Child , you do n't know me , but I am your Uncle Robert . Your mother was my half-sister . '' `` Oh , Mr. Swift ! '' cried Carol , and then she ran for her mother . Ruth turned pale and dropped into a chair , and Mr. Swift sat down beside her . `` To think that I have found you at last , child . How puzzled you look . Did your mother never speak of me ? How is she ? Where is she ? '' `` Mother died last year , '' said Ruth . `` Poor Agnes ! And I never knew ! Do n't cry , little girl . I want you to tell me all about it . She was much younger than I was , and when our mother died my stepfather went away and took her with him . I remained with my father 's people and eventually lost all trace of my sister . I was a poor boy then , but things have looked up with me and I have often tried to find her . '' By this time Carol had returned with her father and mother , and there was a scene -- laughing , crying , explaining -- and I do n't really know which of the two girls was the more excited , Carol or Ruth . As for Mr. Swift , he was overjoyed to find his niece and wanted to carry her off with him then and there , but Mrs. Golden insisted on her finishing her visit .
When the question of returning to Oaklawn came up , Mr. Swift would not hear of it at first , but finally yielded to XXXXX 's entreaties and Ruth 's own desire .
Carol Golden Mother Mr. Robert Ruth Swift girl stepfather year