Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-09-08
A Family
Secret
II Came Out Gradually
and Satisfactorily
By ESTHER VANDEVEER


child to play with me l 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
a little brother whom l had never
seen, but he was coming home soon
ana would have companion. was
too young to seek for reason why
this brother, whom she called George,
had never been at home since l had
been born. 1 simply accepted the fact
and rejoiced that would have play
mate
George arrived couple of days
later. He was several years older
than l. l asked him where he had
been living all the while, and he said
that he supposed he had been with HIS
mother, but a few days before he
came to us she had told him that she
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 rudlments
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 story
book and as quiet as a mouse.
rs Clara still ignorant of the fact
that she is not ClaytonF" asked the
visitor. My mothers name was Clay
ton.
Eyes, but she is getting to an age
when we shall find 1t hard to keep the
secret"
"How about GeorgeT
"He being older than Clara, We may
expect still more difficulty In his case"
II question It. Boys are not 80 Gu
rious about seeming trihes as girls. A
boys mind reaches out to discover
what IL going on without-how things
are made and all that. A girl is Gu
rlous about those things which imme
diately concern her."
was thunderstruck l could scarce
ly refrain from running into the other
room and begging my mamma to ex.
plain what ! had heard But the pres
ence OF the visitor restrained me. |
would wait TIL she had gone. | stole
away and upstairs to my room, where
/ shut myself IN and give myself up
to all kinds of Ito mel terrible fore
holdings.
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 | did not see him before had
had 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 n Clayton.
Mother was evidently quite put out
ut first, but presently she took me up
on to her lap and said:
81 will explain this IL you viii prom
Use to ask me nothing more TIL you
become eighteen years Of age"
l gave reluctant promise. and she
continued.
Papa IL not your real father. Your
real father died when you were
baby, and ! married papa when you
were too young to know anything
about IT,"
This was great shock to me Re
memberlng how 1t affected me- / have
ever since condemned the bringing up
OF children In ignorance OF their true
parentage. After what my mother told
me 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. I will tell you
about him II you Will promise to keep
what / say secret from him for the
present"
gave the promise. and she con.
tinued:
George IL not your brother"
This wns 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 time
when | was old enough TO take cog.
nizance Of his coming. Mother con
tinued:
Georges mother and were very
dear friends. She died when he was
two years old, and George was given
In charge Of woman who took care
of him TIL he came here. would have
taken him Mt the time Of his mothers
death, but II was then impossible
There had been an arrangement be-
tween me and her to that effect, and
carried II out as soon as was able
to do So"
Mother paused here for awhile in or
der presume, to give me time to get
somewhat used to what she had told
me, then concluded what she was say.
ing.
"And now, my dear little girl, wish
you TO be brave and strong and say
nothing TO papa or George as TO what
you have learned, but leave 1t 10 me
10 make II all known whenever ]
n NONEv To ENn