Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-15

mystery from the beginning" replied
Iioibrook, gravely. MIR. Templeton's
life in the city has been carefully in.
quired into, and nothing elected to sug-
gost an enmity that could ond in muir.
der. His life was thoroughly reputable,
honorable, upright and virtuous.'
The eyes Of the two women blessed
him for his words. He continued:
perhaps you would permit me to ask
| you some questions?'
ooh, please do" cried the sister. owe
don't know what to say or tell and no
one has helped us"
Holbrook thought if she would but
continue to look upon him in that ap-
pealing manner he would never want to
stop trying to help Eyl.
in the first place, Mr.. Templeton's
father is dead, apprehcnd?'
eyes, he died fifteen years ago."
"You do not live in this city,"
"No, we have always lived near Plain
| field, New jersey
Have You any relatives:"
Mono that we know Of. My husband
was an English Gentleman, who came TO
! this country VAcn quite q young man
/ with his uncle. The uncle died a wear
after, and Mr.. Tempeton, who had come
! ~ PIaiLield, married me. lie bought the
| place where we now live"
"Wha, breiness did he follow"
"None. lie was u student and expert
mented in chemistry. lie died from In
iuries received while conducting an
experiment"
ION your side have you no relatives?"
mo, replied Mrs. Templeton MY
mother dill in giving me birth; shortly
! after my father, whose name was Carroll
Preston, went to Philadelphia, leaving
me to the care Of my mothers sister
my aunt, After living there a year or
two he went abroad on business and died
there. Some years after my uncle, with
whom / lived, heard that he had married
again in Philadelphia, but that was never
verified. Both my aunt and uncle are
dead they had no children"
"What disposition was made of his
property
"He had none to dispose of except his
personal effects, and while uncle was
satisfied as to his death, so much diff
Guilty surrounded the obtaining of in
formation that he made no effort to Sc
cure tit amounted to so little"
Had he no relatives?'
Eyes. brother who left home Young
and died before he was Of age; and Sis
ter-a maiden lady who died in Plain
field ten years ago. She left a small
property to Annie here
"Her grand niece
eyes, she was very fond of her."
"Was her property inherited?"
"Ges, from her father
"Why then did not your father have
property?"
"He did; but ne lost it in speculation"
"Oh! Did your son leave property"
Gle must have left some, for during
the very last conversation 1 had with
him he told me he had been fortunate
in business during the past three years,
and had made some profitable invest
ments."
owe have not thought of that" broke
in the sister, "only of this terrible MUIR
der and how to clear up its mystery"
1T ought to be thought of, though"
replied Holbrook gravely; "the wavto a
solving of the mystery may be through
an examination of his business affairs.
Pardon me, were you and Mrs. Temple
ton dependent on your brother?'
ono; when we became of age he re-
fused to take his share of the property,
but Settled all on MOTHER
ut was not much when divided, he
said" broke in the mother, "but when
left as a whole it was more than enough
for Annie and myself"
lie studied law and was admitted to
the bar" said the sister, "but, failing to
get practice, he went into the real estate
business"
Had your son no very intimate
friend:'
"Yes, one; but he is in China now and
has been for a year.
WAS your son engaged to any young
lady or attentive to any one?'
None that | know of orever heard Of"
The sister confirmed this statement
eagerly. 1t was evident that both were
jealous of the supposititious young lady.
The young lawyer mused moment.
Finally he asked: Are you acquainted
with Mr.. Withcrspoon?"
"Witherspoon? | never heard the
name before" replied the mother. did
you, Annie?'
mo. | never did"
"Nor person by the name of Ash
grove" continued the lawyer.
"No,' said both together
"Never knew or heard of young lady
named Flora Ashgrovc:"
Never" said the mother
1.-THE name has familiar sound. " said
the girl wonderingIy. as she not a
fashionable young lady of this city whose
name is in the papers frequently:'
The lawyer smiled and answered,
eyes"
stop" cried the girl suddenly. 81
recollect once when my brother was at
home / lifted a coat he had thrown upon
chair and letter fell from the pocket
signed Flora Ashgroye' handed it to
him and he said: An invitation TO
dinner | went to last week-frOm one of