“It was late when I got home, and the lady with whom I lived sent for me in great haste.  Guests had unexpectedly come from a distance, dinner must be served, and the butler had been called away inopportunely to one of his children, who had been terribly scalded.  Could I oblige her by consenting to serve the visitors at table?  She was a good mistress to me, and of course I did not hesitate.  One of the guests was a nephew of the host, and recently returned from Europe, as I learned from the conversation.  When the desert was being set upon the table, he said:  ’No, I rather liked him; none are perfect, and he has sowed his wild oats, and settled down.  Marriage is a strong social anchor, and his bride is a very heavy-looking woman, though enormously rich, I hear.  It is said that his father manoeuvred the match, for Cuthbert liked being fancy free.’

“The name startled me, and the master of the house asked, ’Of whom are you speaking?’ ’Cuthbert Laurance and his recent marriage with Abbie Ames the banker’s daughter.  My mistress pulled my dress and directed me to bring a bottle of champagne from the side table.  I stood like a stone, and she repeated the command.  As I lifted the wine and started back, the stranger added:  ’Here is an account of the wedding; quite a brilliant affair, and as I witnessed the nuptials I can testify the description is not exaggerated.  They were married in Paris, and General Laurance presented the bride with a beautiful set of diamonds.’  The bottle fell with a crash, and in the confusion I tottered toward the butler’s pantry and sank down insensible.

“Oh, the awful, intolerable agony that has been my portion ever since!  Do you wonder that Laurance is a synonym for all that is cruel, wicked?  Is it strange that at times I loath the sight of your face, which mocks me with the assurance that you are his as well as mine?  Oh, most unfortunate child! cursed with the fatal beauty of him who wrecked your mother’s life, and denies you even his infamous name!”

She sprang up, broke away from her daughter’s arms, and resumed her walk.

“After that day I was a different woman, hard, bitter, relentless, desperate.  In the room of hope reigned hate, and I dedicated the future to revenge.  I had heard Mr. Palma’s name mentioned as the most promising lawyer at the bar, and though he was a young man then, he inspired all who knew him with confidence and respect.  Withholding only my husband’s name, I gave him my history, and sought legal advice.  A suit would result in the foul and fatal aspersion, which Peleg was waiting to pour like an inky stream upon my character, and we ascertained that he was in the pay of the Laurances, and would testify according to their wishes and purposes.  There was no proof of my marriage, unless Mr. Hargrove had preserved the license, the record of which had been destroyed by the burning of the court-house.  Where were the witnesses?  Grandmother was dead, and it was rumoured Mr. Audre had perished in a fishing excursion off the Labrador coast.