National Republican., 1882-10-23
HER MOTHERS SECRET.
NY MRS. sOUTuwOHTB,
AUTHOR OF THE HIDDEN HAND THE
uNLOVED WIFE," ETC, ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER l.
THE MISTRESS OF MoNDREER.

There is awound within her-'tisa wound
WAT, unnt le5 t1o deep Tor teats anu many my Mnue'
within her heart OF heart knel doth sound.
ISAAC WILLIAMS.
"Mothcrl Oh, motheri II will break my heart!
walled odnlite, sinking at the lady's feet, and
dropping her head into her hands, face downward
to the carpet.
arms, and tenderly caressed her, murmurng
softly:
know. mi must have broken ions ago. besides, She,
added, in firmer tone-'Iionor must be saved,
though hearts be sacrificed"
"' Honor mother. dear2 do not understand.
do not see what honor has TO do with II. Or, II
1t has should think that honor would be better
saved by my keeping faith with Le than by break; M
ing with him Oh, motherl mother uwill Kill
me r. moaned odalite.
MY child, ny dear girl, hear me listen TO
membered by you; You lave never been engased
to him. You were but little girl of thirteen when
he went to sea on his first voyage, three years ago
claim can he have upon you, since no betroihal
exists between you 2" gently questioned the lady,
lenderly running her iair fingers through the dark
tresses of the young head that leaned upon her
bosom.
:. Oh, mother" replied the girl. with heavy
sigh. ~ know that there was no formal betro,hal
between lie and myself-but-but-we all knew.
you aud father aud lie and I-qu knew and always
knew that we two belonged to each II, other ,snS and
lie and never thought Of any other fate"
idle childish ia9ees my poST little ths girl; too
aud look clearly at the higheIdestiuy more worthy
of your birth and beauty" murmured the lady,
pressing her ripe, red lips upon the pale brow OF
"oh, mober, do not rdnt higher destiny !
/ do not want amp. destiny apart from Ie. And
these are not childish taneies aud not trivial to
mel oh, think, mother lie and were playmates
Ms far back in my lite us i can remember. We
loved each other better tiun we loved any one lse
I'm the whole world. You and father used to laugh
at us and pretend to be Jealous; but we sd,g that
you. were pleased oil tie time; for you both in-
!ended us ior each other ana we knew II, 100, iHr
we two were: So much the better; l hope their
hearts will not be estranged when they grow up
And our hearts have nerer become es'rahged from
each otherl"
"oh, ye. dearest, know that there was some
speculative talk when you were children Of unit
lug you aud Leonidas that the nnme of Force
might not die out from Mondreer. But never
really approved of marrying cousins, Odalite,
merely, 10 keep the family name on the family
"But, mother darling, Lc and never thought
of the family name ana estate; we only thought
of one another. And, besides, we are such very,
very distant cousins-Only fourth or tifth, think
that that objection could never be raised. On,
mother dear mother! do not c9mpel% M % me 70 break i
not! !" she cried, burying her face in the lady's
bosom.
Eiirida Force caresscd her daughter in silence.
Presently Odalile lifted her head and pleaded
"He is coming home SO soon now, and so full OF
| hope He expects TO be here By ChristnNs; and
he expeots-oh, yes, know by his last letter that
he expects tc--to-io-" The girls eyes fell nu-
der the compassionate yet scrutinizng gaze Of her
snd Her T%lGe e5ed IN ere iHsU
you mean, dear dear,
| NO mother, dear he did not say SO. in SO
many words. but from The whole tone OF ms letter
he evidently meant So Father thought ,bs he Sd SiS
dFeSs ], should need to buy my wedding
"What was 1t he said in his letter that leads
you TO suppose he has any such expectations
confess that saw nothing OF such an intention
''Only this, mother, but 1t was very significant.
