Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-09-19

Continued.

sOMeInlnS almost llllItul III NhS NSNu'
ton of the child to her father The
blow when it did fall. was therefore all
the more terrible to her. For there
came a day, bright and sunny, fun of
perfume and sweetness and song,
when Sir Charles Rooden left home in
the morning with laughing testing
worus on his lips and was carried
back in the evening dead.
1t was bright May morning when
he started. All the hawthOrn-trees in
the park were in fun bloom, and the
luscious perfume Of may and lilac
filled the air. The tresseS of the
golden laburnum waved in the gentle
breeze the giant trees were unfold
ing their pale-green buds TO the genial
warmth of the sun, and the birds were
caroling Il welcome to returning spring.
Lody Rooden walked with her husband
as far as the end of the drive. There
the groom stood holding his horse;
and Angela clinging TO her fathers
hand. begged that either she might go
with him or that he would stay at
home
You do not know, papa she said,
what a different house this is when
you are out of it.
But" he reminded her laughingly,
you have your mamma
Yes; you are the sun, and she is
the moon.
Sir Charles laughed again.
"A poets comparison" he said. Il
shall not be long, Angela. | want to
ride little way down by the river, for
am told that one of the bridges down
over the fier is not safe; must go and
ascertain what is necessary to be done.
You shall ride with me this after
noon"
He kissed his wifes smiling face;
he claspcd his lovely little daughter in
his arms and bade her good morning,
and then rode away
Lady Rooden waited with anxious
surprise for the return Of her husband.
He was thcembodiment of punctualtty,
and for him to fail in any appointment
was most unusual. When he rode out,
he said that he should be home for
luncheon at two; but two o'clock came
without bringing the master of Rood
Abbey Three, four and five struck,
and still he came not. Then Lady
Rooden grew anxious At first she per-
suaded herself that he had met with
friends, and had ridden on with them,
although it was unlike him to do that
without sending word to her, but as
the hours slipped by, she grew more
and more uneasy.
Angel she said to the child, how
late papa is, Let us go to the western
terrace and watch for him.
Mother and child stood leaning over
the stone balustrade, looking down the
drive-the fine avenue of chestnuts,
with the yellow river in the distance
Il cannot see him, mamma said the
child.
And Lady Rooden. shading her eyes
from the sun with her white hand, re
marked:
There is something wrong down by
the river. Angel, I can see crowd Of
mea."
THIudDS lIN VI lN-' Ih9 ElNNiA wy
and papa is telling them what to do.
He would see what ought to be done
The evening Was fair as the morning.
The wind stirred the lilaCs and the
long laburnum-tresses gently in the
garden below; nature seemed to be re-
posing in the peaceful calm that had
settled over all.
Y wonder what it is Angelo said
Lady Rooden. The crowd seems to be
moving and coming in this direction.
They are carrying something. What
can it be-
Il do not see papa" said the child,
whom nothing else Interested; and
they grew silent as the tall trees and
the winding of the river hid the crowd
from their view
L wish papa would come" cried the
child, and presently. and then, after
few minutes, there was a sound Of
tramping footsteps, Of hurried hushed
voices, and the old butler came hastily
on to the terrace.
MY lady. my lady, come in quickly"
ne CTlets no Htl lbph LONdlN NuN
river, Come in"
What is it, Jarvis?" she asked.
An accident, my lady" he replied.
Pray come in"
What is the natter she demanded
On re-cntcring the room. What does
that noise mean? What is it?''
oh my lady" exclaimed the agitat-
ed old man Il wish | were dead in
stead Of living to say such words to
you, There has been' an accident,
and my master is"
What" she gasped. her face grow
lag white and rigid
What" cried the child who had
followed them. What has been done
TO papa? Where is he?"
He was found in the river. my
lady" Jarvis replied wringing his
hands.
IN the river? Found in the river,
l.