name was Anna Lawrence. I never knew my father, not even his name. Yes,
I can talk freely about it to you. The time was when I shunned even the
thoughts of my earthly origin and my childhood days, but I have gotten
over that. I have learned to face the world and all the truth it has for
me.

"When I was but a child, my mother married Hugh Elston. Shortly after,
they both heard the gospel preached by a 'Mormon' elder, and they
accepted it. I had been placed in the care of some of my relatives, and
when my mother now wished to take me, they would not give me up. They
were, of course, fearful that I, too, would become a 'Mormon.' Mr.
Elston and my mother went west to Utah. I was sent to school, obtained a
fairly good education, and while yet a young man, was conducting a
successful business.

"I had nearly forgotten that I had a parent at all, when one day, my
mother, without announcement, came to Chicago. She had left her husband.
Mother did not say much to any of us, but I took it for granted that she
had been abused among the 'terrible Mormons.' After a time I took a trip
out to Utah to see about it, meaning to find this Mr. Elston and compel
him to do the right thing for my mother. Well, I went, I saw, and was
conquered. Mr. Elston was a widower living in a spot of green called
Piney Ridge Cottage amid the sage-brush desert,--living there alone with
his daughter Julia. And this Julia--well--Do you see any porpoises,
Brother Malby?"

"Not yet. Go on."

"Mr. Elston is a fine, good-hearted man,--a gentleman in very deed. He
soon found out who I was and invited me to his home. Julia was mistress