Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-24

well, then, / bAVo Something 10
tell you, my darling, which will make
you forget all selfish aims, and even
also the wishes of your old playmate.
Come with me TO your own bed cham
Der, where We will be most secure
from all interruption. | will tell you
Of a fatal episode in my own youth,
when | was younger even than you are
now, Oh, that / should have to tell
such a tale to my daughterl But 0dal-
lite, when you have heard it you will
learn just what you have to do in or
der to save US all, aud especially to
save gour noble, generous, honorable
father from ruin and Disgrace. AID
then, Odalite, when you have learned
al, you shall do exactly as you please
Not one word Of coercion, not another
word of persuasion. will | utter. |
will leave our fate in your hands, and
you shall be absolutely free to act
Come with me now"
She took her daughters arm and
they arose from the sofa.
For a moment they stood, quite
accidently, facing a tall mirror between
two windows on the opposite side Of
the room. and that mirror for the mo.
ment reflected two beautiful forms, of
which it would be difficult to decide
which should bear of the palm for
beauty.
The elder lady, Elfrida Force-wife
Of Abel Force. the owner of Mondreer,
one of the inest old places on the
western shore Of Maryland-was a tail,
stately blonde, with a superbly round
ed form, a rich complexion and an
afluence of golden brown hair, rip
ping all over her fine head, and gath
cred into a mass at the nape OF her
graceful neck. She wore an
inexpensive, closely fitting dress
Of dark blue serge, whose
very plainness set off the per-
fiction of her figure and enhanced the
brilliancy Of her complexion, showing
to the best advantage that splendid
beauty. which at the age OF thirty five
had reached its zenith. just now,
however, the vivid brightness of her
bloom had faded to a pale rose tint,
and herlovely, blue eyes seemed heavy
with unshed tears.
Her young daughter, 0dalite,
equally beautiful in her way, was yet
Of an entirely opposite type. She was
Of medium height, and her form,
though well rounded. was slender al
most to fragility. Her head was small,
AMI covered with a fine suit of rip
ping jet black hair, which she wore
carelessly, partly in a black net, partly
escaping down the shoulders. Her
eyes and eyebrows we're black as Jet;
her features were delicate and regu
lar, and her complexion was of a clear
ivory white. She wore a crimson
merino dress, plainly made, closely
fitting, aud relieved only by narrow
white rufies at throat and wrists.
Only for a moment they paused, and
then they walked out ofthe room, and
the pretty picture disappeared.
They went TO Oddities chamber,
where. In privacy, the proud lady
could tell the daughter HER Morn
Frs SECRET-a secret so terrible that
she believed it would compel the poor
girl to give up her young dream of
happiness with her chosen lover.
Leonidas Force, whom she idolized,
and accept a life Of misery as the wife
Of Colonel Angus Angleses, a heart
less adveuturer, whom she loathed.
The above we publish as a specimen
chapter; but the continuation Of this
story will be found only in the N. Y.
Ledger. ASK for the number dated
November 4. which can now be had at
any news office or book store. II you
are not within reach Of a news Office,
you can have the Ledger mailed to
you for one year by sending three
dollars to Robert Bonner, publisher
l82 William street, New York.