The Glenwood post., 1923-03-22
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Bob Hampton's Z
Revenge =
By MYRA CURTIS LANE
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20. 1922. Western Newspaper Union. }

She had been married in early
youth, her husband had died, she had
taken up singing, become famous in
grand opera; and she cherished her
personal reputation more than her
professional one.
A beautiful woman at thirty-tive-
tall, exQuisitely nodded. tragic hero
Inc who called down thunders of
applause when She swept on the
stage; in private life unapproachable.
She had no heart, her critics said.
Perhaps she had loved Lestrange so
well. that no other man could take
his place.
Bob Hampton was her closest
friend, If such II woman could be said
to have friends. She had known him
eight, ten, twelve years. He was said
to be madly in love with her. She
held him off, laughed at hiin, accept
ed his invitations. He was much
older than she-he must have been
well into the fifties when Emma was
thirty-five.
Emma. why won't you marry me?"
lie picducQ. II 1911 us IL IL
mean the end of your career. You
shall be as Independent as you are
now. / am very rich man-every-
thing 1 have is yours, and l only ask
to be permitted to share your life
little, because l love YOU
She refused him.
"We've been friends so long, my
dear. Is it fair to refuse me, unless
you care for anyone else?"
Then Emma answered him. and it
was just that sort of heartlessness
that had made her so many silent
enemies.
What you propose is impossible.
Bob, and-and I've got to go further
than that. DO you know that our be-
ing seen about together Is gravely
compromising meY'
Meaning" asked Bob.
1--WE shall have to part forever
Bob. I've always valued my reputa-
tion more than anything in the world"
Emma. that's mania of yours. No
one has ever assailed your reputation.
It's perfectly proper for me to be
your friend"
ut may be mania, Bob, but all
the same this must be good-by."
Bob Hampton looked ut her, and in
that moment he seemed to see Emma
Lestrange in all her coldness and
selfshness more clearly than he had
ever done before.
"Emma, you're hard woman, and
I'm going to punish you for it," he
said.
Emma shrugged her shoulders. Bob
had ceased to interest her. They
parted. That was their last meeting
He wrote her letter, but she did not
answer 1t. Her career occupied all
her time. And few months later
Bob Hampton died suddenly.
Two weeks later Emma received n
letter from his lawyers asking her to
call. Mystified, yet hoping that he
had left her a legacy, she went to
their offices.
ITS about Mr.. Hamptons will. Mrs.
Lestrange," the senior partner eX-
planned. "It appears that Mr.. Hamp-
tons sister and brother intend to con-
test 1t. Yon will, of course, be Joint
defendant with the co-heiress."
81 don't understand" she an
swered
SIS it possible you do not know
that he has left you practically all his
estate. to the exclusion Of members
of his family?"
He went on to tell her that the es-
tate was valued at something over a
million dollars; that she was to re
ceive all except $4,000, which was
to go to colored woman. an old fam
lily servant.
"Of course you'll fight. They are
alleging undue influence"
81 won't fight" cried Emma. II
can't afford that sort of publicity"
"They refuse to compromise"
''Id rather give up everything"
Impossible. madam. The other
legatee will fight for her 100000. 1t
is impossible for your name to be dis
associated from the contest"
"3ut it means ruin for me. People
will say"
She stopped in dsmay at the pc
culiar look on the lawyers face.
"My dear madam, none Of us is eX-
empt from unjustiiied scandal. 1t will
hardly matter. with so much money at
stake, will it? For Mr.. Hampton was
undoubtedly sane, and you will be
very rich woman"
She looked at him in terror. and the
full meaning of Bob Hampton's re-
venge came to her understanding.
How exquisitely 1t had been planned.
So long as she lived people would
point their fingers at her as the wom-
an who had influenced Bob Hampton
to make over his property to her.
And the colored woman-Oh, he'd
tied her up nicely!
She went out with shaking knees.
~ wish I'd married you, Bob" she whis-
r,.. ~, 81,