The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today

happened which was to change the drift of Laura's life somewhat, and

ielded to temptation, when in distress for money wherewith to save his estate; and sold his vote. His crime was discovered, and his fall followed instantly. Nothing could reinstate him in the confidence of the people, his ruin was irretrievable-his disgrace complete. All doors were closed against him, all men avoided him. After years of skulking retirement and dissipation, death had relieved him of

mpered by this, the gossips seemed to gain all the more freedom from it. They supplied all the missing information themselves, they filled up all the blanks. The town soon teemed with histories of Laura's origin and secret his

m-then. Her pride was stung. She was astonished, and at first incredulous. She was about to ask her mother if there was any truth in these reports, but upon second thought held her peace. She soon

papers relating to business matters of no interest to her, but at last she found several bundles of letters. One bundle was marked "private," a

Mr. Hawkins. The substance of them was, that some one in the east had been inquiring of Major Lack

oned; there was a casual reference to "this handsome-featured aristocratic gentleman,"

seemed not altogether on the wrong track; but he also agreed that it would

broke completely down when he saw Laura'

anothe

this thing that I believe that if it proved a false hope, it would kill

r had this pa

ion of the steamer; he could only remember starting up the river with his wife and child, and he had an idea that there was a race, but he was not certain; he could not name the boat he was on; there was a dead blank of a month or more that supplied not an item to his recollection. It was not for me to assist him, of course. But now in his delirium it all comes out: the names of the boats, every incident of the explosion, and likewise the details of his astonishing escape-that is, up to where, just as a yawl-boat was approaching him (he was clinging to the starboard wheel of the burning wreck

he latest date of all,

s at that hotel in New York; I never have seen or heard of him since, up to this day; he could hardly have sailed, for his name does not appear upon the books of any shipping office in New Yo

k-it was not stated which leg was defective. And this indistinct shadow represented her father. She made an exhaustive search for the missing letters, but found none. They had probably been burned; and she doubted not that

t descends finds his progress barred by a bridge-less river whose further shore, if it has one, is lost in the darkness. If she could only have found these letters a month sooner! That wa

e had more than her rightful share of practical good sense, but still she was human; and to be human is to have one's little modicum of romance secreted away in one's composition. One never ceases to make a hero of

uliarly susceptible at this time to romantic impressions. She was a heroine, now, with a mysterious father somewhere. She could not really tell whether she wanted to find him and spoil it all or no

ak to Mrs. Hawkins. And naturally enough Mrs.

lly; and she cried and said that now that troubles had begun they would never end; her daughter's love would wean itself away from her and her heart would break.

I am your mother!-I have loved you so long, and there is no other. I am y

appeal. Laura put her arms ab

lways been; and neither this foolish talk nor any other thing sh

own stairs and sat by the fire and talked long and earnestly about Laura's history and the letters. But it transpired that Mrs. Hawkins had never known of this corresp

d subdued; but that was not matter for remark, for she did not differ from the mournful friends about her in that respect. Clay and Washington were the same loving and ad

ge gossips could have quieted down. But they could not quiet down and they did not. Day after day they called at the house, ostensibly upon visits of condolence, and they pumped

the Duchess was respectably born, why didn't they come out and prove it?-why did th

would be canvassed in her mind, and then she would drift into a course of thinking. As her thoughts ran on, the indignant tears would spring to her eyes, an

alk-I will not stoop to be affected by it. I could hate--. Nonsense-n

s thinking of only one. And her heart warmed somewhat, too, the while. One day a fri

don't go there any

wasn't, either; it's only on account of this talk, talk, talk. I think she is a fine girl every way, and so would you if you knew her as we

aura made upon thi

amilies of the village. He is prosperous, too, I hear; has been a doctor a year, now, and has had two patients-no, three, I think; yes, it was three. I attended their funerals. Well, other people have hoped and been disap

he lover's defection and had found herself dealing with a heart that could not rise

gone, Laura stamped her

oble, and stand up for me against all the world, and defy my enemies, and wither these g

o thought. Pre

comes, and I get a

that was strong enough, pe

glad of it. I never cared

she cried a little, and patted h