Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-06-05
A PRICELESS PEARL.
cHAP1ER /.

A
Flchester square where Lady Ashgrove
toiIed with misspent energy at the cruel
task of making hundreds of pounds do
the work of thousands. Though it was
4be middle of the London season and the
aristocratie widow had three grown-up
daughters, she went to no parties or
,aieties in this June week, and straw
was spread thickly in front of her house,
for one within it lay lowering between
life and death.
"Ir is most exasperating," she said to
her three daughters as they sat waiting
for the physicians verdict. 'Dick Ham
ilton showed Beryl such marked atten-
ton when we were at Aspendale for
Whitsuntide that l felt sure if he saw
more of her he would propose, and so
asked him to spend fortnight here. By
some ill-luck there was an accident to
his train and he was badly injured, and
then through his servants folly he was
brought here instead of to the nearest
hospital. We have only got this house
for another month, and we can't accept
single invitation or ask a creature here:
and who is to say, if poor Dick dies, that
| shall not be called on to pay the doc
tors fees?"
Lady Ashgrove was bitterly sorry for
herself. She was not by nature an I'M
feeling woman, but there Were reasons
which made her intensely anxious that
one or two of her girls should "settle"
we'll this season, for she had been en-
croaching on her capital long time and
as consequence grew poorer every year,
while Beryl, the handsomest of her three
daughters, was 25, and after that age
young lady's chances are few if she has
no fortune.
1t was only by an intense effort that
Lady Ashford had comprised furnished
house in London this season; she knew
perfectly she should never manage one
again, and so perhaps there was some al
lowance to be made for her great disap-
pointment.
Mavis, the second girl, at any rate
seemed to think so, for she stroked her
mothers cheek caressingly as she an
swered her lament.
Mother dear, don't worry Depend
upon it, Sir Richard Hamilton regrets
his bad luck quite as much as you can
do, and, as for your having to pay the
doctors bills, / am sure nothing of the
sort will be expected of you. It's aw-
fully hard on you that things should
have gone as they have, but it is no ones
fault"
Beryl sighed; she was not in the least
in love with Dick, but there had been
something attractive in the thought of
being Lady Hamilton of AspendaIe Cas-
tie and her dreams were as much de-
stroyed as her mothers. She thought
privately it was all very well for Mavis
to make the best of things-she had not
lost the chance of title and fortune
Whatever you do, mother" she
struck in eagerly, don't let Dick guess
you grudge his being here. He's very
much alone in the world, poor fellow,
and it would hurt him; besides'-and
here prudence interposed-"he must have
good dealvat his own disposal though
Aspendale itself is entailed, and he
might leave us legacy
The youngest of the girls had not
spoken. Lettice Ashgrove, who was six
years younger than her eldest sister,
was the least esteemed in the family;
she would not have been brought to
town at all, only her godmother offered
a hundred pounds towards her crooks"
and Lady Aspendale thought she saw
her way to dress Lettine for fifty and
spend the rest on her sisters. The little
girl was almost pathetically young and
lonely, and since her father died seven
years ago no one at home had cared
much for her.
The smart parlor maid entered with
an intimation that DIR. Bateson was
leaving and particularly wished to see
Lady Ashgrove alone.
Ier of ha oil -.
from Aspendale who had come up to
consult with the London lights because
he knew more of Sir Richards constitu-
lion than they did. He was friend as
we'll as medical adviser to the young
baronet, and it struck Lady Ashgrove,
when she heard the message, that poor
Dick Hamilton had deputed the old doe
tor to make some proposal of compen-
satIon to her for the expense and trou-
bic he was causing.
tall, ascetic looking man, with
shrewd kindly face, was DIR. Bateson.
lie could read Lady Bateson through
and through, and he guessed his errand
would meet with no opposition from
her, SO he wasted no time in prelimi-
naries but went straight to the point at
once
The two physicians in charge of Sir
Richard declare his recovery to be i'm
possible and give him three days to live
My poor young friend has one desire;
that gratifed he declares he could die
in peace, and so at his eager request
have undertaken to break his wishes
to you. Sir Richard is passionately
in love with your daughter, and his one
wish Is to marry her at once so that he
may provide for her as his widow. In
ms state lengthy discussions and argu-
ments must not be thought of; if you
and the young lady consent, you win
grant wish very near his heart; if
you refuse, | think he has courage
enough to bear his disappointment
bravely. Only there must be no hest
fancy; the answer take back must be
Yes or No."
Lady Ashgrove gave a moments re-
lection; at IS Miss Ashgrove, spin
ster, seemed almost on the shelf. but