if she was not living. The date and place of her
birth were given, but further than that Homer Forester could give no
information regarding her."

"Where was she born?" Mona here interposed, eagerly, "Oh, sir, it is
strange and dreadful that I should be so ignorant of my own mother's
history, is it not?"

"Miss Forester, according to the information given in her uncle's will,
was born in Trenton, New Jersey, March 10th, 1843, but that is all that I
can tell you about her," bestowing a glance of sympathy upon the
agitated girl. "You say that she died at the time of your birth. I wish
you could bring me proof of this and that you are her daughter; but of
course your mere assertion proves nothing, nor your possession of this
picture, which may or may not be her. Believe me, I should be very glad
to surrender this property to you if it rightly belongs to you."

"Of course I should like to have it, if I am the legal heir," Mona said,
thoughtfully; "but," with a proud uplifting of her pretty head, "I can do
without it, for I am able to earn my own living."

"Is there no one to whom you can appeal? How about Mr. Dinsmore's wife,
who succeeded in getting all his property away from you--could she prove
anything?" and Mr. Corbin regarded his companion with curious interest as
he asked the question.

"I do not know--I have never even seen her," said Mona, thoughtfully;
"or, at least, if I have, it must have been when I was too young to
remember anything about her; besides, I should not know where to find
her. There is only one person in the world, I believe, who really knows
anything about me."

"And who is that?" interposed Mr. Corbin, eagerly.

"Mrs. Richmond Montague, my father's second wife."

Mr. Corbin suddenly arose from his chair, and began to pace the floor,
while, if she had been watching him closely, Mona might have seen that
his face was deeply-flushed.

"Hum! Mrs. Richmond Montague--is--Where is Mrs. Richmond Montague?" he
questioned, somewhat incoherently.

"Here, in this city."

"Then why do you not appeal to her?" demanded the lawyer, studying the
girl's face with some perplexity.

"Because--there are reasons why I do not wish to meet her just at
present," Mona said, with some embarrassment, "and I do not know that she
would be able to prove anything. To be frank," she continued, with
increasing confusion, "the present Mrs. Montague entertained a strong
dislike, even hatred, against my mother. Doubt