Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-07-26

1t ID dDouTu 10 suppose IldC Ne "OlIu nave
sensitive or refined feelings. l have no
doubt that goOdly sum of money will
make ample amends to him for the loss Of
his VIE. What do you say, Mr.. Fordr'
81 say, may Heaven pardon you, my
lordln
THANK you" was the sarcastic return.
1.-THE honor of my name is dearer to me
than anything on earth besides-how dear.
even you could tell. / should sully it if l
offered that man home here"
you sully it far more by seeking to
part those whom God has joined. My
lord" continued the lawyer, with passion
ate eloquence, ~ no longer wonder at the
French Revolution-I shall wonder no
more at the revolt of the poor against the
rich-if these be the ways in which the
great men of the world treat the humber
ones. II you had two doyes-two tender
birds-you would hesitate before you
parted them; but this man, with a mans
soul, keen to suffer. with a mans heart,
full of deep affections, you will torture,
and not even own that the torture is pain"
Lord Carlswood smiled, and no great
anger darkened his face.
81 like you none the less, Ford, for your
frank speaking: there are few who would
dare say so much to me. My opinion is
still Unchanged; shall receive my grand
child Ismay and her son only on those
conditions. | will leave you to consider
the matter. If you decline the further
management of my affairs, so be tiff
not, | will authorize you 10 make all ar
rangements."
Left by himself, the lawyer thought the
matter over.
IF refuse some one else will do it, he
said-'some one who has no influence over
him, and who can never do anything for
their good; have some little influence,
and | will use it for their benefit. Let
him have Ismay and her son; his heart
will soften in time, and then l shall be
able to persuade him to receive the hus-
band, too"
When, afterwarG, Lord Carlswood came
for his answer, Mr. Ford said
az will undertake the affair, my lord;
but let me tell you first that | do so under
protest. In my opinion the whole thing is
cruel and wicked"
That same day he returned to Ashburn-
ham. He tried to comfort himself by say
ing that it would all come right in time;
but his heart was heavy within him, he
did not like the commission.
II must see Mrs. Waldron alone" he
thought; cit will not be fair to her il | tell
her before her husband. She must have
time to think it over alone"
Once more at Ashburnham he watched
Paul Waldron leave his home, and then
he went to the cottage and asked for his
wife. She was looking more beautiful
than ever, he thought. She had been out
in the garden tying up the roses; the per
fume of the crimson blossoms seemed "
linger about her; her face was exquisite in
its dainty bloom. She smiled graciously
when she saw her visitor.
You have returned to make the sketch"
she said; but there was no answering smile
on his face
81 have returned" he replied, because
/ want to speak to you, Mrs. Waldron. |
have something most important to say to
you. Can you spare me a little time, now,
at onceY'
Her beautiful face grew pale with ap-
prenenslOn.
at is nothing that need brighten you"
he said. "Some people would perhaps
call it good news; | shall leave YOU to
think of it as you will. | should like to
see you alone" he continued and lsmay
led the way to the pretty seat under the
elm-tree.
This is my drawing room," she said,
with bright smile, but l do not know
that have received visitor here before"
She had gathered some roses as they
walked down the path, and while he talked
to her she pulled the fragrant leaves from
the stems. Long years afterward, the
perfume of rose wildly recalled the
scene to Eer-sO wildly that she could not
endure the flowers Nor did he ever for
get 1.-THE garden with its fragrant bios
SONS, the tall elm-tree, the cool spreading
shade, the bright, lovely face framed in
the bright brown hair, the white hands
playing with the crimson buds-a picture
so beautiful that Mr.. Ford looked on in
admiration too great for words.
He was silent for some little time, his
heart troubled within him at what he had
TO say. He looked ut Mrs. Waldron, and
while he owned to himself that he had
never seen any woman one half so fair, he
thought how much better and happier she
would be living here in the midst of beau
ty and peace than tossed about on the
waves of the great world.
lsmay wondered what he was thinking
of, why he looked so grave, what anxious
thoughts brought so stern an expression
to his face, and why he was CHANGING at
her with so strange a mingling of won
der, fear, regret, and admiration. Her
face grew crimson under his lingering
gaze
al have no need to fear him." she thought
to herself, with some little impotence.
''He must have something important to
say, or he would never have asked me to
come out here"
what have you to tell mef" she asked
{ length, with coquettish smile.
And then the grave look returned to his
face, and he sighed deeply.
Il do not like my mission" he said.
"You must always remember that l I'M
dertook it sorely against my will, but that
my motive for acting as do is that may
be OF use to you in the time to come"
His grave voice, his earnest manner, sur
prised her. She raised her lovely face to
him, and on it was the simple wonder of a
startled child.
only Heaven knows" continued the
grave voice, whether what have to say
TO you is for your good, or whether evil
will GENE of it. Listen, Mrs. Waldron,
and decide as you will"
Slowly gravely, deliberately weighing
each word, Mr.. Ford told her the whole
story, emitting no single grain OF evid-
ence, dwelling on her mothers folly as
lightly as possible. yet making it quite
apparent. As she listened the dainty wild
rose bloom faded from her face, her lips
grew white as the lilies, her eyes dilated
with wonder that was almost fear. Her
whole figure trembled as a leaf sways in
the wind. He finished, and his last words
sounded to her rs though they came from
the clouds. a red mist swan before her
eyes; and then she recovered herself with
u great gaSpiug sigh.
You must be brave" he said; you
have worse to hear"
And l." she said, lam really that great
lords graudchjld?"
There is not a legal doubt OF it, he re-
piled. Listen yet, Mrs. Waldron. You
are undoubtedly the daughter of Katrine
ismay CarlSwood, who ran away from
home with Thornton Cameron. You are
the graudchild or Lord Carlswood, the
master of Bralyn and its rich dependen-
cies. The child playing there may one day
be Lionel, Lord Carlswood; you yourself
may be a wealthy heiress. But there is
one condition attaching 10 all this-a con-
dition l am ashamed to lay before you.
and one that cannot advise you to &C
cept The option rests entirely with your
self"
"A condition. she repeated, her face re-
covering its color, her eyes flashing with
light You do not know how | have al
ways lonSed % be rich cannot believe
that NV longing is gratified: there will be
no rOuGITlpnS 100 r1rr1rTrtr rDr w.