The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-10-07
ALetter That Came
a Day Too Late
By MAY c. ETHERIDCE

at home. But no one seemed to know
much about him, and, being a reticent
man, he kept his past history to him
self.
Marmaduke had lived alone in a big
house which he had occupied when his
wife was living. When he died a neph-
ew who had an eye to his estate went
to his house and looked for will. He
found none. This gave the inheritance
to the helrs-at-law. The nephew, John
williams, hunted up these persons and
found a 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 a 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 chancery. A great many
claims might be made by persons who
would try to prove falsely that they
were related TO thu 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 a proper dis
tribution of the property.
Among those who attended the meet
ing was a young girl of sixteen. She
took a 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
a 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 a letter addressed to
Edwin Marmaduke. She had been Civ
en- money by 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's
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 it was stated on the envelope that
it was to be 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
ed the girl and pitied her. She lad
signed no name on the list of relatives,
for she had not come as claimant.
but for information. When the meeting
adjourned young Marmaduke Joined
the girl and asked her if he could do
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.
but this had been given her there to
distinguish her from the other orphans.
Steven Marmaduke was much i'm
pressed by the story of the girl who had
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 more
about herself. What could she tell?
The letter she bore to one who was
dead and her baby clothes were all
the evidence there was as to her iden-
tity. When she had been left at the
foundlings' home. whoever had re-
ceived her had wrapped the letter In
the clothes, and there it had remained
ever since. On the envelope was writ
ten ITO be delivered when the child is
old enough to act for herself"
Steven Marmaduke advised the girl
to open the letter, and she did so in
his presence. 1t read:
Father-For the love you bore me when
1 was a child, like my child who may
some day hand you this. help her, for she
is of your own blood. Henry is dead. and
my days are numbered. Your daughter,
KATE.
When Marmaduke read this letter he
turned to the girl with wonder in his
eyes and said;
"Rejoice. little one, for you are
heiress to a priacely estate. Guard
well this letter and any other evidence
you may have as to your identity"
An Investigation proved that the girl
was Alice Marmaduke Spencer. Her
mother had married in opposition to
her fathers express command. and he
had never forgiven her. Poverty and
sickness had come to her and her hus-
band, and just before her death sho
had sent her child to the foundlings'
home.
Learning Of his daughters death. Ed