Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-06-19
CHAPTER III.

apThereis a letter Tor you from Aspen
s.,o Norman" said his youngest sister,
u;rl of IA, when Sir Norman came
me so his cheap semi-detached villa
at Streatham :.
s-on his title on coming to London, as
- said it would be against him in try
;ng 10 earn his bread. But when he was
amounted secretary to an insurance
COMPANY they preferred for him to re-
s1me it, thinking it looked well on
+bpir prospectus, and he agreed at once,
tboncb he was painfully conscious that
sS;r Norman" was out of keeping with
Ebe little villa and salary of three
hundred year. Mrs, Hamilton had
ffty pounds year pension as an Off
ce-;s widow, and of the three girls who
we've still unmarried one was earning
her living as a teacher in neighboring
school.
Sir Norman took the letter upstairs
when he went to prepare for tea, for
his mother sorrowed so heavily after her
lost home that he could never bear to
mention Aspendale in her presence, and
no doubt this was why Nora had met
him in the hall with the letter. 1t was
addressed in a strange hand and bore a
black border; but for all that Sir Nor
man never guessed that it came from
his enemy, as his sisters persisted in
calling young Lady Hamilton; it had
been sent in the first place to Mr.. Car
Ter. and redirected by him in the same
envelope.
AsPENDALE CASTLE, March s1-Sir:
l only learned day or two age that Mrs.
Hamilton had left the dover house and the
hon IN hnd kn.
stopped
family hate and despise me, but indeed, in
deed this Is NOT my fault. As soon as /
heard what had happened told my mother
the money must be paid, but she will not
hear Of II. and says that until | am of age
/ can do nothing
/ shall not be twenty-one for nearly two
years; but there is another way l can put
things right. If | give up Aspendaie, it
you uS1t get this shan write to Mr.. Carter and
tell him | resign everything to you. am,
LETTICE HAMILTON.
Poor Lettice! She had got Mr.. Car
ter's name and address from Mr.. Stubs,
for she felt sure he would know where
Sir Norman was and send on the letter.
Peer little girl" thought Norman,
half pityingly. 81 don't think her
wealth seems TO have brought her much
happiness. j remember now Garnet, who
performed the marriage ceremony, told
ne she had the sweetest, saddest face
he had ever seen, and that he felt sure
she had nothing to do with the letter
mother received. All the same, my poor
little lady, ] can't take advantage of
your generosity I'll look in on Carter
tomorrow and see if he has heard from
her"
He could easily do that, since he left
his Office an hour before the lawyer quit
ted the Temple, and he had a fancy
that his call was expected by the alac-
rity with which he was ushered into
Mr.. Carriers private room.
Il was just writing to ask you to
come tomorrow" said the solicitor q
expect your visit means that you too
have heard from Lady Hamilton
"Yes, it is impossible for me to let
her despoil herself, but it was a gener-
GUS thought"
81 got her letter this morning, and an
hour afterwards ] received visit from
her mother"
"Who naturally opposes the girls gen.
erous wish?"
"She did not mention it. Lady Ash
grove went on like q madwoman; she
said that grief for her husband had sent
Lettuce Hamilton out of her mind, and
that she ran away from the castle yes
terday in a fit of insanity. Lady Ash
grove wants me to set detectives on
Lady Hamilton's track and bring her
back to the castle, where she can be
kept in seclusion under her mothers
care"
"And the mother never mentioned her
daughters letter to your"
Never once. told her that I had
received a note from Lady Hamilton
which showed no signs of mental weak
ness, and that l absolutely refused to
set detectives on her track I also took
the liberty of informing Lady Ashgrove
that, as the allowance was paid to her
for her daughters use. should Lady
Hamilton not be residing with her when
Michaelrpas came round the next quar-
tcrs installment would not be paid"
This is Lady Hamilton's letter to
me-" said Norman. 81 could never have
taken anything from her, but l rather
like the letter.
And l like mine," said Mr.. Carter.
Would you care to see itf"
1t was very short and simple, but
Norman thought it was more touching
even than the one to himself
Dear SIR: / married Sir Richard Hamil-
aoh because was told he could not die In
peace II refused his last earthly wish
never thought was robbing his family As
my mother raises difficulties to my giving
w part Of the Hamilton property ! would
prefer to resign It all. When you get this
snail have left AsPendaie forever, and
VIII you please take the right steps for
glFing up the estate and money TO SIR Nor
man Tell him he would have taken both
ss matter Of course had ! died. and that
from iron this day forward l shall be dead 10
all VINO have ever known me.
Poor little girl! There is not much
sign OF madness in that letter." said
Mr. Carter.
No, indeed; but it is monstrous to
mink of that child alone in the world
and penniless."
Not penniless," corrected Mr.. Carter
LADY Ashgrove expressly said that Sir
richards purse and all its contents
were given to his wife after his death,
ana that as she has never been known
70 spend anything since she must have
some pounds at her disposal The ques-
''on ls-what are we to dot"