Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-01-11

spoke of "Lance's little cAild." II
those words drove her to her death
who shall wonde.
She saw the stars in the water and
thought she was going TO them, and
perhaps, on the Great Day, that
thought, that imagination may plead
for her.
1t was mad love, cruel, mad love.
Some instinct came to Lord Chandos
when he read that letter that all was
not well. He started at once for
Rashleigh.
The morning sun was high in the
heavens when he reached there. Co
ing at once to the mill-stream, he had
seen the body Of the woman he loved
floating there, her long hair tangled In
| the water-l lilies, smile such as comes
| from perfect peace on her face.
| He did the wisest thing he could
have done--he brought Farmer Noel
to the spot, and told him the story,
while she lay with her face raised to
the morning skies-the story of mad
love.
Farmer Noel uttered no reproaches
Il never thought she would live a
happy life or die happy death, he
said-"it was written so In her face.
The two kept the secret. In small
place like Rashleigh such an occur
renee Is a nine days wonder. Every
one believed that the hapless lady had
fallen into the stream as she was pass
ing to the woods. Although the farm
er grieved sorely after her. he never
told anyone that she was his niece, and
no one recognized her.
There was a verdict Of found
drowned, and everyone thought the
farmer was generous because he under
took the funeral expenses.
How Lord Chandos grieved, no
words could tell-it was as though the
never spoke of his sorrow but it made
him old in his youth and killed the
best part of his life in him.
No one, even ever so family, con
nected the inquest at Rashleigh with
the disappearance of Madame Vanira.
The world went mad u, first with
anger and disappointment, then ru-
NOR was spread that madame had
gone to America, and had married
millionaire there.
The world recovered it's good temper
and laughed Then another grand
singer appeared on the scene. and Le-
one was forgotten. The only person
to whom Lord Chandos ever told the
truth was the Countess of Lanswell,
and it shocked her so greatly that she
gave up all society for few days, and
then as the world had done before,
forgot 1t.
Lord Chandos never forgot; the
world was never the same to him.
His wife's words came true; he was
kindness itself to her, and she was
very happy. She never even heard Of
Madame Vanira's untmely end nor
did she ever know who Madame Va
Mira was. She always respected her,
because she had kept her word, and
time passed on she, too-forgot
Lord Chandos never forgot.
Fair daughters and stalwart sons
grew around him. He was kind, cheer
full, even gay, but in the depths of his
heart he mourned over her To please
him Lady Chandos gave to one Of her
daughters the name Of Leone, and 1t
was ptiful to hear the pathos with
which he spoke 1t.
OF all his children he loves Leone
best. In his dreams he sees the golden
gates Of heaven, and the other Leone
watching for him there.
While she sleeps in peace by the
mill-stream. and as the water runs by
It, 1t sings;
But "the mill will never grind again
with the waters that are past"
"A mad love--a mad love"
The End