New-York tribune., 1906-07-22

WISH 10 ieel and do right; but | can't It IS the
1ault OF the iron world
No, don't CRY, sweet" rnurmured Mrs
Mordaunt, kissing her warmly. 1T will come
rlght 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 wavs of
Providence are so inscrutabv hard We must
bear up and wait. and wait, till harsh grief
pass IN time into far music. AS for Mr. van
aupfeldt, there seems no reason whv YOU
should see him, if you do not wish But YOU
haven opened your letter. See if it 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 it
IS a pretty certain thing that her sister Gwen
dOline duly welded wife The proofs of
tins 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. Violet's
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 tremulous bps.
She looked into the dim street through mist
OF tears. For the moment speech was i'm
possible.
minutes Then Mrs. Mordaunt called out
" Vi, dear, come here"
Violet ran from the window with buoy
ancy Of dancing in her gait. Heaven forgive
US, mother, for having wronged Gwendoline
IN thoughts" said she, with her cheek
against her mothers.
Heaven forgive me, ratherl" said Mrs
MOrdaunt. You, dear, have never for a
moment lost faith and hope But still, Vi"
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 name3 OF course, we can
guess from whom it comes; but does not the
fact that he does not sign his name show a
lack OF confidence IN his own statements?"
80 Oh, l think not, cried Violet, flushed with
enthusiasm, if It is from whom YOU think;
but, who, then, do You think sent It
q" 1t can only be from Mr.. van Hupfeldt
child, I take 1T
The girl was seemingly taken aback for an
instant; but her thoughts bubbled forth again
rapidly. Well, his motive for not signing
his name may simply be a very proper reserve
lot Z lack Of confidence IN his statements
Remember dearest, that he IS coming here
to-day with certain purpose with regard TO
me and if he had signed his name, II would
have set up . sort OF claim TO my favor as q
reward for services done. Oh now | come to
think l call this most generous of the man 80
That's splendid that's right said Mrs
Mordaunt. y our instincts always scent out
nobility where any clue TO It be found.
am glad that YOU take It IN that way. But
Young people are enthusiastic and prone TO
lump 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 NAV possibly have come"
At this question Violet stood startled
moment, painting little and somehow there
passed like mist through her consciousness
a. memory, a half-thought, OF David Harcourt.
From whom else could It have come, she
asked her mother breathlesslv.
" The handwriting is not Mr.. van Hupfeldt s, ~
said Mrs Mordaunt. This IS less ornate
hand, YOU notice.
Violet took the note again, and knit her
pretty brOws over It. Ne" she said this
Is a much stronger, cleaner hand. don't
know who else.
Yet If Mr. van Hupfeldt wished TO be
generous in the sense OF which YOU spoke,
said her mother. e. If 1t was his purpose to con
ceal his part IN the matter he would naturally
ask some one else 10 write Tor him And, since
we can imagine no one but him There
that, I think IS his rap at the door Tell me
now, VI, If YOU will see him alone?"
Yes mother, I viii see him"
Bless you for your good and grateful
heart Well then, after little ] will 90 out.