What can you tell me about Miss Mona Forester?"
"She was my mother, sir," Mona replied, as she seated herself in the
chair offered her. "At least," she added, "my mother's name was Mona
Forester before her marriage."
"Well, then, young lady, if you can prove that the Mona Forester, for
whom we have advertised, was your mother, there is a snug little sum of
money awaiting your disposal," the gentleman smilingly remarked.
Mona looked astonished. She had scarcely given a thought to reaping any
personal advantage, as had been hinted in the advertisement, from the
fact of being Mona Forester's child. Her chief desire and hope had been
to prove her mother's identity, and to learn something more, if possible,
of her personal history.
She was somewhat excited by the information, but removing the wrapper
from her picture, she arose and laid it before Mr. Corbin, remarking:
"This is a portrait of Mona Forester, and she was my mother."
Mr. Corbin took the crayon and studied the beautiful face intently for a
few moments; then turning his glance again upon his visitor, he said, in
a tone of conviction:
"There can be no doubt that you and the original of this picture are
closely united by ties of consanguinity, for your resemblance to her is
very striking.
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