He Never Knew

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Unable to support her baby boy, Grace Devereaux, a widow, leaves him at an orphan asylum. Kitty Rose, an actress friend of Grace's succeeds in securing a small part for her in the same company. Grace leaves her address with the superintendent of the asylum and later receives a letter from him saying that a wealthy widow wishes to adopt her baby on condition that she never make herself known to either of them. Grace finally consents. Twenty years later, Earle is of age. Mrs. Castro, his foster-mother, has chosen Lucille Perrin as his wife to be. Earle tells her he would like to visit Paris first, to which she agrees. In Paris, through an old friend, Earle meets Grace, now Madame Renee, a popular actress. Both are immediately attracted to each other. Although older than Earle, Madame Renee has taken such perfect care of herself that she is still youthful and beautiful and the two are soon madly in love. Earle asks Madame Renee to marry him. At first she refuses, saying she is too old. He will not be denied and she finally agrees, provided he secures his mother's consent. Mrs. Castro meets Madame Renee and tells Earle, "She is charming, but too old for you." He defies his foster-mother and pleads so, with Madame, that she finally consents to an immediate marriage. Mrs. Castro begs Madame to give up Earle, saying, "Suppose you had an only son, wouldn't you do the same." After battling with herself. Madame goes away, leaving a farewell note for Earle. He is stunned when he reads it. Later, Madame is ill and begs permission to see her boy. Her request is granted provided she does not reveal her identity. To her horror, she finds that her boy is none other than the man she was about to marry. She falls in a faint. Earle and his mother rush to her and Mrs. Castro realizes that Madame Renee is Earle's mother. Madame recovers and pleads that she never reveal the truth, which Mrs. Castro promises. Madame takes a last look at her boy, he kisses her and she dies. Mrs. Perrine and Lucille enter and Mrs. Castro soothes the boy, thankful he never knew.