Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-06-24
AL.etter That Came
a Day Too Late
By MAY c. ETHERlDGE

Edwin Marmaduke at his death left
large estate. He was widower
with no children. at least no children
at home But no one seemed TO know
much about him., and, being reticent
man. he ke,,t his past history to him
self. 49,. .. s...
Marmadnke had lived alone In big
house which he had occupied when his
wife was living. When he died neph-
ew who had an eye to his estate went
TO his house and looked for Will. de
found none This gave the inheritance
to the heirs-at law. The nephew, John
Williams. hunted up these persons and
found large number OF them. But
they were all descendants of the de-
ceased's brothers and sisters, none OF
whom could claim descent from him
direct.
williams called meeting of Marina
dukes relatives and told them that I'M
less they took concerted action In the
matter the estate was liable to be
wasted In ehancery A great many
claims might be made by persons who
would try to prove falsely that they
were related to the deceased. Some OF
these claims might be allowed. and
money might be wasted by the court In
disproving others. OF course the mat
ter Of the distribution was In the
courts. but the heirs would facilitate
matters and save wastage by acting
together so AS to secure proper dis
tribution of the property.
Among those who attended the meet
ing was young girl Of sixteen. She
took n back seat and listened to what
was said without remark. being the
only one present who said nothing.
She was very poorly dressed and had
n hungry look. When those present
were requested to step forward and
put their names on paper. giving their
relationship to the deceased, this girl
| hung back Williams. seeing her, ask
ed her if she had any claim on the
Marmaduke estate. In reply she said
that she had recently arrived In the
city from Canada, where she had been
| discharged from a founding asylum.
At leaving she had been given the
| baby clothes she had on when left at
| the asylum and letter addressed to
| Edwin Marmaduke, She had been Civ
| en- money by a director of the institu-
ton to go and deliver the letter. On
arriving she had inquired where Ed
win Marmaduke lived and on reach
| ing the house had found Grape on the
| door. Persons to whom she had told
| her story informed her Of the meeting
OF the heirs-at-law to Mr.. Marmaduke' 5
estate and suggested that she might
| find out something concerning her mis-,
| sion from some of them.
| Williams asked the girl why she did
not open the letter, and she replied
| that 1t was stated on the envelope that
1t was to he opened by Edwin Marina,
duke and by no other person.
| A young man who signed his name
| Steven Marmaduke and claimed to be
| a granddaughter Of the deceased motto
cd the girl and pitied her. She had
| signed no name on the list OF relatives
for she had not come as a claimant
| but for information. When the meeting
adjourned young Marmaduke Joined
| the girl and asked her Ii he could dc
| anything for her She thanked him
and said that since the person she had
| come to see was dead she would re
! turn to the place from which she had
come. He asked her name. and she
said she had no name. At the found
| lings' home she had been called Ruth
i but this had been given her there &c
distinguish her from the other orphans
Steven Marmaduke was much i'm
pressed by the story of the girl who hat
been born into the world under such
unfortunate circumstances. He went
with her to the house where she was
staying, asking her to tell him mors
about herself. What could she tell
The letter she bore to one who was
dead and her baby clothes were al
the evidence there was as to her iden
;. tity. When she had been left Mt tn,
fonndlings' home. whoever had re
ceived her had wrapped the letter In
the clothes, and there II had remained
ever since. On the envelope was writ
ten ITO be delivered when the child II
old enough to act for herself"
: Steven Marmaduke advised the CIR
TO open the letter. and she did so IL
, his presence. It read:
/ 4 Father.-Far the love YOU bore me whe,
was child, like my child who ma.
some day hand YOU this help her. for sh
! ts of your own bleed Henry is dead an,
| nay DAYS are numbered, Your daughter
KATE
' When Marmaduke read this letter h.
! turned to the girl with wonder In hi
! eyes and said:
Rejoice. little one, for you ar
8 heiress tn a princely estate. Guar
= well this letter and any other evisienc
| you may have as to your Identity
Al An Investigation proved that the gir
! was Alice Marmaduke Spencer, He
! mother had married In opposition I
Z her fathers express command. and h
had never forgiven her. Poverty an
: sickness had come to her and her hus
Y band. aud Just before her death sh
v had sent her child to the foundling
home.
- Learning of his daughters death, T.,