Front matter
Reading edition
BY
MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS.
AUTHOR of "BERTHA'S ENGAGEMENT," "FASHION AND FAMINE," "MABEL'S MISTAKE," "THE OLD COUNTESS," "RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY," "THE REIGNING BELLE," "LORD HOPE'S CHOICE," "MARRIED IN HASTE," "THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS," "WIVES AND WIDOWS; OR, THE BROKEN LIFE," "MARY DERWENT," "THE OLD HOMESTEAD," "A NOBLE WOMAN," "THE CURSE OF GOLD," "THE GOLD BRICK," "DOUBLY FALSE," "PALACES AND PRISONS," "THE HEIRESS," "SILENT STRUGGLES," "REJECTED WIFE," "BELLEHOOD AND BONDAGE," "WIFE'S SECRET."
Why did he love her? Ask the passing breeze Why it has left the lilies in their bloom— The great white blossoms of magnolia trees, And jasmine flowers, that kindle up the gloom Of Southern woods, where the vast live oak grows, And mocking birds sing love notes to the rose. Ask why it turned from these and lowly flew To kiss the purple violets in their dew. Yes, ask the breezes;—love is like to them In the free poising of his restless wing. Sometimes he searches for a priceless gem, But often takes a pebble from the spring. To his veiled eyes the humble pebble shines Bright as a jewel from Golconda's mines. Expect no answer why love chooses so— His reasons are as vague as winds that blow.
PHILADELPHIA; T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS; 306 CHESTNUT STREET.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS.
Each work is complete in one volume, 12mo.
NORSTON'S REST. BERTHA'S ENGAGEMENT. BELLEHOOD AND BONDAGE; or, Bought With A Price. LORD HOPE'S CHOICE; or, More Secrets Than One. THE OLD COUNTESS. Sequel to Lord Hope's Choice. A NOBLE WOMAN; or, A Gulf Between Them. PALACES AND PRISONS; or, The Prisoner of the Bastile. WIVES AND WIDOWS; or, The Broken Life. RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY; or, Married By Mistake. FASHION AND FAMINE. THE CURSE OF GOLD; or, The Bound Girl and Wife's Trials. MABEL'S MISTAKE; or, The Lost Jewels. SILENT STRUGGLES; or, Barbara Stafford. THE WIFE'S SECRET; or, Gillian. THE HEIRESS; or, The Gipsy's Legacy. THE REJECTED WIFE; or, The Ruling Passion. THE OLD HOMESTEAD; or, The Pet From the Poor House. DOUBLY FALSE; or, Alike and Not Alike. THE REIGNING BELLE. MARRIED IN HASTE. THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS. MARY DERWENT. THE GOLD BRICK.
Price of each, $1.75 in Cloth; or $1.50 in Paper Cover.
Above books are for sale by all Booksellers. Copies of any one or all of the above books, will be sent to any one, to any place, postage pre-paid, on receipt of their price by the Publishers,
T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS,
306 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
TO MRS. GEN. WILLIAM LESLIE CAZNEAU, OF KEITH HALL, JAMAICA, W. I. ONE OF THE OLDEST AND DEAREST FRIENDS THAT I HAVE, THIS BOOK IS MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
ANN S. STEPHENS.
New York, May 31, 1877.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I.GATHERING OF THE HUNT25
II.THE HILL-SIDE HOUSE31
III.WAITING AND WATCHING42
IV.THE SON'S RETURN49
V.CONFESSING HIS LOVE56
VI.CONFESSIONS OF LOVE60
VII.JUDITH65
VIII.WAITING FOR HIM71
IX.THE NEXT NEIGHBOR75
X.JEALOUS PASSIONS83
XI.PROTEST AND APPEAL92
XII.THE HEART STRUGGLE96
XIII.ONE RASH STEP102
XIV.ON THE WAY HOME107
XV.THE LADY ROSE111
XVI.ALONE IN THE COTTAGE116
XVII.A STORMY ENCOUNTER120
XVIII.AN ENCOUNTER128
XIX.FATHER AND DAUGHTER132
XX.THE TWO THAT LOVED HIM141
XXI.BOTH HUSBAND AND FATHER146
XXII.WAS IT LIFE OR DEATH?151
XXIII.BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH157
XXIV.A FATHER'S MISGIVING164
XXV.THE BIRD AND THE SERPENT170
XXVI.TRUE AS STEEL175
XXVII.A CRUEL DESERTION180
XXVIII.THE WIFE'S VISIT186
XXIX.BY MY MOTHER IN HEAVEN193
XXX.THE BARMAID OF THE TWO RAVENS198
XXXI.THE OLD LAKE HOUSE207
XXXII.THE NEW LEASE215
XXXIII.SHARPER THAN A SERPENT'S TOOTH220
XXXIV.THE SICK MAN WRITES A LETTER228
XXXV.WITH THE HOUSEKEEPER232
XXXVI.UNDER THE IVY237
XXXVII.A STORM AT THE TWO RAVENS243
XXXVIII.A PRESENT FROM THE FAIR246
XXXIX.A WILD-FLOWER OFFERING251
XL.SEEKING A PLACE257
XLI.THE FATHER'S SICK-ROOM264
XLII.PROFFERED SERVICES269
XLIII.THE LOST LETTER274
XLIV.THE HOUSEKEEPER'S VISIT277
XLV.EXCELLENT ADVICE286
XLVI.THE SERPENT IN HER PATH291
XLVII.NIGHT ON THE BALCONY298
XLVIII.WATCHING HER RIVAL301
XLIX.BROODING THOUGHTS309
L.YOUNG HURST AND LADY ROSE312
LI.THE GODMOTHER'S MISTAKE318
LII.SITTING AT THE WINDOW323
LIII.DEATH329
LIV.THE GARDENER'S FUNERAL336
LV.SEARCHING A HOUSE339
LVI.A MOTHER'S HOPEFULNESS343
LVII.WAITING AT THE LAKE HOUSE347
LVIII.SIR NOEL'S VISITOR353
LIX.PLEADING FOR DELAY358
LX.LOVE AND HATE364
LXI.HUNTED DOWN367
LXII.STORMS AND LADY ROSE372
LXIII.THE PRICE OF A LIFE377
LXIV.JUDITH'S RETURN382
LXV.ON THE PRECIPICE387
LXVI.SIR NOEL AND RUTH392
LXVII.SHOWING THE WAY398
LXVIII.FORSAKING HER HOME404
LXIX.THE SOUL'S DANGER408
LXX.ON THE TRAIN411
LXXI.THE SPIDER'S WEB416
LXXII.THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE425
LXXIII.SEARCHING THE LAKE HOUSE429
LXXIV.COMING HOME437
NORSTON'S REST.