Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-16

For Love Will Still Be Lord Of All"
You must not be afraid of my
father, Madeline. Come and see him
now" 1t was Lancelote who spok :.
Six months had elapsed since Mrs.
Nanbrugh's death and during those
six months Col Vanbrugh had been
seldom seen by any of his friends. He
had shut himself up at Aldersleigh and
mOurned for his wife, his friends said.
as If they had been the most devoted
couple in the world. 1t was the very
fact of this reconciliation which had
made her death SO hard to bear. He
had hoped for a new life with her.
but her new life was to be reached
only through the gate of death and he
was left alone.
The London house was given up. 1t
was found that Venetia, with her usual
impetuOsity, as soon as she was con-
WINGED that Madeline was her niece
had added a codicil to her will and left
her considerable part of her fortune.
letter to Lancelot explained her
motives for so doing. you and your
father have Aldersleigh," she said.
but Madeline has nothing Nv
brothers daughter shall not come to
you portionless. If you marry her. it
will still be yours, and if not she will
be independent. I think my husband
will acknowledge that I am doing
what is just and right"
SO Madeline was q woman of fortune
after all. In spite of this she would
have gladly gone back to her friend
Miss Joyce, if Miss Joyce would have
mad her; but as the estimable woman
pointed out, Madeline had other duties
now. One of them was the nursing
and cherishing of poor old Lady Esler.
who, after the horrible disclosure of
Constance's guilt, fell into a very deli
cate state of health and could only be
cOmforted by the presence of Madeline.
to whom she now chung with kind of
pathetic affection. Recent bereave-
ments in her family had deprived her
of her only heirs and relations. and it
was whispered that a great part of the
fortune that had given Lady Fsler so
much Importance in the world would
probably be inherited by Madeline.
SO that she would be a rich woman
"a much richer woman than Lancelot
would ever have thought of marrying
had he not loved her so long and so
we'll and been her cousin to boot.
i She was staying at Hurst and Lance
lot had, after some difficulty, induced
the colonel to come over for the day.
He had scarcely seen Madeline and had
not yet been formally asked to give his
consent to the marriage. And Made
line was little shy.
He is on the terrace Let me take
you to meet him, dear"
'Lancelot, I am afraid"
Foolish darling! He has the kind
est, tenderest heart in the world"
I But that makes it all the worse be-
cause I shall remind him perhaps of
things that he would rather not be
reminded of"
You don't know him, dearest, or
you would not talk of him as if he
were so small-minded. All, there he
is. Now, you must come"
anu liz uISN uSI DN Tic uduu Oul
at the long French window and on the
terrace they came face to face with
Col. Vanbrugh.
He was thin and pale and there was
a great melancholy in his dark eyes
but his face was so kind, with all its
sadness. that Madeline could not but
be treasured.
This is Madeline. father" Lancelot
said, and Roger Vanbrugh took her
gently by the hand, looked at her and
kissed her on the forehead.
You are very like your aunt he
said, gently And then after little
pause: And when are you going tC
make Lancelot happy, my dear child?
Madeline blushed crimson and Ian
Celot drew little nearer to her side.
L think she is only waiting for you
to ask her that question, father"
Then let it be soon, my dear. Why
postpone your happiness? Life is not
long; make the most of it while you
: are young and love one another"
The words were very gently spoken
but they impressed the young people
greatly and as they thought of his
broken life and wasted love they vow.