The glass door being
without fastening within, easily yielded to his pressure
of the latch; but as he passed by the table, a strong
and natural feeling of curiosity induced him to cast his
eye upon the miniature. To his infinite surprise, nay,
almost terror, he discovered it was that of his mother--the
identical portrait which his sister Clara had worn in
her bosom from infancy, and which he had seen clasped
round her neck on the very deck of the schooner in which
she sailed for Michilimackinac. He felt there could be
no mistake, for only one miniature of the sort had ever
been in possession of the family, and that the one just
accounted for. Almost stupified at what he saw, and
scarcely crediting the evidence of his senses, the young
officer glanced his eye hurriedly along one of the open
letters that lay around. It was in the well remembered
hand-writing of his mother, and commenced, "Dear, dearest
Reginald." After this followed expressions of endearment
no woman might address except to an affianced lover, or
the husband of her choice; and his heart sickened while
he read. Scarcely, however, had he scanned half a dozen
lines, when it occurred to him he was violating some
secret of his parents; and, discontinuing the perusal
with an effort, he prepared to acquit himself of his
mission.
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