He was an only child and an orphan when mother married him.

He died when I was but six months old.

After that there was only mother and Aunt Ella, then Aunt Ella alone; and now--no one." "And you know nothing of your father's people ?" "Nothing; that is--almost nothing." "Then there is some one ?" Billy smiled.

A deeper pink showed in her cheeks.
"Why, there's one--a man but he isn't really father's people, anyway.
But I--I have been tempted to write to him." "Who is he ?" "The one I'm named for.

He was father's boyhood chum.