The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-06-02
CHAPTER xxx.
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.
Seven years freighted with the joys
and sorrows that fall to the common
lot of humanity passed away and
few changes were witnessed in the
restful and dreamy old town of Tai
lahassee. Representatives had as
sembled in the legislative halls, new
laws had been enacted and new bills
had been introduced for the benefit
and improvement of the common
wealth.
Socially and externally the town
remained the same, rich in its sun
shine and its shadows; it's perfume
and flowers; its wild bird songs and
its spirit of quiet refinement.
Beaumont remained closed and de-
serted. The grounds which once
were the pride of the town, and sur
rounding country, for their beauty
and the perfect order in which they
were kept, were now tangled mass
of wild vines and briar bushes. The
fences in many places swayed and
tottered, and needed only a slight
wind to level them to the ground.
Weird stories were told about lights
seen on dark nights flashing between
the closed blinds of the mansion, and
of ghostly shapes which fitted about
the grounds when the moon was at
its height.
Not word had been heard of the
master of the place or of his family
since they had taken their uncere-
monious and sudden flight on that
midsummer night, seven years ago.
What the calamity had been that
drove those people into exile Enone
knew, and no one prentened a con-
lecture.
The contents of the letter written
to Miss Bennett by the mis-
tress of Beaumont few days after
the latter's flight, remained a secret,
shared only by Mr.. and Mrs. Whit
ham and Mother Laurence, and the
money left with Mrs. Cameron to
pay Miss Benefits salary remained
untouched in the bank where Mrs.
Cameron had deposited it to the
credit of Miss Bennett. No DOUBT
had the contents of the letter written
to Miss Bennett by Mrs. Murriatte
in which the cruel charges of the
former were made, become publicly
known many a grave suspicion would
have sprung into existence against
the popular and beautiful Mrs. Whit
ham, whose life as a Christian; a
wife and wise mother; true friend
to the afflicted; kind neighbor; and
a hospitable hostess, none dared to
gainsay.
Two children fair and lovely as
their mother blessed the home of
young Journalist who seemed to be
the especial favorite of fortune.
Imogen, they called the eldest
girl, for Governor Murriatte's daugh-
ter, and as the girl grew in years and
beauty, the resemblance between the
little girl and the sweet girl for
whom she was named was so remark
able that the likeness was remarked
upon by all who had known Imogen
Mu-riatte when she had been the
fairest flower that ornamented Beau
mont.
About twenty miles west of ST.
Louis on one of the most fertile farms
for which that section is renowned
is nestled a two-story frame house
In large grove of natural forest
trees. The house stands back from
the road a considerable distance and
a glimpse of its white walls and
green blinds can be caught from the
road through the thick boughs of
trees surrounding it and reaching
down to the wide gate which opens
to the road. If stranger in this
section, struck by the picturesque ap-