Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-11-28
From ST. Louis Letter
a TOUCHING STORY,

Thanksgiving eve never comes
around said prominent lawyer yes
terday afternoon, ''but I am forcibly re-
minded of story of which, besides the
family, am the sole custodian. The
family have left the city and are scat
tered all over the country now, so [
don't mind telling you; but shall give
you no clew to the identity of the inter
este parties, as | regard the secret as a
sacred trust. Lawyers, physicians, and
~clergymen know more of the infirmities
OF uman nature than most people sup
pose, and it was in my capacity of pro-
fessional legal adviser that I learned
the history of the case. To begin with,
the re lived five or ten years ago we'll
kno wn and influential gentleman who
was something in the city-no matter
what. He had accumulated handsome
com potency and built spacious but
mod est mansion in the western part of
the city, and was arranging to retire in
to private life, when an event took
plac which will form the nucleus of
this story. But before 1 commence to
relate 1t | must exact a promise that,
>shou Id / during the recital inadvertent-
ly drop name or other clew, you will
not take ADVANTAGE of 1t, or try to learn
more of the case from myself or any one
" our wishes shall be respected, :"
said he reporter to whom the remarks
were addressed, seating himself at an
office desk and producing his tablets.
The attorney wheeled an easy chair
iowa I'd the grate-fre and remained a
few seconds in meditation, with his
hand covering his face, upon which the
gray mixed with the raven-black hair
IF or the sake OF convenience we will
say hat Mr.. Brooke had a grown-up
fami " of three daughters and two sons.
was upon the books of many religious
and charitable organizations. We will
call the daughters Effie, Sara, and Clara ;
three handsome refined girls, whose
ph ysl cal and intellectual growth had
bee the fond study of their parents.
Th ely moved in the best circles, were
prominent factors in all church enter
tai nments, and were an honor to Mr..
and Mrs. Brooke, who hoped to see
the m some day grace the domestic po-
sition they were likely to occupy, for
the most eligible young men attended
the Brooke receptions.
1t was In the latter part of Decem-
Der that Clara, the youngest daughter,
eevinced disposition to 60 downtown
alone upon shopping expeditions, and
her mother, re posing the utmost conf
dence IN her, never questioned or re-
monstrated with her, particularly as
she invariably returned in time to dress
for the o'clock dinner
Zone day, however. Clara failed to
return, and much establishment was
felt when about $50 the carrier left at
the door a letter addressed to Mrs.
Brooke in. Clara's handwriting, and
which, when opened, was found to
contain these words:
UNION DEPOT, 2:30 P. M-MoTHER; You and
papa would never cOnse Mt to the marriage an,
about to enter into, End. therefore L am going
away. My husband-elect love dearly, but he
Is poor and an actor fell in love with him at
lone OF the tbeaters month ago. and he has re-
turned to take me away with him. I will write
in a few days. CLARA.
s'The family were at dinner when
the scene [ cannot describe it, but WAS
told that the poor mother tainted and
that the two sons started from the table
breathing terrible vengeance upon
the actor. Mr.. Brooke had the broug-
ham brought round and came to my
house few minutes after the receipt
of the intelligence. We drove rapidly
back to the mansion, and having as
sembled the members of the family,
held conference as to what had bet
be done under the circumstances. Tile
sons wanted to follow the couple ami
wreak summary vengeance upon the
actor, but | old them that this would
make great scandal, which might per-
haps be av. ided. Poor Mrs. Brooke
could do o,hing but wiring her hands
and moan Sara and Fife looked
frightened and pale, but said nothing,
and poor old Brooke looked helpIessly
at me. questioned all the members of
the family, but they could throw no
light upon t subject, and ] therefore
put my wits at work. / first epjoined
strict secrecy upon all the family and
then asked if the domestics were aware