The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-15
A Family
Secret
II Came Out Gradually
and Satisfactorily
By ESTHER VANDEvEER

Wnen l was OLD enough TO desire
child to play with me I said to my
mother:
Mamma, why haven't you another
little girl for me to play with?"
She kissed me and told me that had
little brother whom had never
seen, but he was coming home soon
and would have a companion. I was
too young to seek for a reason why
this brother, whom she called George,
had never been at home since 1 had
been born. simply accepted the fact
and rejoiced that / would have a play
mate.
George arrived couple of days
later. He was several years older
than 1. l asked him where he had
been living all the while, and he said
that he supposed he had been with his
mother, but few days before he
came to us she had told him that she
was not his mother and then was sent
to US.
Whatever explanation of all these
matters was made to us was called
forth by our childish questions, and
they were answered vaguely. We
looked upon each other as brother and
sister. We lived in place in the
country where we saw no other chill
dren and when we began to be edu-
Gated were placed in charge of young
woman who taught us the rudiments
and as We grew older had tutors.
When l was ten years old something
occurred that troubled me. A lady
visitor called on my mother. l was in
an adjoining room reading story
book and as quiet as mouse.
"Is Clara still ignorant Of the fact
that she is not a ClaytonT asked the
visitor. My mothers name was Clay.
ton.
"Yes, but she is getting to an age
when we shall find it hard to keep the
secret"
"How about George"
HE being older than Clara, we may
expect still more difficulty in his case"
II question it. Boys are not so Gu
rious about seeming trifes as girls A
boys mind reaches out to discover
what is going on without-how things
are made and all that. A girl is Gu
rious about those things which imme-
diately concern her."
Twas thunderstruck. I could scarce
" refrain from running into the other
on6 hnuUinO IN "
plain what had heard. But the pres
ence Of the visitor restrained me.
would wait till she had gone. l stole
away and upstairs to my room, where
I shut myself in and gave myself up
to all kinds Of Ito mel terrible fore
bodings.
BY this time George had grown old
enough to crave the society Of boys
Of his own age and was out playing
ball with some of his friends. There
fore l did not see him before I had
had a conference with mamma. This
was perhaps fortunate. AS soon as
the visitor had gone went to her and
almost with tears in my eyes asked her
what the lady had meant by saying
that was not a Clayton.
Mother was evidently quite put out
at first, but presently she took me up
on to her lap and said:
81 will explain this If you will prom
Use to ask me nothing more till you
become eighteen years Of age"
gave a reluctant promise, and she
continued:
Papa is not your real father. Your
real father died when you We're a
baby, and l married papa when you
were too young to know anything
about It."
This was great shock to me. Re
Numbering how 1t affected me, l have
ever since condemned the bringing up
Of children in ignorance of their true
parentage. After what my mother told
me 1 was curious to know about
George. Forgetting my promise to ask
no more questions, begged mother to
tell me about him. She considered for
awhile. then said:
George must soon know about his
case, but not now. l will tell you
\ about him if you will promise to keep
\ what l say secret from him for the
present"
gave the promise, and she con
tinued:
George is not your brother"
This was not the shock to me that
the secret about my papa was. Posi-.
bly, this was because Of Georges in.
PRODUCTION into the family at q time
when I was old enough to take cog.
nizance of his coming. Mother con.
1nued:
Georges mother and I were very
ear friends. She died when he was
wo years old, and George was given
charge of woman who took care
him till he came here. would have
Aken him at the time Of his mothers
cath, but 1t was then impossible
here had been an arrangement be-
veen me and her to that effect, and
carried 1t out as soon as l was able
do SOL
Mother paused here for awhile in or
q, presume, to give me time to gel
mewhat used to what she had told
~ then concluded what rha wac eax