The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-04-22

way Of it, Mr.. SUNBEAM: I'm going 10
start really at the beginning. I'll
make 1t as brief as I can make II, for
Il isn't q pleasant story.
my mother, as told you. died
here last year. My father, in Amer
lea, died some months ago. too. They
had been estranged for years-since
| was three years old. Mother had
lived here and there, and I've all
ways been with my mother. That
was one of the-agreements. My
brother remained with my father.
He was four years older than ] when
our parents separated.
my mother" she paused and
took q long breath as II she'd
reached the most difficult part Of the
story--"my mother was an extraor-
binary person. Mr.. Sunbeam. 1 didn't
know-and It doesn't concern this.
why they separated, but whatever
the reason was. my mother held It
more important than anything else
in the world. More important even
than that 7 should ever see my
father"
you mean to say you never saw
him agaiH?"
"Yes." she said quietly. II never
saw him again. Ny mother was very
bitter and remained so. My brother
was to stay with my father. with
my mother, Ny mother lad small
income. but during her illness we
We're obliged to use up most Of the
capital.
"She refused to the last to hold
any Communication with my father
or brother; It was not easy for her
to do tl1at-hut she was--she had
extraordinary command over her
self" She paused thougatfully and
then continued in a brisker tone:
"At any rate. my father was a
wealthy man when he died. He
wanted me 10 have half his estate
to share it with Francis,--that's my
brother. And--and this. of course.
is the kernel Of the affair-when my
mother went away he gave me a.
a small"
She hesitated and glanced at me
and said: "I'm not 70 tell anyone
what twas exactly. And, anyway. IT
doesn't matter. because It has no in.
trinsic value, it's only It's signiil-
canoe that counts. had part and my
brother had part. and probably
there are no others identical with
those we have in the world You see.
of course. what 1t was for
Identification I said.
"VES. My mother being what she
: was, my father knew that she
would take steps to loose US from
any possible connection with him.
And that's Just what she did. We
went undar various names. I think.
Cor q while, though I ion'tiramem.
Der much Of that al I remember
about those days Il the continual
going here and there.
'Well-the point - that my father
didn't keep IN touch with us--my
mother was determined that he
should not. After I reached an age
to notice things We used our own
name. Of course. and ! knew the
whole story. Mother had not been
well. and felt closer to her than to
my father. Then shielded"
She paused again. and put an
other smalf log on the IRE and gave
her d little time.
"She gave me. of course. an envel-
ope with her marriage certificate
and my birth certificate and various
things OF that sort in II. And at last
she told me to find my father. After
Q time I wrote: he was dying.
"Francis. my brother. replied. He
said there would be the matter OF
Identification. II seems that my Ia
Their had finally advertised and
they'd had q number Of letters from
girls who said thay were Sue Tally.
He said that birth and marriage Ger
tincates could be faxed. but that II
I were really his sisser there would
be one means Of Identification.
Il knew. Of course. what he
meant But ! wrote in a. guarded
fashion as be had writter, saying
only that I had Il and not what It
was Then my father died; there
was business for Francis TO see to.
Francis sent Mr.. Lorn--the detec-
tive, you know--to see me. He evi.
IDENTIFY reported that appeared to
BE- actually sue Tally. And Fran
els She smiled little wryiy.
s'perhaps I'd better read you the let
ter Mr. Lorn brought me from
Francis.s
She unhuttoned her velvet coat
Under II was some kind OF black
frock through which there were
giimpses OF white. She reached nm
der the laces and brought out let.
ter. Then she leaned over and held
the letter toward me.
(copyrseAt. Tsss. lisaoa q. RbsvAartl
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