Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-23
ALEXANDRIA, VA, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER % 1880

itself, and then caressing her gently, she be-
gan, i'll q soothing tone:
My precious child, do you doubt your
mothers love or truth?n
"Oh, no, no, no! How could you ask such
question of your own child, mother 81
earnestly protested Odalite.
DO you doubt that duty is to be held
above all other considerations ns?n
NO! Oh, no!'
We'll, then, have something to tell YOU.
my darling, which will make YOU forget ali
selfish aims, and even also the wishes ofyour
old playmate. Come with me to Your own
bed-chamber, where we shall be most secure
from all interruption. I will tell you of
fatal episode in my own youth, when I was
younger even than you are now. Oh. that |
should have to tell such Il tale to my daugh-
ter! But, Odalite, when you have heard it
you Will learn just what you have to do in
order to save us all. and especially to save
your noble, generous. honorable father from
ruin and disgrace. And then. Odalite, when
you have learned al, you shall do exac actly 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 moment they stood, quite accident
ally, facing tall mirror between two win
doWs on the opposite side of the room, and
that mirror for the moment reflected two
beautiful forms, of which it would be difficult
TO decide which should bear off the palm for
beauty.
The elder lady, Elfrida .Force-wife of
Abel Force, the owner Of Mondreer, one of
the finest old places on the western shore of
Maryland-was tall, stately blonde with
a superbly rounded form, a rich complexion,
and an aiiluence of golden brown hair, rip
pling all over her fine head, and gathered
into mass at the nape Of her graceful neck
She Wore an inexpensive, closely fitting
dress of dark blue serge, whose very plan
ness set off the perfection of her figure and
enhanced the brilliancy of her complexion,
showing to the best advantage that splendid
beauty, which ut the age Of thirty-iive had
reached its zenith. Just now, however, the
vivid brightness Of her bloom had faded to Il
pale rose tint, and her lovely blue eyes
seemed heavy with unshctl tears.
Her young daughter, Odalite, equally
beautiful i'll her way, was yet ofan entirely
opposite type She was Of medium height.
and her form, though well rounded. was
AN'NtSt ''iAiS''e W jiil W tlS
small, and covered with Il fine suit ofrip-
pling jet black hair, which she wore care
lessly, partly in II black net, partly escaping
down the shoulders. Her eyes and eve
brows were black rs yet; her features were
delicate and regular; and her complexion
was of Il clear ivory white. She wore q
crimson merino dress. plainly made, closely
fitting, and relieved only by narrow white
rutlleS at throat and wrists
Only for a moment they paused, and then
they walked out Of the room, and the pretty |
picture disappeared.
They went TO Odaiites chamber, where, |
in privacy, the pruud lady could tell the
daughter HER MOTHERS SECRET secret |
so terrible that she believed it would COM
pei the poor girl to give up her young
dream of happiness with her chosen lover, |
Leonidas Force, whom she idolized, and ac-
cept Il life of misery as the wife of Colonel |
Angus AnSlesea, q heartlcss adventurer, |
whom she loathcd. The above we publish !
rs 4 specimen chapter; but the continue ton |
of this story will be found only in the n. |
y. Ledger Ask for the number dated |
November t, which can now be had at any |
news office or bookstore. If you are not |
within reach of news Office, you can have
the Ledger mailed to you for one year by |
sending three dollars TO Robert Bonner,
publisher 1872 William street, New York
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