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Title: My Mother's Rival
Everyday Life Library No. 4

Author: Charlotte M. Braeme

Release Date: February 26, 2005 [EBook #15181]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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EVERYDAY LIFE LIBRARY No. 4
Published by EVERYDAY LIFE, Chicago

[Illustration]

MY MOTHER'S RIVAL

By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME

<i>Author of "Dora Thorne," "The Belle of Lynn," "The Mystery of Colde
Fell," "Madolin's Lover," "Coralie," Etc., Etc.</i>

CHAPTER I.

I have often wondered if the world ever thinks of what becomes of the
children of great criminals who expiate their crime on the scaffold. Are
they taken away and brought up somewhere in ignorance of who or what
they are? Does some kind relative step forward always bring them up
under another name?

There is great criminal trial, and we hear that the man condemned to
death leaves two daughters and a son--what becomes of them can any one
living say? Who meets them in after life? Has any young man ever been
pointed out to you as the son of Mr. So-and-so, the murderer? Has any
young woman been pointed out to you as his daughter?

It is not long since all England was interested in the trial of a
so-called gentleman for murder. He was found guilty, condemned and
executed. At the time of the trial all the papers spoke of his little
son--a fair-haired little lad, who was as unconscious of all that
happened as a little babe. I have often wondered what became of him.
Does he hear his father's name? Do those with whom he lives know him for
a murderer's son? If he goes wooing any fair-faced girl, will she be
afraid of marrying him lest, in the coming years, she may suffer the
same fate his mother did? Does that same son, when he reads of criminals
and scaffolds, wince, and shudder, and grow sick at heart?

And the daughters, do they grow old and die before their time? Do they
hide themselves under false names in silent places, dreading lest the
world should know them? Does any man ever woo them? Are