the opposite side of the room, and that mirror for the
moment reflected two beautiful forms, of which it would be difficult to
decide the one to bear off the palm for beauty.

The elder lady, Elfrida Force, was a tall, stately blonde, with a superbly
rounded form, a rich complexion, and an affluence of golden brown hair,
rippling all over her fine head, and gathered into a mass at the nape of
her graceful neck. She wore an inexpensive, closely fitting dress of dark
blue serge, whose very plainness set off the perfection of her figure and
enhanced the brilliancy of her complexion, showing to the best advantage
that splendid beauty, which at the age of thirty-five had reached its
zenith. Just now, however, the vivid brightness of her bloom had faded to
a pale rose tint, and her lovely blue eyes seemed heavy with unshed
tears.

Her young daughter, Odalite, equally beautiful in her way, was yet of an
entirely opposite type. She was of medium height, and her form, though
well rounded, was slender almost to fragility. Her head was small, and
covered with rippling, jet black hair. Her eyes and eyebrows were black as
jet; her features were delicate and regular; and her complexion was of a
clear, ivory-white. She wore a crimson, merino dress, plainly made,
closely fitting, and relieved only by narrow, white ruffles at throat and
wrists.

Only for a moment they paused, and then they walked out of the room, and
the pretty picture disappeared.

CHAPTER II

FAMILY MYSTERIES

Mondreer was one of the finest old places on the western shore of
Maryland. The estate covered fifteen hundred acres of richly cultivated,
heavily wooded and well-watered land, running back from the Chesapeake.

The manor house stood upon rising ground, facing the east, and commanding
a fine sea view in front, while it was sheltered on the north and west by
a heavy growth of trees.

Mondreer had been in the possession of the Forces from the year 1634, when
Aaron Force came over with the flower of the British Catholic gentry who,
with Leonard Calvert, founded the province of Maryland.

They had prospered in every generation, and now owned more land and money
than they had possessed when they first settled on the soil.

Although there was no entail of the manor, yet the estate had, as a matter
of custom, always come down through the eldest son of the family, though
all the younger sons and daughters were almost equally well provided for.

Usua