Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-03-13
brotber, uief that che hal lot Lau.

Il Wltulu utI tHf ttuutftrt rttf-athus VI
peace and blis. She stared blankly
at Raymond. Her eyes were upon
him; her spiri, was In other realms,
where golden memories. crystallired
with ideals that must never evolve into
realities. were flying b-for. her vision.
di,sipating before this revelation like
mist On the mountains when the morn
Ing rays break In upon them. She was
thinking. too. Of the truth In the poets
linesi
Az. .ueh |. th. fate % our iife's early promiss.
10 passing the sprins'ids Of JOY 80 have
| kno~n:
Each wave that We danced on at morning ebh'
And Isa,s. a. si eve on ths blssl shore alone.
summoning all her will power 10 her
aid, che concentrated her mind On tha
situation aud It's suggestions. Reason
came back % its throne. and she ssked;
"iIow have you learned this' How
do you know u 10 true, that his name
and mine Is Lclandf'
Raymond was oool and collected. lie
had not made up his mind how he
would breach the subject. He realized
that be had not done 10 delicately. but
be had anticipated the result and was
prepared. II she expected 10 read In
his face anything % that which she had
long dreamed to make cleai-the secret
of her ancesty-sbe was disappointed.
Not tIcmOr of a muscle. His look was
really ON. calculated Ia give ~ conf.
dsnce In the sincerity be- profcssed.
III you do not believe me to be q
friend" be- continued. II will say no
morc about the matter. Let me assure
you thought you would BE- pleased 20
bear new. you must have long yearned
TOT. II was my great soliciiude for
your welfare that caused me 10 speak A.
I have. and that. too. is my apology
Cor being ~ abrupt. Lot mo take you
back"
"stsy q moment. Z" she interposed.
How rightly hal he studied woman's
nature' How often has her curiosity
cost her the most priceless jewels In the
circle Of her womanly treasures! but
In lsabcl's case much might bo pleaded
Ia eItenuatiOn.
"will you tell me alli" she asked,
her arms involuntarily outstr,tched In
abjuration.
Gently he took her hands aui loh
them In his own. lie looked at her
lovingly, for his heart went out o. heI
more than u ever hal % sny other ~
her ser.
Don't think mo hard. he b'scech.
ed. "I'liteli you. but " my story makes
you happy. as know IL will. can noi
hop. for happiness la returnf
Are you sure that that Lau-
Laurence is my brotheri"
AS sure as am that you are Isabel
Leland"
"You could not ask me to answer
now. hav. never imagined this. DO
not pres me. I will certainly b" CRATE
full. Let me not think you anything
but manly. when the recollection of
your kindDe-s will riso b.tIpc me.
This means much % Laurrnco--
Laurence. YOU call him. and my friend
ship warrants mo In using the name, ="
continued Raymond. 'lIe Il under a
cloud. II you were my wife, ! could
appeal In his behalf to those who mean
a. ruin him. ruin him through wrong. !
fe,l. As disiniercsted person, ! could
not stay the storm that lowers above
him. but 90 protect ma and minis from
di.Lor"r ihsse people could b. induced
10 consent 10 rn investigation that
would yindicats Laurrnce. Then, again,
I have long desired 30 lift him 'o TIE
highest place In his profession. IL J.
within my power 10 do So"
"Bat I know nothing % this, or of
what II means. Am | asked to pledge
myself before ther. IL JustifcatiOnl
Will You still torture me with sus-
psnsef'
"No. ! will begin my story. Your
father was George Leland, an hOnor,d
and an honorable man. lie came from
England with your mother, ambition
goading him on. Laurence was the
eldest child. nearly years your senior.
Two other children your parents had.
They are dead. Your father was er.
rattle in his way. For several years be-
lived al Worcester. Mas. When your
brother was . years old, your father bc-
gan 20 travel. searching for specula'
tions. Your brother Laurence was not
very strong. and a. your mother had
hOpe. ~ bringing her husband back 10
Worcester she left the 10y there IN her
sisters care. A. he grew M. the boys
all addressed him as Laurence Mangan.
Mangan was the name ~ your aunt .
husband. He had no children - kis
,wn. and Laurence became his idol. v
"But how u 10 that Laurence does
not know his own surnamei' sho que
ried.
II am coming To that. Your mother
was taken III here, shortly before your
birth. She didn't feel equal To- a jour
ney back io Worcester. having been
worn out with travel through several
states, and at any rate your father took
q liking Co this city. and she was very
cautious In avoiding suggestions that
might again awaken the rowing dispO
sition within him. Your brother was
In hi. aunts care from his third year.
as the hoy was not strong enough 10
stand the travel. Your father was
moving from place 10 place, your
mother always with him. They settled
In this city In 1873, aud u was your
mothers intention a. have Laurence
brought on. when she was stricken
down. Yonr uncle had queer notions Of
your father. lie knew be hal not the
disposition ~ the migratory swallow.
returning 90 the old haunts with the
change of seasons. and that be would
neer revisit Worcester. Mr. Mangdn
had therefore made up his mind that
Laurence would remain with him.
Mangan was not wealthy. but be was
comfortably situated. and he bad no
thought that objections would be made
10 his adoption of the hoy. especially
~ the probability was that your father
would not lie long In wasting his sub
stance In hisspeculations. Mr.. Mangan
never told Laurence of his people. tor
the reason, he said 10 his wife. that II
IL time enough when his folks return,
or until he IL older and capable of sp-
preciating the case Your mother q