Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-01-18
CHAPTER l.

and whose face was furrowed with age
whose figure was bent and whose
hands trembled with wealtness-an old
man who had not been pleased to
grow old-whose thoughts, cares and
interests had been bound up IN this
world and who knew no other lie
sat In an easy chair his head thrown
back, his eyes closed, his hands fold
ed his face hopeless in It's expression.
The Clicfdens had once been the
leading family in tho county, ana
Cliefden Hall, the most hospitable man
sion In It., but long before the present
Squire was born Cliefden Park was
sold. It's name changed, and all that re-
manned of the once vast estates was u
low, rambling, picturesque place calico
white ClIffc. 1t Is an awkward mat
ter to be born with the tastes OF n
grand duke, a love OF luxury and de-
sire for position, when one possesses
very limited mears. This was what
had happened to Squire William Cliof-
den. His fathers one prayer; one SIN
cere desire had been that he should
win the old lands back again. lie had
died with such words on his lips; and
they had set his sons heart on IRE.
But II was much easier for him to
spcnd thnn to save He went abroad.
hoping always That some wonderful
change would enable him to retrieve
his fallen fortunes. though 1t never
came. At that time he was hand
some, gallant young man. with no
more idea of the value of money than
a child.
He passed some years quicksilver
mining in Spain, and then returned to
England, none the richer for his wan
derings in search of wealth. Soon att
crward he married fair, placid girl
who had large fortune, and with
whom he lived happily enough. Cath
crime Somcrs loved her handsome
erratic yGung husband, and was quite
content. She never wondered whether
he had had other loves or other Inter
ests. she was placid, quietly happy
One day terrible accident happened
to the Squire. He was struck by n
falling branch Of n tree, and carried
homo scnsooss. IIyon now he suffered
from tho effects of the Injury which
had nearly proved fatal ut the time he
received IT, During his dollrIum his
one cry was Dolores, poloras!" In u
voice 80 full OF acute pain and misery
that 1t brought tears to tho eyes Of
those who heard him, DOLORES, Dol
oros'" wna reiterated by the sick man
all through tho dark hours Of the night
md the carly hours Of morn, while the
simple. unauspectlng English wlFo
knclt Ivy his side and wondered who
Dolores was
Az he grow better the Squire ceased
to repeat tho uamc; and his wife be-
llcved the cry to have arisen from
some wandering Of his fevcred brain,
When his little daughter was born, he
said that she must be called DOLORES"
md his fair wife smtNd as she said,
"That was the name YOU repeated 40
often when YOU wcro Ill.," So the hNau-
tIml golden hatred child was called
DOLORES" n name ns ill-sujted to her
bright blonde lovolncss az anything
could we'll he.
Whatever the romance or tragedy II
the Squirc's life had boon, II was mover
discovered II n wild. deep, unhappy
love. It died with him and was never
told. nor did he ever " ray himself in
any way respecting It, except when his
voice took a more musical tone IN TIC
uttcranco of the namC DOLORES"
The gentle wife died and was buried.
Then the Squire devot ID himself to the
task Of making fortune for Dolores.
But Fatc was not kind to him Tie
liked to speculate, but no speculation
over turned out we'll for him; he lost
more than he made; and now. when he
was old when energy, spirit, and hope
were all gone the news had come to
him that he was utterly ruined
He had gathered together every
available shilling he had even mort
gagged White Clifc, so sure was he of
success he had invested his money in
mining shares, which he had been as
sured would bring him In thirty per
cent, and sell ut any time for thrice
their value. He was certain to make
large fortuneso the agents OF the
new company told HIM And the
Squire never very keen where money
was concerned, never very sound OF
Judgment In making Investments
only too delighted. He staked every
farthing he had In the world, and for
one year he enjoyed wonderful In.
crease OF income But that morning.
he had received lcttcr which told
him OF his utter ruin The company
was n complete swlndlc the manage,
had absconded with all that rouainet
of the capital. and there was nothing
but ruin for all the deluded share,
holders
The Squire had received that letter
In the morning. and he had hardl,
stirred since For many hours he hat
remained just ms he was, trying to re
alize the utter, abject misery int
which he had fallen. His hanls folded
his nyes closed his life wrnclked m,