"She is my child."

"Then she must be my sister--are you not my mother?"

"No, Frank, I am not your mother!"



CHAPTER II

MRS. FOWLER'S STORY


"Not my mother!" he exclaimed. "Who, then, is my mother?"

"I cannot tell you, Frank. I never knew. You will forgive me for
concealing this from you for so long."

"No matter who was my real mother since I have you. You have been a
mother to me, and I shall always think of you as such."

"You make me happy, Frank, when you say that. And you will look upon
Grace as a sister also, will you not?"

"Always," said the boy, emphatically. "Mother, will you tell all you
know about me? I don't know what to think; now that I am not your son I
cannot rest till I learn who I am."

"I can understand your feelings, Frank, but I must defer the explanation