Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-02-13 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

FATAL SECRET.  By the author of "My Elopement." "We are Ten," " A Night with a Baby," "Men'a Wrongs," &o.  once  lore.  Jessie was there before him, waiting with clasped hands and painfully bright eager eyes for his coming.  But he did not look at her, this man for whom she had laid so heavy a burden upon her soul. She had pictured him hastening to her side with outstretched arms; she had felt his lips upon her cheeks in blissful reunion. But instead of that there came towards her a pale, brilliant-eyed woman, with a baby in her arms. "Paul, Paul," whispered poor Jessie, in deep thrilling tones, but he still held aloof, whilst the woman and her child came nearer to the agitated girl. "Whoever you are, Jessie Alloway, God in heaven bless you," said the woman, dropping upon her knees, and kissing Jessie's dress passionately. The girl looked down at the kneeling form, then she looked towards him who was to be her husband —who had promised her with solemn promises that he would not let her name be a jest and a by-word amongst the stern " no-meroyites " of Mahon. The dim outline of a horrible truth broke upon her. She bent and touched the woman fiercely upon the shoulder. "Who are you, and whose is this?" she said, pointing to the child, and pressing her hands afterwards tightly upon her heart. The woman at Jessie Alloway's feet was too agitated herself to notice the frightful excitement the girl who had saved her husband, not only from the effects of the murder but from all suspicion of  it, was labouring under, and she heard nOthing in the agonised tones sounding in her ear to excite her wonder.  "But the sharp, almost painful, hold Jessie retained upon her shoulder caused her to look up, and she sprang to her feet with a shuddering cry. A something unutterably dreadful-seeming appeared in the blue eyes searching her own. " Whose is this 2" repeated Jessie, in hard; sharp tones.  "His." The girl's'agony of expression at that moment is perfectly indescribable. She shook off the woman's hand which still touched her with a fierce gesture; and then she walked quickly towards where Paul Calvert was standing, with a look upon his handsome face indicative only of his curiosity as to what the two women would say to each other. "Who is that woman, Paul Calvert 7" But Paul Calvert's wife was by his side by a swift movement.  "I am his wife, Jessie Alloway," she said proudly, "and God bless you." "What, then, am I P"—the words from a wail rose into a shrill shriek from Jessie's pale lips. "What, then, am I P Oh, God, is it but for this reward that I have—"  Paul Calvert put his hand upon her lips. "Hush, Jessie," he said, "be calm—  "Be calin ! Be calm !" shrieked Jessie. "Listen to him—" Then she fell upon her knees as Kate Calvert had done. She seized her lover's hand isa her burning pthns, and pressed hot passionate kisses upon it, unworthy as it was. "Oh, Paul," she said, "my love, my love, you are trying me; but it is too cruel, too cruel—l have suffered ao much. Oh, Paul, you hav'nt kissed me, and I'te dared so much for you—"  "Poor thing ! who is she, Paul ?" said Paul's wife, whpse unbounded faith, born of her love— truly nothing else—in her husband forbade her seeing the real state of affairs.  Jessie heard the low whisper of Kate to her husband; it recalled her wandering senses.  "Who am IF" she repeated bitterly. "I will tell you who I am. My name is Jessie Alloway. I am a by-word and a reproach, a thing of soorn—a mother and no wife. Go home with your innocend husband, Mrs. Calvert. But remember, always remember. Jessie Alloway will have venireatua.  LITERATI7BE  Of course, atter such a distinct alibi as this evidence for the prisoner was, he oould not be otherwise than segue' Id, for it stood perfectly