Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-06-09
what is the matter3" asked her lady

! What is the matter?" asked her lady
ship.
"Oh, it can't be true"-wildly. Listen,
, surely it is deusion-a false report.
"'On the 10th inst, Richard, Earl of
Cumberland, in his ed year. Is succeed
ed by his nephew and heir, Richard only
son of Francis Cumberland who is left
with the exception of sundry legacies)
the estate, invested money, and residue.
The new earl is praeticing barrister of
Gray's Inn, bachelor, and remarkably
good looking, and. rumor says, had no
expectation of being made his uncle's heir,
owing to some unfortunate dispute be-
tween his father and the late earl dating
many years back. As is not infrequently
the case, however. on ones deathbed right
triumphs, and everyone win heartily con
graduate the new earl on the property
going with the title
Mother" said Dot, speaking seriously
for the first time in her life. Il have to
thank you for this! You threw me in
his way, then snatched me baek-you
have mulled and spoit everything, and
Hildegarde is quite right. You have been
bad mother to me, and--and for the
future l shall try TO be honest and
straightforward. Pretense and deceit
don't pay. II almost hate you to-
night
But Dot" walled her ladyship dismal
ly. "how could knowl"
I'VE ought not to have set up as peo-
pie of wealth and rank" Kit terly-"nor
to have despised his poverty-lie after
lie. Yes!" with new fire in her eyes, I'M
tell Sir Thomas the truth tonight, before
it is too late. Hildegarde has so often
implored me to-"
Are you mad? 1t would ruin ALI"
"Yet you would leave me to face it
alone afterwards" bitterly; that is
your love for me-your own child. Here
he comes; leave me, mother. For once /
shall tell the truth"
And she did, too. while Sir Thomas
really behaved extremely we'll. He for
gave Dot; he was Just enough to put the
blame on the right shoulders, and at the
outset of their new life together, he set
his influence successfully against that of
his wife's mother, and Dot may turn out
a good woman after all.
Il came to you at once; | knew l
should find you waiting and true"
But Richard, it is all so strange, so
incomprehensible; you are the heir, after
! all"
| Through a miracle-a modern miracle
! -gravely-"and ] have thoroughly d.
/ gested the truth of the words, God moves
! III mysterious way, His wonders to per-
form Dearest among the new arrivals
at the Hotel de St Marie on that event
full day, was my uncle, the Earl of Cum
| berland. For reasons of his own. he
chose to travel as plain Mr.. Richards.
| His private sitting room adioined Lady
Charters The windows were open. He
heard all that was said before | entered
the room and afterwards-your sweet
| pleading, your step-relatives' avarice, and
on the spot resolved to reward you, and
| punish them.
He had just discovered the hand of
Death was laid upon him, and meeting
me there unknown, Unexpectedly, thought
he would study my character and friends.
He was cut to the heart by the treat
ment | had TO endure-for not being his
heir, through no fault of my own.
Afterwards, he made himself known
to me, and was delighted when he heard
it was you / loved, not, as he feared. Dot.
He told me to pursue my profession until
you came of age, then claim you as a
poor man. | did so. | found you true,
and ignorant of my changed prospects.
He died last week, leaving me the bulk
of his fortune, the estate, and title.
Dearest, will you marry me directly our
period of mourning is over?"
Her answer was inaudible, but quite
satisfactory, and he kissed her passion
ately as he sealed the promise.
Lady Charters has found life disap-
pointment and deluson The inevitable
crash came, just as she had secured, as
she thought, a third husband but his
love did not survive the test of empty
pockets and the bankruptcy court.
At present she is a pensioner on her
daughters bounty, and in dull apart
ments in a side street near her old man
sion in Mayfair, has plenty of time to
regret the mistakes and follies of her
past career.
And, if she only knew it. Lady Char
teris has but too many duplicates in this
modern Babylon, who in old age repent
in sackcloth and ashes the errors they
made in the heyday of life.