The Press., 1916-06-21
A Family
 Secret 1t Came Out Gradually and Satisfactorily
By ESTHER vANDEVEER

e~~ee~>e~~~~~~~~~~~ When I was old enough to desire a 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 I had never seen, but he was coming home soon and I would have companion. I was too young to seek for a reason why this brother, whom she called Georgie, had never been at home since I had been born. I simply accepted the fact and rejoiced that would have a play mate.
 Georgie arrived a couple of days later. He was several years older than I. I 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 chil- dren and when we began to be edu- cated were placed in charge of young woman who taught us the rudiments and as We grew older had tutors.
 When was ten years old something occurred that troubled me. A lady visitor called on my mother. was in an adjoining room reading a story book and as quiet as mouse.
 "Is Clara still ignorant of the fact that she is not a Clayton" 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"
 "I question it. Boys are not so cu- rious about seeming trifies as girls. A boys mind reaches out to discover what is going on without-how things are made and all that. A girl is cu- rious about those things which imme- diately concern her."
 I was thunderstruck. I could scarce ly refrain from running into the other room and begging my mamma to ex- plain what had heard. But the pres cnce of the visitor restrained me. l would wait till she had gone. I stole away and upstairs to my room, where I shut myself in and gave myself up to all kinds of to 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 I did not see him before I had had a conference with mamma. This was perhaps fortunate. AS soon as the visitor had gone I went to her and almost with tears in my eyes asked her what the lady had meant by saying that I was not Clayton.
 
 Ut first. but presently she took me up Jn to her lap and said:
 'I will explain this if you will prom. se to ask me nothing more till you become eighteen years of age" I gave a reluctant promise, and she .ontinued: Papa is not your real father. Your 'eal father died when you were a baby. and I married papa when you were too young to know anything | lbOut it." This was great shock to me. Re | how it affected me, have | .ver since condemned the bringing up | If children in ignorance of their true | After what my mother told | ne I was curious to know about | George. Forgetting my promise to ask | 10 more questions, begged mother to ell me about him. She considered for lwhile, then said:
 George must soon know about his | ,ase. but not now. I will tell you bout him if you will promise to keep