Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-01-18
! ! A Golden Heart.
j BERTHA NJ CLAY.
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
l[ETI ElLEzIG1[Eg [aI1[ElIE[EG

the dropping hgure, and lald her lev
ing arms around the Squiro's neck.
Papa" she said, "can you not cheer
up? 1t might have been w.rse-death
Is worse"
Worse, Dolorcs?" he questioned,
sadly. "Ah, no! Death Is much more
beautiful than poverty and ruin. |
could face death with smile; but |
nm the last Of the Cliefdens, and the
disgrace is worse than death"
"There Is no disgrace for you, papa.
II Is not your fault that other men are
roeuGs and swindlers. Tell me, dear,
what will he the worst for us?"
"The worst for me will be the work
house or an almshouse in my old age;
for you there will be hard work, Do
lores!"
is 1t MS bad as that" she asked.
wondcringly Must we leave White
ClHe?"
There Is not even chair in the
house which belongs to u.s." he replied.
"The house, pictures, furniture, plate,
are no longer ours. We are absolute
paupcrs, Dolores-and that Is hard
thing to say
every hard, papa, but ] am quite
sure / can work. can make money
enough to keep you and myself. ! will
do anything teach, paint, sing; /
would go on the stage-l would do
anything to help you"
A softcned look came over his worn
face
Il know 1t, Dolores; but you have
never been used to work The Clicf
dens have until now kept some OF their
old state. II could only have lived
at White Cliffe until 1t was time to
die IF could only have slept whore
the Clefdcns sleep, But I.shnll die in
an almshouse, and be buried like n
paupcr. How COLD you work for me,
chlld?" he continued. 81 have lived In
luxury all my life; | must have dainty
food and choice wine; must have
comforts-good fires, good clothes, my
books, my papers. How could you earn
money for all those things?"
Before she had time to answer there
came great peal Mt the doOr-bell.
II cannot see any one, Dolores" he
said; and oven then the very utter
nnce of the beloved name seemed to
tighten his sorrow. "Dolorcs!" he re-
peatcd, dwelling tcndcrly on the word.
But the visitor would take no denial;
he had followed the servant to the
drawnE-room.
81 must come In, Cllcrdcn," he said
II must see you"
1T Ia Lord Rhysworth," said DO
lorCs, unclasplng her arms. with a lit
tie flush on the face.
Tho visitor entered a tall, aristo-
cratic-looking man, rather above mid
die age, but not old enough to he called
elderly. He was not handsome but his
face was that Of u noble, generous
man.
"Nou must forgive me, Squire" he
said. 81 could not help coming to sec
YOU IL the news hear true" Has
tho company falcd?"
.,ycs, and am miucd man
ruined pcnnilcss shall soon h.
homeless / tho last OF the Cllcrdons,
| In NV old npn must dir-a paupcrl"
"Thc Sources voice sunk into mur-
muir and his head fell upon his hrcnst.
Lord Rbvsworth turned to tho girl.
whose face had grown colnrlcss with
emotion.
as Il quito true, Miss Clicrdcn?" he
asked
"ouito true my lord Il" she answered
81 am worry sorry y" soid Lord Rhys-
worth yho words wore simplc Int
thcv hod Tho ring or sincerity ond
truth "I nm moro sorry thon ~ tha
s,r,o misfortune had h,nncpod IN INV
GOLF" no co,tinuod 40 tbere No wov
ont ~ 10"
an, F." o,sworod tbo c,,,r, s,alv
81 n,r., ,o,yo v,hito C,;ro ora ana
rof,no /, , a,,, ,ous, ar a., o,ns
h,usn ona na,,ro, an Do,oro, my,
a,r,,ur, ,.,,, horo 10 ,o,,, ,,,, ~,
loci 40 40 r,,osdor, ava ,,oh /, ~,
,...t.,, r4 ., -
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