The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-18


standing before the booth.
II seemed very undignine. TO one 80 proud as Nor
timer Clair to retreat prsciptaely and his check
burned he did so; yet tine agitation, and
even terror, with which Laaretta had appealed to
him. and his amazement at all that he bod heard
forced him to comply with her request.
He whispered to Flaydla 70 remain silent and
bent his to learn more 4 the mystery which had
filed his bosom with minyled emotions Of doubt,
love, faith and anger.
Little more than two years had passed since he
nrst saw Lauretta, and sle was then village
maiden living with one who claimed to be her
aunt lie was then In the country seeking to clear
up dark mystery which had saddened the life OF
ana which had impaired That grave and thoughtful
expression to his handsome face; for Mortimer Clair
could not say and prove that his father had ever
been married to his MOTHER nor that he had ever
seen that father, nor that his father lived.
While seeking Information secretly In the village
In which his mother asserted that she had become
the lawful wife Of gentleman who had suddenly
and mystericusy disappeared few months before
the birth Of Mortimer, he had met and loved Lau-
retta Mansneld who had returned his love and
promised to be his wife on the first Of the next
year.
The supposed aunt OF Lauretta, Dame Martha
Mansfield, though not wealthy, had the reputation
Of never being In want, and owned the little house
life.
Yet the villagers wondered why Dame Mansfield
lived SO much to herself aud was SO jealousy care
ful In keeping Lauretta almost q prisoner. Still,
she failed prevent the ;qaaintance and courtship
Of Mortimer and LaurelLa for from the very begin.
ming, she never suspected that the maiden, led by
the hand Of fate, had one day rambled into the
meadows glad to escape even for an hour from her
lonely home, had met handsome young gentleman,
had conversed with him. dreamed Of him, met him
In secret again and so on uLt,l one day Mortimer
Clair pressed his lips to Laurettas and said:-
ION the first day OF next year win return to Bay
burg and claim your promise to be my wife,
All this was unknown to Dame Mansfield, yet when
in Bay burg to claim his bride.
She was not there nor could the villagers tell him
where to seek her. Dame Mansfield had disappeared
with the maiden as suddenly and mystcriously as
she had arrived in Bay burg ten years before with
tn Mt maiden, then child scarcely six years old.
Heartsore and sad, and with this new mystery
heavy upon his soul aud that other mystery Of his
father still pressing upon his BRAIN Mortimer Clair
an other mystery in the person of little Flaydla,
HON Madame Clair had found lying half frozen
ana senscIess upon ner uoorsteps one colo ana
snowy morning while her son was away.
There was strange and startling likeness to his
los, Lauretta in the features OF the little waif who
could not remember aught OF her past except that
her name was "FIa- anu that she had been wander
ing about London for many months, no doubt with
lin frfa tod nor fha
bruises ana scars upon her tender body proved-and
finally that she nad escaped from the OLD woman and
wandered here anu there until she sank to sleep ex
nausted upon the hard stone steps where the gentle
hear ted Madame Clair had found her.
Her grace and beauty, her helplessness and her
marksble resemblance to 'Lauretta, drew the noble
heart OF Mortimer Clair closely to the friendlcss
chid. ana he named her Flaydila md called her
SISTER
II was wonder, then that he amazed upon
recog nzing Laureta, whom he had given up as false
or lost to him, nor that ne was surprised to ind
N alden SO pure and modest she had appeared
when he sought her love, showiy, scantiy dressed
and selling flowers in market place, mark FOR
tests, insults and the rude badinage Of the vulgar,
the rude stare OF the vicious OF every class.
He had not been long behind the tree when he
heard the accents Of harsh ana angry voice speak
ing 70 Laurctta-a voice which mingled the deep
tones OF mon with the sharper tones Of o woman.
an Il It's owner used each by turns.
how ~ cried this voice. mot sold wreath
since lcf. you Idle hussy. you shall scream for
this to night II something doesn't happen M the
meantime. thought your beauty sucn as it Is,