The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-18

several times during tea. but the girls face
betrayed nothing.
Il have had Q telegram from your IN
ther." she said gravely. He will not b
home till TO-"
Porter Bros. were ship brokers and own
ers. When . vessel OF theirs was on the
point Of starting the clerks were often kept
late. Never before had Mr.. linden gone to
the extravaganza of a wire: but to-day
there was something he wished to impress
on his wife. SO he was reckless. Besides
the fact OF his being late. the telegram had
these words: Tell l. everything II still
rsbellious."
Mrs. Linden was . tall. grave-feature
woman. with Q sad face. She was an ex-
cellent wife; no duty Of hers was ever neg
lscted. h made no complaint, but she
seemed somehow to have missed the 10y of
life: It was a. though she had lost the
power Of being glad.
She told the children to take their les
sons to the breakfast-room. and stay there
till bedtime: she wanted to talk to Lettice.
But when the eldest girl had followed her
Into the prim little drawing-room ana shut
the door she seemed 10th to begin. Lettice
looked at the thin. wasted face. and saw
the tears rolling down her mothers cheek.
You mustn't fret. dear" she said fondly:
and. mother. don't try to urge me: mar
rage 10 for life. Even II I have Q bad time
for . year or two. till I earn enough to
me comfortably. II will b better than
being tied for always to Q man I DO not
love"
Mn. Linden sighed.
your father meant every word he said.
II you refuse to marry Mr.. Heath he win
send you away"
Il know; but, mother. I have been think
ing for some time I ought to do something
for myself. I am q, and-I know father
grudges whatever you spend on me. Some
day I should have to earn my own living.
When Treva IL old enough to take my place
In = year or two. father would send me
away; IT'S only going sooner"
But h can you dor
Lattice sighed.
That's the worst Of II. I haven't been
trained to anything. and I an not very
clever: but surely"-and a bright look came
into her eyes-"there must be q niche for
me somewhere I am willing to work my
very hardest. and God will find me q heme.'
Mrs. Linden cried silently for q little
while.
you don't know how hard Il h.. she said
simply. Il earned my living for seven long
years. Lettice. and 1t was weary work"
She did not tell her that she had married
Charles Linden for . home. that she had
given up freedom because the struggle to
earn food for herself and another vas all
too bitter. h had never deceived her hus-
band. He knew from the first what her
feelings were: but It was just because she
herself had married without love. and knew
The misery Of II. she could not persuade her
1ariing to DO the same.
The only thing ie the start" said Lettuce.
TIN AFRAID I could not get q situation At q
moments notice. and-I have no money"
Mrs. Linden looked at her tenderly.
Lettuce. for years I have expected some
hing Of this sort. and I have been saving
for you. There's twenty pounds: II isn't
very much. but IT will keep you some
weeks."
Lettuce felt bswildsred. Even now, IN
heir improved circumstance. q sovereign
was thought . great deal Of money. How
had her mother saved 20? And why had
he been expecting Mr.. Heath to propose
Tor years?
Mrs. Linden went on gravely:
The time has come now for you to know
he truth. dear: I kept 1t from you in kind
hess. but now M husband is turning you
'ut into the world, I must speak-you are
lot his child"
'Not his childr"
VIII It b believed?, The Girls face new
'adiant 1t had hurt her to the quick: her
felt no love for her; but II Mr.. Ian
len did not stand to her in that relation
hip It was easier to bear.
Mot his chfdr' she repeated. "po you
nean you were . widow when you married
linn. and he IL my step-fatherr
NO." said Mrs. Linden very gently.
Bear It bravely, Lettuce. You are not my
laughter. Your mother was my twin Sis
Ter. When she died she put you into my
lfms. md I promised to cherish you a. my
And you have kept your promise" said
<ttice. kissing her. But. oh. not to be
child. to have no mother, II hurts
,ere." And she put her hand to her heart. |
Your mother was the loveliest creature
ever saw" went on Mrs. Linden. You
re pretty, Lettuce. but you'll never equal
A strange thought struck Lettice.
MY father" she said s~imply-"my own
he die. toor'
Mr.. Linden shook her head.
Il eannot fell you"
Lettuce shivered. An awful fpar se,.ed
Ter. but her aunt guessed II, ana went on
Your father was . GENTLEMAN, Lettice. I
vas at his wedding. He was an actor. and
'eionsed to . company tha came to Der. |
orm at the theater near homo one sum. |
nef. He had an accident. and broke his
e. Tn company left him behind. n he |
wanted quiet lodgings. Ny mother was |
live then. ana We had rooms to spare. We
ook Harcouft Bell In to lodge with m. I /
Zee now 1t was foolish, but ss the time !
thought no harm. Six weeks ,atsr he |
vent away. and took my Violet with him |
y his wife.
They went to London. and I didn't hear
much Of them. vi was . bad letter-vrfter. |
mo 1 was % busy nursing my mother I
lAdn't much time for anything else. h |
lied about . year after, and her pension
lied with her; 20 ! vas poorer than I had
been before. Then there came n ts,e- !
ram from Harcourt that his wife wss d.n. |
III.
NY dear. I amt bear to think OF II evso |
low. Ny v~iolet-my own twin sistsr-was
lying. b only lived long enough 10 nut |
'ou Into my arms. Her husband was dread |
ully cut up. I've had hard thoughts Of him |
1nce, but / am eure then hs ~. sorrv |