The Penn's Grove record., 1896-01-03
A FATHERS SECRET.

IT, MILY VANE sat in 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 a large house which Mr.. Vane had
rented for the summer. Henry vane,
Esq, owned a good-sized mansion In
Belgravia, where be had lived for the
past eight years during the London sea.
son, and an estate near Nottingham,
amid picturesque scenery, where he
generally resided when not In London.
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 1t will be at
once surmised that Henry Yane, Esq,
was a man of wealth.
His money had been acquired abroad,
and though of his family nothing or
little was known In society. he was
we'll received by some excellent houses;
for even a titled person does not care
lightly to offend one whose income is
10000.
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
proposals for her hand. The first of
them was from the Earl Of Seacroft
who for some time had been paying
Miss Yane noticeable attentions, and
who, both as regarded personal quail
ties and position, 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 q victim to
her beauty and charms. She admitted
to herself that Lord Seacroft's proposal
was not n 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
10 herself that she liked him, that she
he loved her. But Hubert Wells was
not rich, and had no particular posi-
ton. He had only about f4O0 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 SC unsettled and doubtful
vas she that she had given neither
sutton any chance of proposing person
ally. But now 1t had come--both on
n 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 yane, said "Sea-
croft" yet there was a small voice un-
derneath which whispered, Hubert"
In her p%erplexity she picked up the
letters, and went to see her father i'll
his study. Emily Yane's mother had
died at her birth; her father was her
closest eonfidant. 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
answered, blushingly:
whichever my papa likesl He al
ways chooses for the best"
swell, my dear, suppose l should say
Lord Seacroft? 1 have always wished
such a husband for you-titled, YET
noble in natures best way"
Yes, papa"
"Yet l like this MI. Wells"
Emily's heart beat a shade quicker.
"He cannot give you what the Earl
of Seacroft can, and what I 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 1t, papa?" she said.
"Sit down, my love-" replied Mr..
vane. at has only come. as / felt GER
tain some day 1t would. God has
brought 1t out In his time. i must tell
you now. Don't be afraid. Emily. 1t
Is the secret of my life which I've hid
den for thirty-fve years; now you must
share 1t. / feel l should not be doing
right If l let you choose to-day without
telling you of It. When you have heard
my story you must choose for yourself,
and be assured your choice, whichever
1t is, win please me. AS for what you
will hear, it will remain your secret
and mine; | shall keep it as before. and
] must beg of you to do the same all
your life, even from your husband"
III.
Emily sat in doubt and fear, sure
that the kind father who had 50 loved
her would not tell anything to distress
her, IL he could help 1t; an ct anx-
4o,s n q a., u,hat S,ch an osaa1 oacraf