was well received by some ex-
cellent houses for even a titled per-
son does not care lightly to offend one
whose income is $4,000 "A year.
! Emily Vane saw neither sea nor
hills. Her thoughts were wholly oc-
cul led 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 the earl OF
Seacrott, who for some time had been
paying Miss Vane noticeable atten-
tions, and who, both as regarded per-
sonal qualities and position, was in
dee,l 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 Seacroit's proposal was not one
to be lightly -el aside.
The other letter was from Mr..
Hubert Wells. Emily had met him
about six months ago nj a country
house, since which time he had been
her devoted 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 position. He had only
s400 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 aud doubtful
was she that she had given neither
suitor any chance of proposing per-
sonally. 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 Nane, said (:
'Seacrott = yet there was small
voice underneath which whispered /:
Hubert"
In her perplexity she picked up the
letters, and went to see her father in
his study. Emily Vane's mother had
died at her berth 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,
love 2"
The beautiful girl gazed at him
with eyes half dimmed with tears, as
she answered, blushingly:
/
"Whichever my papa likes. He
always chooses for the hest
We'll, my, dear, suppose | should
say Lord Seacroft? | have always
wished such a husband for you-ti-
tied, yet noble in natures best way"
"Ies, papa"
Yet | like this Mr.. Wells"
Emily's heart beat shade quicker
"He cannot give you what the earl
of Seacroit can, and what | have 50
often pictured you; and yet-and yet
he is his fathers son y
The girl gazed, half in fear and as
tonishment. for her father was as pale
as death, and shook visibly.
What is it, papa q she said
"Sit down, my love-" replied Mr..
Vane. 1T has only come, as felt
certain some day it would. God has
brought it out in His time. | must
tell you now Don't he afraid, Emily
1t is the secret of my life which I've