"A very sad case has come to my knowledge of late. Miss Adams, a
woman who for some years has been a devout member of St Blank's
Church, has several times mentioned her niece to me, a young girl who
was away at boarding school. A few months ago the young girl
graduated and came to live with this aunt. I remember her as a
bright, buoyant and very intelligent girl. I have not seen her now
during two months; and last week I asked Miss Adams what had become
of her niece. Then the poor woman broke into sobs and told me the
sad state of affairs. It seems that the girl Marah is her daughter.
The poor mother had believed she could guard the truth from her
child, and had educated her as her niece, and was now prepared to
enjoy her companionship, when some mischief-making gossip dug up the
old scandal and imparted the facts to Marah.
"The girl came to Miss Adams and demanded the truth, and the mother
confessed. Then the daughter settled into a profound melancholy,
from which nothing seemed to rouse her. She will not go out, remains
in the house, and broods constantly over her disgrace.
"It occurred to me that if Marah Adams could be brought out of
herself and interested in some work, or study, it would be the
salvation of her reason. Her mother told me she is an accomplished
musician, but that she refuses to touch her piano now.
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