"You are sure of this?"
"Yes, Jack."
"Sure I am a—a nobody." His voice sunk to a mere whisper.
"Yon are not a nobody, Jack. When you were a mere boy of three or four my father and mother adopted you, and you are now John Ruthven, my own brother," and she gave his brown hand another tight squeeze.
He was too confused and bewildered to answer at once. The dreadful news was true, he was not really a Ruthven. He was a nobody—no, he must be somebody. But who was he?
A MYSTERY OF THE PAST.
"I do not know that I have done just right by telling you this," went on Marion. "Mother may not approve of it."
"I am glad you told me. I was bound to find out about it, sooner or later."
"That is true, Jack. But both mother and I dreaded that time. We were afraid you might turn from us. And we both love you so much!"