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Natalie - A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds by Ferna Vale
page 83 of 211 (39%)
could lessen her daughter's love for her mother. Not a word had ever
been said to the child in regard to her mysterious parentage. Captain
Grosvenor had thought it best not to reveal the fact until she should
have become of a suitable age to fully realize her situation. Those who
had known the circumstances of her discovery, had gradually come to look
upon her as the child of those who treasured her as if she had been
their own; and the playmates of her childhood days had never mistrusted
there was a mystery hanging about her "romantic" name,--Sea-flower.
Harry, indeed, had never forgotten his delight at having a new sister;
and as they had grown up together, he had often looked into her dreamy
eyes, and thought, "How unlike she is to any one else; she is too good
to be my sister;" and as the reality came to him, he had banished the
remembrance, ere it had taken to itself a form. The original Vingo had
never lost sight of "that commentful" day, as he termed it; not a day
passed but he made some allusion to "dat wee gem among de sea-weeds,"
and the Sea-flower would open wide her eyes, as from his wild laugh she
caught his broken sentences, and would wonder why the negro's words
should meet with such a response within her own bosom. The child's
dress, together with the ornaments which had been found upon her, had
been laid carefully away, reserved until she should have become familiar
with her history. But Mrs. Grosvenor, since the loss of her husband, had
weighed the question in her mind, whether she should still keep the
secret from her, for the child's mind was much beyond her years, and she
questioned whether it would be for the best to permit her to grow to
maturer years thus undeceived; but she reflected that such had been the
design of her husband, and, therefore, for the present, the subject was
dismissed from her mind.

It was the close of the third year in which Harry had been from home.
Mrs. Grosvenor had received four letters from him in that time. His
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