Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-06-05


range for the wedding to take place in
ms slck-room tomorrow; the viii must
be drawn up today, and he viii sign it
Immediately after the ceremony. He
intends to leave Aspendale and its reve-
nues and everything else that he pos
sesses to his wife, but the estate will
go to his heir law in the event of his
widow marrying again or at her DEATH"
y always thought Aspendale was en-
tailed" said Lady Ashgrove, when she
could speak from surprise.
i believe Sir Richards father Joined
with his father tc cut off the entail,
but do not know the exact story. Lady
Ashgrove, | have promised my patient
that he shall have your decision and
your daughters by IL o'clock"
But 1t is IL now, and that only gives
me an hour. However, / will go to Let
tice at once" Then the poor lady's real
necessity made her ask one question.
do you really think Sir Richard will
live to be married tomorrow"
The consultants say he will live two
or even three days from now. / have
not their wide experience in such in
juries, but l have attended Sir Richard
Hamilton from his birth and / differ
from them entirely"
you think the end will come soon
err"
81 think there is chance of his re-
covery"
Lady Ashgrove started.
She wanted poor Dick for Beryl, and
1T would be an awful upset to her plans
II lettice married before her handsome
sister. How if she refused her consent
and Sir Richard recovered? Might he
not tnrn to Beryl after all Bit a mo-
nIent's reflection declared this course to
be too risky.
They stood together, mother and child,
IN Lady Ashgrove's dressing room. 1t
was the first time Lettuce had ever been
summoned to a conference there, and
her mother looked at the girl search
ingly. What could Sir Richard see in
her to make him prefer her to Beryl2
Il cannot do it." broke from Lettice
passionately when size heard what was
required of her. Mother, you know |
care nothing for Sir Richard; | thought
he was going to marry Beryl-I can't be
his wife"
my DEAR" said Lady Ashgrove, "you
talk like very foolish girl"
Lettuce gave little sigh.
Il I'm sorry for hirH, Tut l can't mar
ry him-I can't really" she said.
why not Z"
The calm, crude question was hard
crtrgh to answer, bit Lady Ashgrove
did at last extort reply.
no, it is not what you think-there
is no one else l care for" stammered
Lettice. But it seems to me such a
mockery, such a travesty of marriage
selling myself for a dying mans t.
tie"
Lady Ashgrove then took another line
She spoke of Sir Richards devotion, OF
his longing that his little girl" might
at least bear his name and be sheltered
from all sorrow that his wealth could
ward off. Lady Ashgrove spoke elo-
guentiy enough, but not one whisper did
she give of DIR. Bateson's opinion there
was still chance of Sir Richards re-
covery; she harped on the one string
his love for Lettice, the agony of his
last hours if she refused his request.
Poor tender hearted Lettice was not
proof against such arguments; she broke
into a flood of passionate tears and
whispered her consent.
"You are tired and overwrouglrt. .
Lady Ashgrove said, with more kindness
than she had ever shown Lettuce before ;
you had better lie down and have a
good rest"
Lady Ashgrove went to the library at
once to give Lettice's answer to DR..
Bateson, after that she had an
other task--to tell the truth TO her
elder girls.
Dr. Bateson went to carry the news to
Sir Richard, and Lady Ashgrove re-
turned to the drawing room.
1--WE got tired of waiting for you,''
said Mavis. "Wilson came in soon after
you went to DIR. Bateson and called Let
think why Lettuce has never come back
to u.s.
lady Ashgrove never knew how she
got out her story, but the two girls re-
ceived it in widely different ways.
ut is monstrous perfectly mon
strous!" cried Beryl why, every one
knows it was l to whom Sir Richard al
ways paid attention at Aspendale Let
tice is mean little wretch to come be-
tween me and my lover!"
Mavis was far more just.
"If you look back, Beryl, / don't think
Sir Richard pald you such special atten-
tions; he made much of all of us l
expect Lettice was so utterly uncon-
scious that he could not make his wishes
palmer"
Mother ought to refuse her consent i"
said Beryl angrily. "Why should Let
tice be a great lady while we are semi
paupers?"
my DEAR" said Lady Ashgrove, let
tice is a perfect baby in worldly mat
tiers; / shall have the use of her money
for a good while to come-certainly dur
ing the two first years of her widow
hood, and probably for many more.
have never troubled you girls about
money matters, but l had better tell
you now that l am heavily in debt l
have kad to dip heavily into my capital,
and at present my income is less than
five hundred year. have held on by
desperate effort, hoping one Of you
would marry this summer, and then /
could 60 to some cheap place abroad to
retrench. If you would only see it
Alright, Lettice's marriage is a perfect
providence, for Aspendale will be our