The morning times., 1897-01-31

gossip III the NOWn OF wentworth ana
the country about in regard to my
strange find of money and the amount
thereof, and the newspapers having
said much that was true and untrue in
the same connection, l have determined
to write a pain story and set forth the
facts in the case.
In the first place, l must tell you
that my name is Hilton-George Hilton
and that l ann the last of my race
There is not in all this world another
Hilton-man, woman or child-who can
calm to be descended from Sir Hugh
Hilton of the Cedars. You have many
times found the name of that gallant
old knight Oh the pages OF Engiand's
history, and never has a line been re-
corded to his shame He was a brave
warrior and a good citizen, and peace
to his ashes. The Hiltops were not n
long lived race, and after the year 1850
there were so many bachelors and spin
sters among them that dust began to
accumulate on the name. My grand
father was an only child, my father the
same, and when | was born into the
word there were but three HltOns
left. Death soon removed my parents,
and | was then the last of my race. |
should be proud TO speak of my father
and grandfather as history has spoken
of those who came before them. but
candor compels me to say that the
quality of the blood had degenerated-
when 1t reached them. | have been told
that this might have been expected, as
the Hiltons were n race of high ivers
and registering lot. but | feel it
smirch on the family escutcheon just
the same. TO be honest, then, my
grandfather was n tyrant over his ten
ants, disiked by the public and so
misery in his habits that it was said
he did not live out his allotted years
for the want of proper food. When |
came to the age of understanding they
told me pretty much the same story
about my father, much TO my shame
and sorrow. 1t was necessary. how
ever, to tell some sort of story. At the
age of twelve | was an orphan and al
most pennileSs. There was the big stone
house and the twenty acres of land
which had been he d by the Hltons
for three hundred years. but there was
no money. People figured up the in
come and Outgo of my father and
grandfather and said | ought to be in
possession of at least 10000. but not
Is in good and lawful money was found
in the house when my father died.
The will of my father, by which
was left al, was brief and concise. but
contained n curious sentence. 1t was
10 the effect that on my twenty fist
birthday should take possession of the
house, and, standing at the foot of the
cellar stairs, with my face 10 the east.
shOu d count one and three and take
two" My solicitor and guardian was
an old man, and not a very keen one.
He thought this clause might have re-
ference to money. and he visited the
cellar TO see what he could make out
If he had any hopes he was dsappoint-
ed. The matter might have gone fur
ther, but it was a time of great pubic
excitement. the Old man had troubles on
hand, and 50 in one way and another
the wiz was laid away and | was turn
ed out into the word to get my living
as | might. Nobody wanted TO live in
the big house, which was gloomy and
Ill arranged, and the lite income was
only big enough to pay the taxes. If
it could have been legally arranged for
= .
and after living with a farmer for a
few months / cut loose and started out
to see the world. 8 l had been fairly
educated in the lower branches, and
this was help to me in knocking about.
For two years l managed to live one
way and another, and then went to sea
from the port of Liverpool. Returning
after six months, ] BACKED boots and
cold in ha or of Tsnn
don, got temporary employment at vari-
ous inns, turned fishmOnger and fakir.
| and at the age of seventeen the 'ast of
the Hiltons WAS bad lot. l had many
| vices and few virtues. A years cruise
on n man-of-war did not help my moral
! character any, and it is with shame
admit that all my associations We're
! evil. | did have pride enough, as the
last of my race. to change my name,
| and to conceal the fact that l was de-
| scended from men who had made his
| tory for England, but l was perfectly
| wiling to drift along with the world
| and take the wicked side of it.
Soon after my eighteenth birthday l
| attended the races in company with
several boon companions. That night
! we played cards aud drank at a room
| in a public house ard stranger was
| assaulted and robbed. cit was proved
| on the trial that | was drunk and asleep
! at the time, but as l was one of the
party who committed the offence | was
held rs an accessory and given SEN
! tence of five years in prison. | have
been frank to admit my failures, and it
is only just that you should believe me
when | say that my sentence was an
outrage. I knew nothing whatever Of
the pan to rob, did not share in the
Spo;ls and was eXOnerated by all my
companions. | had been cheat and
sharper, but had never res0rted TO rob-
| berry nor other serious crime. Guilty
! ar not guilty, | went ito prison just the
same, and l am ready to admit today
| that it was the best thing that could
have happened to me. ] had 10 settle
.lown to work and a steady routine, and
ny and by my conscience began to
awaken and my sense of shame to re-
turn. When l had had time to come to
| myself. as it We're. | made a solemn
resolution to change my course of life,
and so exemplary was my behavior that
after about three years | received full
pardon and one day was set at liberty
Until this day came 1 had scarcely
thought of the cd stone house down al
Wentworth. | had an underlined plan
that after reaching my majority
would sell the place for what it would
bring. but / had never been back since
leaving it, nor had heard 4 word from
the solicitor or met q resident of the
town. Under the English law, as il
was then, the warden gave each dis
| charged prisoner money enough to pay