The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-07-13

L
Cooper. This is my foster mother
My names Lillian Vale"
ON, beg your pardon!' said Mr.
mitchell. But, having seen you OIL
the stage. l could not but notice wha
seemed to he such n very remarkabl,
likeness. hope you will excuse m,
| making such mistake"
| "Oh, you're all right! don't mint
being told I'm good looking. Don
l know 1t myself? Don't YOU suppos,
peep Mt my face in the glass once n
awhile? Well. reckon!"
Undoubtedly you need no one to tel
you of your beauty" said Mr.. Mitchell
observing her fondncss for nattcry.
well. amt very homcly: that's :
fact. But, | say. it's funny YOU knew
ne. I'm made up on the stage. nov
CIR mot YOU before, did II"
Mr.. Mitchell thought this an opnortu
nitS TO play trick upon her as a test
shS assuredly was entirely unsus
rlcious Of his real motives. His words
were:
"Oh, no! Bui I have seen n photo.
graph of you ttat my friend Mr.. Mora
has"
The experiment was devoid of re-
suits, except that 1t seemed to prove
that she did not know the name. This
seemed very probable, because, how.
ever well one may be able to conceal
ones thoughts and feelings, all human
pelngs when taken by surprise must
iack perfect self control. What she
said was:
"AIr. Mora? Who is he? nevcr
heard of him. If he's got my picture,
you can bet your life l never gave il
TO him. He must have bought 1t, the
gilly! But, then, the woods are full of
them"
DID you never hear the name be-
tore? asked Mr.. Mitchell. reluctant to
admit what seemed certain.
Let me see" said the girl tbourht
fully. mora! Seems familiar To-,
Mora! Mora! Where did | hear that
nameF Oh. hully gee! Why, that's
tnc name of the old fellow that was
killed by his son. wasn't it?"
You are right. Some persons still
pelieve that my friend Matthew Mora
Killed his father. But | assure ycu he
Is innocent"
1Wcll. | hope so for your sake
wouldn't be nice to have your friend
sit in the electric chair, would iti
Ugh! Let's change the subject. II
makes me shiver. must be going any.
way"
THAT reminds me that am oyc;
staying my business" said Mr.. Mitch.
ell but If YOU are walking | would be
pleased to accompany you as far as we
go together"
All right. Come along. I'm going
across town. We'll. by-by, mum. Sec
you again on Monday If I'm alive.
Goodby."
She stopped and kissed the old wo.
man. who looked eagerly ut Mr.. Mitch.
el and said:
iii be at the office in the morpin.
It's sure I'll get the money"
absolutely sure, madam. I will see
you tomorrow. Good morning"
Mr.. Mitchell and Lillian Vale walked
2aPe, an oddly assoftsd edubie%fHe
gentleman Of eminent social and intel
lectual worth and she daughter Of
the slums, though n beautiful one. Mr..
Mitchell glanced down at her from time
to time, admiring her face, but busy
also with other thoughts.
When lie had first seen the photo
graph, he had been much surprised at
finding that the face seemed some
how quite familiar to him. He had
pondcrcd over this until at length he
had solved the puzzle. The photo
graph reminded him OF n similar one
in the possession Of his adopted daugh-
ter Rose, the likeness of young wo.
man who had been a school friend
Afterward lie had compared the pho
tographs and was even more astonish-
ed, SO great was the resemblance. Yet
one was an actress In the dives, a slum
product, and the other was the cher
ished idol Of a millionaire and had
been nurtured in the lap of luxury
He was acquainted with this wealthy
young lady, and now that the other
was at his side lie was more than ever
puzzled, for the originals were Us much
alike as the portraits. 1t was no chance
trick Of tie camera.
AS they walked she gabblcd on, eX-
pressing childish thoughts in childish
language. but full Of the slang Of the
quarter in which she had been reared.
Mr.. Mitchell found his problem grow
Ing in mystery. Several questions con-
frcntcd him.
Could this girl be the Mrs. Morton
whom young Mora had been so anx-
ious that Mr.. Barnes should not meet?
Could 1t be that this child was the
mother Of the abandoned baby? Her
environment was such that this at
least was possible. The next logical
query, therefore, was, Who was the
father? Lastly, how account for the
resemblance between the heiress, Per-
dita Maria Van Cortlandt, and the ac-
tress Lillian Vale, ''The Lily of the Val
Ieypp