Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-21


''Notheri oh, mother, 1t win break my heartl"
walled Ojalite, sinking at the lady's feet, and
Dropping her head into her hands, face downward
TO the carpet
The lady gently raised her child, took her In her
arIEsan1 tenderly caressed her, nu:muring softly:
No. my own hearts never break, or one hearth
know. must have broken long ago Besides" she
added, IN flTmer tOne--'H0hOT must be saved,
though hearts be sacrificed"
"'HOnCr, mother, dear? do not understand
DO not see what honor has to do with it. Or II 1t
has, should think that honor wouli be better
saved by my Keeping faith with LIE than by break
Ing with him. on. motheri mother! 1t Will kill
me-" mOaned Odalite.
"My child, my dear girl hear me! listen to
reason Leonidas Force has no claim to be re-
membered by you You have never been engaged
to him. You were but little girl OF thirteen when
he went TO SEA on his first voyage, three years ago.
and yOu have not seen him since. What possible
Claim can he have upon you, since no betrothal
exists between your. gently questioned the lady,
bosom
ION, mother" replied the girl, with a heavy
slgh, II know that there was no form al betroih ii
between LIE and Observation-Disclosures all knew
you ana father and lie and I-dH knew--and al
and would dl,cays b long to each other all our
nves; LIE and never thought OF anv other fate"
Idie, childish fancies, my poor little girl! too
Trivial 10 cause you these tears. Wipe them away,
and look clearly at the higher destiny more worthy
or your birth and beauty" murmured the lady,
pressing her ripe, red lips upon the pale brow of
ooh, mother. do not ,cant a higher desttnyl
90 not want any destiny apart from LIE. And these
are not childish fanceS, and not trivial to me! Oh,
think, mother, LIE and were playmates as TAR
BACK in my life as 1 can remember. We loved
each other better than we loved any one else In the
whole world. You and father USED to laugh at Us
and pretend to be jealous; but we S0lc that you
were pleased all the time: ioF you both intended
Us Tor each other and We knew il, too, for father
used to say when he saw how inseparabe we two
Were: so much the better; hope their hearts
Will not be eStranged when they grow up,' AMI
our hearts have neUer become estrangei from eacA
otherir
"Oh, yes, dearest, know that there was some
speculative talk when you were children OF uniting
you and Leonidas, so that the name of Force might
pot ole out from Mondreer. But never really ap-
proved or marrying cousins. Ojalite, merely to
Keep the family name on the family estateu
- But, mother, darling, LIE ana / never thought
ol the family name and estate; we only Thought of
One another. And, besides, We are such very. very
distant consistently fourth or fifth, think-that
that objection could never be raised. ON lmotheri
] can mott / can notI Oh, inGeed, cannot i"
sne cried, burying her face in the lady'5 bosom
Elfrida Force caressed her daughter in silence
Presently Odalte lifted her head and pleaded:
"Ie Is coming home so soon now. and full OF
hope. He expects TO be here by Christmas; and
be expects-oh, yes, know by his last letter that
be expects tO-tO-to-" The girls eyes fell under
The compassionate yet scrUtn ling gaze OF her
mother, and her voice faltered into silence.
10 marry you early In the new year, suppose
you mean, dear"
'Yes, mother"
"No, mother, dear. he did not say So in so many
words. but from the whole tone OF his letter he
evidently i I meant So Father thought he did, and
even tried to teaze Inc about the New Years we'd
olng-asking me how many hundreds / should
iced 10 buy my wedding clothes"
"What was IL he said in his letter that leads you
20 suppose he has any such expectations? con-
Tess that saw nothing Of such an intention when
j read the letter.
SONY this, mother, but It was very significant
ne Wrote that now he had inherited GreenbUshes
and all his Aunt Laura's money, he was rich
enough to resign from the navy, and he need not
30 TO sea any more, nor ever part with me again;
out that he could stay home IeD1ir and refurDiSh
she mouse improve the land, and farm 1t on all tn
new principles, and make the place paradise for
Fixed factSo
"ie was very presumptuous my dear little girl.
