"The truth--the truth! Oh, I've deceived you all your life!"

"Deceived me! Oh, mother! Then tell me--now."

"Child--you'll forgive me--and never--hate me?" cried the mother,
brokenly.

"Mother, how can you talk so! I love you." And Allie clasped the
shaking form closer. Then followed a silence during which Mrs.
Durade recovered her composure.

"Allie, I ran off with Durade before you were born," began the
mother, swiftly, as if she must hurry out her secret. "Durade is not
your father.... Your name is Lee. Your father is Allison Lee. I've
heard he's a rich man now.... Oh, I want to get back--to give you to
him--to beg his forgiveness.... We were married in New Orleans in
1847. My father made me marry him. I never loved Allison Lee. He was
not a kind man--not the sort I admired.... I met Durade. He was a
Spaniard--a blue-blooded adventurer. I ran off with him. We joined
the gold-seekers traveling to California. You were born out there in
1850.... It has been a hard life. But I taught you--I did all I
could for you. I kept my secret from you--and his! ... Lately I could
endure it no longer. I've run off from Durade."

"Oh, mother, I knew we were running off from him!" cried Allie,
breathlessly. "And I know he will follow us."

"Indeed, I fear he will," replied the mother. "But Lord spare me his
revenge!"