He wrote that now he had Inherited Greenoushes
| aud all his Aunt Lauras money, he was rich
enough to resign from the Navy, and he need not
| go TO sea any more, nor ever part with me again
but that he could stay home, repair and re.
furnish the house, improve the land, and farm IT
ON all the new principles, and make the place a
paradise for us 10 live in. He wrote, mother, dear
| Ms Of certain fixed facts"
girl for there is nothing certain in this world OF
| changes" gravely commented the lady;
| But Les heatt has not changed, nor has mine.
"My poor darling" said Eifrida Force, smooth
ing her daughters dark hair with Il gentle hand
my precious child 1t grieves me to do SO, but
I i must prepare you for what seems inevitable
You must forget all this youthful folly, and think
of Leonidas Force only as cousin. You do not
really love him be,hrothed maiden should
love i rer tfianced husband. You only fancy that
| you do In reality you know nothing of such a
love as that. lie was brought up In the house with
/
You therefore love each other as brother and sis
ter. By and by You both may discover-but not
| for each olher-the higher, deeper, stronger love
which unites the husband and the wife in II true
marriage-such love as could wish might crown
my darling,s liie with lasting joynsneh love as
you would but give him the opportunity OF Win
| ming your heart"
| feet and gathering her black bIows over black
| eyes that blazed with indignation, hate Col
onel Angleseal hate him and fear him And
IL, and NnlI hu
face Of lie again, than listen to Colonel An
glesea !" w., .,,,,,,
to your mother. Come to my heart again. and
calm your excitement" said the lady, holding out
| her arms.
The lady allowed some time to pass in which
the girls paroxysm of tears exhaus ed itself, and
then caressing her gently, she began In sooth'
aMy precious child, do you doubt your mothers
"Oh, no, no, mol How could you ask such
question Of your own child, mother" earnestly
protested odalite.
"Do you doubt that duty is 10 be held above oil
other Considerations?
| "No! Oh, nor
"Weil then, have something to tell you, my
| darling, which will make you forget all selfish
aims and even also the wishes of your old play
mate. Come with me to your own bed chamber
where we shall be most secure from all Interrupt
ton will tell you of fatal episode in my owl
youth, when was younger even than you are
now. on, that should have to tell such tale tC
my daughter But, 0dalite, when you have heard
it you will learn just what you have to doin ordel
to save us ALL and especially 10 save your noble
generous, honorable father from ruin and dis.
grace. And then, Odalite, when you have learned
all, you shall do exactly as you please. Not one
word of cion, not another word of persuasion
will utter | Will leave our fate i'll 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 accidentally
facing II tall mirror between two windows on tht
opposite side of the room, and that mirror for tht
moment reflected two beautiful forms, OF which Il
would be diilicult TO decide which should bear OF
| the palm for beauty.
The elder lady, Elfrida Force-wife of Abe
| Force, the owner OF Mondreer, one of the hnes
old places Oh the western shoIe of MAryland--was
u tall stately blonde, with asuperbly rounded
form, q rich complexion, and an atlluence oil
golden brown hair, ripping all over her fine head
and gathered into mass at the nape of her grace
full neck. She wore an inexpensive, closely lifting
dress of dark blue serge, whose very plainnesS sci
off the perfection of her figure and enhanced the
brilliancy of her complexion, showing to the bes
advantage that splendid beauty, which at the age
of thirty-tive had reached its zenith. Just now
however, the VIVID brightness of her bloom had
faded to pale rose tint and her lovely blue eyes
scemed heavy with unshed lears
Her young daughter, Odalite, 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 almost to fragility. lel
head was small, and covered with fine suit OF
ripplingjet black hair, which she wore carslessly
partly In Il black net, partly escaping down the
shoulder. Her eyes and eyebrows were black a.
jet; her features were delicate and regulari and
her complexion was of n clear ivory white. She
wore q crimson merino dress, plainly made closely
| fitting, and relieved only by narrow white rutles
at throat and wrists.
Only ior moment they paused, and then, they
H. .a..N .aE Nl.R .EatN V.tnN NNRg