Ior there is nothing certain in this world OF
enangeS." gravely commented the lady,
But Les heart has not changed nor has mine.'
My poor darling" said El;rida Force, smooth
Ing her daughters dark hair with a gentle band
"my precious child! 1t grieves me to do So but l
must prepare you lor what seems Inevitable You
must forget all this youthful folly, and think OF
Leondas Force only as cousin. You do not
really love him as a betrothed maiden should love
her an need husband You only fancy that you
DO In reality you know nothing of such love as
That lie was brought up In the house with you.
each other-the higher; deepNr, stronger love
which unteS the husband and the wife in true
marriage-Such a love L could wish might
crown my darlings lie with lasting joy-such
love you might ind IN a union with Angus An
glesea, II you would but give him the opportunity
Of winning your heart"
"Madaml" exclaimed the girl, starting to her
feet, and gathering her black brOws over black
eyes that blaZed with Indignation 81 hate
Colonel AngleSea / hate him and fear him.
And / would rather die this day and never behol
Anglesea,"
Uu;tutel Odalite. my child! You are talking
TO your mother. Come to my heart again, and
Calm your excitement" said the lady, holding out
her arms
And the young girl fell wee ping upon the bosom
The lady allowed some time to pass, in which
the girls paroxySn OF tears exhausted ITSELF and
then caressing her gently. she began, In a sooth-
"Ay precious child, do you doubt your mothers
'Oh. no, no, no. How could you ask such a
question OF your own child, mother" earnestly
"DO you doubt that duty is to be held above all
other considerations"
mo! Oh. nor
SWELL, then, have something to tell you, my
darling, which Will make you forget all selfish
aims, and even also the wishes OF your old pIay-
mate. Come with me 10 your own bed-chamber
where We shall be most secure from all Interrupt
ton VIII tell you OF fatal episode in my own
YOUTH when / was younger even than you are
now: on, that shou d have to tell such tale to
you VIII learn just what you have to do In
order to save Us all, and especially to save
ruin ana disgrace. And then, Oialite, When You
nave learned oil, you shall do exactly as you
please. Not one word OF coercion, net another
worn o. persuasion, will utter. 1 Will leave our
iate IN your hands. and you shall be absolutely
Tree TO act Come with me now"
A. sue TOOK her daughters arm and they arose from
the sofa.
For moment they stood, quit, accidentally.
facing tall mirror between two windows on the
opposite SIDE OF the room, and that mirror for the
moment rejected two beautiful FORMS OF which IN
would De diiflcut 10 decide which should bear Off
the palm for beauty. VA
The elder lady, Elfrida Force-wife OF Abe,
Force, the owner or MOndreer, one of the finest
Ole places on the western shore OF Maryland-Was
tall, stately blonde, with a superbly rounded
form, rich complexion and an aff1uence of golden
brown hair, nppling all over her fine head and
gathered INFO mass at the nape OF her graceful
neck She wore an inexpensive. closely fitting
dress or dark blue SERGE whose very plainneSs set
on the perfection OF her figure and enhanced the
brilliancy OF her complexion, showing to the best
advantage that splendid beauty which at the age
OF thirty-1ve had reached its zenith. just now
however, the vivid brightness OF her bloom had
faded 70 pale rose tint and her lovely blue eyes
seemed heavy With unShed tears
Her young daughter. Odalite, equally beautiful
IN her way, was yet OF an entirely opposite type.
Sne was OF medium height, and her form, though
Wen rounded, was slender almost to fraglity. Her
head was small and covered with fine suit OF
rpptlng Jet black hair, which she wore careleSsly
Gartly IN a OIack net partly escaping down the
shoulders Her eyes and eyebrows were black as
Jet; her features were delicate and regular and
her complexion was OF a clear ivory white. She
wore crimson Inerino dress, plainly made closely
ana relieved only ny "a