Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22


right We must repress all feelings of rebellion
and rancor and pray often and IN the end
your good heart will find its way back to its
natural sweetness and peace. | myself too
frequently give way, I'm afraid; the ways #
Providence are SO nscrutably hard. We must
bear up, and wait and wait, till harsh greet
pass in time into far music. As for Mr.. van
Hupfeldt, there seems no reason why you
should see him, if you do not wish. But you
haven't opened your letter. See If 1t IS from
Rigsworth, dear.
Violet now rose from her mothers side, and
tore open the letter She did not know the
handwriting, and as her eyes fell on the words
she started. They were these, A well-wisher
of Miss Mordaunt desires to assure her that 1t
is pretty certain thing that her sister Gwen
doline was duly welded wife. The proofs OF
this statement may sooner or later be forth
coming"
Mrs Mordaunt's observant glance, noting
the changes of color and expression going on
in her daughters face, saw that the news was
really as Mrs. Harrod had dreamed. Violets
eyes were raised in silent thanksgiving, and,
without saying anything, she dropped the note
on her mothers lap Going to one of the win
dows, she stood there with trenulous lips.
She looked into the dim street through a mist
of tears. For the moment speech was inn
possible.
There was silence in the room for some
minutes. Then Mrs. Mordaunt called out
vi, dear, come herei"
Violet ran from the window with a buoy
ancy of dancing in her gait. Heaven forgive
u.s. mother for having wronged Gwendollne
in our thoughtsl' said she, with her cheek
against her mothers.
Heaven forgive me, rather!" said Mrs.
Mordaunt. You, dear have never for
moment lost faith and hope. But still, Vi"
"We1l?"
Let me warn you dear, against too much
confidence in this note. The disappointment
may be all the more terrible. Why could not
the sender sign his name? Of course, we can
guess from whom it comes; but does not the
fact that he does not sign his name show
lack of confidence in his own statements
"Oh, | think not cried Violet, flushed with
enthusiasm 4" if it is from whom you think;
but, who, then, do you think sent it ?"
1t can only be from Mr.. van Huptedt,
child, take it.
The girl was seemingly taken aback for an
instant; but her thoughts dubbed forth again
rapidly. well, his motive for not signing
his name may simply be a very proper reserve,
not a lack of confidence in his statements.
Remember, dearest, that he is coming here
to-day with a certain purpose with regard to
me, and if he had signed his name, it would
have set up a sort of claim to my favor as
reward for services done. Oh, now | come to
think, l call this most generous of the mani"
That's splendid, that's right, said Mrs.
Mordaunt. Your instincts always scent out
nobility where any clue to it can be found L
am glad that you take it in that way. But
young people enthusiastic and prone to
Jump to conclusions. As we grow older we
acquire certain habit of second thoughts.
In this instance, no doubt, you are right; he
could have had no other motive, unless
suppose that there is no one else from whom
the note may possibly have GOMEZ?
At this question Violet stood startled a
moment, painting little, and somehow there
passed like a mist through her consciousness
a1memory, half-thought, of David Harcourt.
From whom else could it have conner she
asked her mother breathessly.
The handwriting is not Mr.. van Hupfeldts,
said Mrs. Mordaunt. This is a less ornate
hand you notice"
Violet took the note again, and knit her
pretty brows over it. No. she said, this
is a much stronger, cleaner hand. l don't
know who else
yet, if Mr.. van Hupfedt wished to be
generous in the sense of which you spoke"
said her mother, g if it was his purpose to con-
ceal his part in the matter, he would naturally
ask some one else to write for him. And, since
we can imagine no but him There!
that, l think, is his rap at the door. Tell me
now, vi, if you will see him alonel"
Yes, mother, l will see him"
BLESS you for your good and grateful
hearth Well, then, after a little l will go out
But oh, pray, do nothing precipitate in an
impulse of joy and mere gratitude, child If
l am bereft of my two children, | am bereft
indeedl Do find happiness, my darlingl That
first and above all -