Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-03
A FOSTER
CHILD
How a Conspiracy Was Or
ganized to Rob Her
BY ESTHER VANDEVEER

own account, came to his cabin one
evening sick and discouraged. He had
some time before entered a claim on
which he had found evidence of gold
and had been endeavoring to show that
it was of sufficient value to enable him
to secure capital to develop it. While
working in the rain he had caught a
severe cold and had on this memora-
BILE evening come to his home never to
leave it again. In few days he died.
Trowbridge left a wife and little
daughter three years of age. The
widow was absolutely penniiess. She
made every effort to support herself
and her little girl, but she, too, soon
broke down in health and followed her
husband to the grave.
The only person who ministered to
her in her last illness was negro wo-
man commonly called Aunt Sue. At
Mrs. Trowbridge's death Aunt Sue car
ried the little girl to her own home and
took care Of her the same as one of her
own children.
Twelve years passed. Edith Trow-
old enough to understand that she was
living with a different race from her
own, left her foster mother with deep
gratitude for her kindness to go forth
into the world to earn her own living.
The old woman parted with her re-
luctantly. But her own children were
at work, and she realized that it was
time Edith should be. Besides, it
was proper that the white girl should
associate with those of her own color.
Edith TrOWbridge found a position
as nurse with a Mrs. Kimball, a lady
who shortly afterward removed to st.
Louis, taking the girl with her. Ediths
story interested her employer so far
that she sent her to school, where, be-
ing very bright, she learned rapidly.
At nineteen she had become a member
of the Kimball family, though she con-
tfnued to relieve Mrs. Kimball of many
household duties.
Edith Trowbridge was known dur
ing the time she lived with Aunt Sue
by the name of Springer, that being
Aunt Sues name, SO far as she had a
name. While with Mrs. Kimball she
became known as Edith Kimball. At
twenty years Of age she was enjoying
many social advantages and was a IA
vorite. Among her young men friends
was Arthur Ingersoll, who had recently
been admitted to the bar and gave
promise of a successful career. Inger-
soil fell in love with Edith. She recip-
rocated,, and they became engaged.
One day a man appeared at Aunt
Sues cabin and told her that Edward
Springer, her master when she had
been a slave, had died and left her and
her children $1,000 each. All she had
to do to secure her inheritance was to
give him a list Of her children. Aunt
Sue could not write, but she gave the
man the names required and, in order
to serve her foster child, included
Edith. The man took down these
names, and Aunt Sue made her mark
at the bottom of the list, a neighbor
being called in to witness the sigma
ture
1t was about this time that a letter
came to the st. Louis postoff1ce ad
dressed to Edith TroWbridge at the
letter, wondering who it was who knew
her by her real name. The writer
asked her if she would sell a foul
acre lot, of which she was the owner
on Clear creek, near Georgetown, Colo.
and if so what price she put upon it.
This was Greek to Edith, who ha(
no knowledge of such lot and believed
the writer had made a mistake. 81
she wrote him to this effect. He wrote
back that the land had been pre-empt
ed by one Ethan Trowbridge seven
teen years before and it was supposed
that she was her fathers only heir.
Edith now referred the letters to he
lover, who took the matter up an,
through a correspondent in Colorad
discovered that valuable vein Of or
had been discovered on property ad
joining the claim entered by Etha
Trowbridge shortly before his death
The vein was supposed to extern
through the Trowbridge claim, an
many persons were trying to find til
owner of the Trowbridge property
order to buy it.
On learning these facts Ingersol too
the information to his sweetheart, an
there was joyful meeting, Edith ha'
ing become an heiress. It was a
ranged between them that he shoul
go to Colorado as her agent and loo
into the matter. So after Edith ha
signed power of attorney to that e
feet they parted, and the next day Il
gersoll started westward.
That was the last meeting betwee
the lovers for some time. The ne,
word Edith received from her low
was letter from Colorado in whie
he Informed her that he had receive
a severe blow, which must also fall {
Der with equal force. He informed b
that he had seen convincing proofs tn
she was the daughter not Of Eths
Trowbridge, but Of a negress name