Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net HER MOTHER'S SECRET A Novel By MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH Author Of "A Leap in the Dark," "A Beautiful Fiend," "Fair Play," "Em," "Em's Husband," "David Lindsay," Etc. A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers--New York ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POPULAR BOOKS By MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH In Handsome Cloth Binding Price----60 Cents per Volume Beautiful Fiend, A. Ishmael. Brandon Coyle's Wife. Leap in the Dark, A. Bride's Fate, The. Lilith. Bride's Ordeal, The. Love's Bitterest Cup. Capitola's Peril. Lost Lady of Lone, The. Changed Brides, The. Mysterious Marriage, The. Cruel As the Grave. Nearest and Dearest. David Lindsay. Self-raised. "Em." Skeleton in the Closet, A. Em's Husband. Struggle of a Soul, The. Fair Play. Test of Love, The. For Whose Sake. Tortured Heart, A. For Woman's Love. Trail of the Serpent, The. Gloria. Tried for Her Life. Her Love Or Her Life. Unloved Wife, The. Hidden Hand, The. Unrequitted Love, An. Her Mother's Secret. Victor's Triumph. How He Won Her. When Shadows Die. For Sale by all Booksellers or will be sent postpaid on receipt of price A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 52 Duane Street----New York Copyright, 1882 and 1889 By ROBERT BONNER Renewal granted to Mrs. Charlotte Southworth Lawrence 1910 Her Mother's Secret ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HER MOTHER'S SECRET CHAPTER I THE MISTRESS OF MONDREER "Mother! Oh, mother! it will break my heart!" wailed Odalite, sinking at the lady's feet, and dropping her head into her hands, face downward to the carpet. The lady gently raised her child, took her in her arms and tenderly caressed her, murmuring, softly: "No, my own! hearts never break, or one heart, I know, must have broken long ago. Besides," she added, in a firmer tone, "honor must be saved, though hearts be sacrificed." "'Honor,' mother dear? I do not understand. I do not see what honor has to do with it. Or if it has, I should think that honor would be better saved by my keeping faith with Le than by breaking with him! Oh, mother! mother! it will kill me!" moaned Odalite. "My child, my dear girl, hear me! Listen to reason! Leonidas Force has no claim to be remembered by you. You have never been engaged to him. You were but a little girl of thirteen when he went to sea on his first voyage, three years ago, and you have not seen him since. What possible claim can he have upon you, since no betrothal exists between you?" gently questioned the lady, tenderly running her fair fingers through the dark tresses of the young head that leaned upon her bosom.