Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-10-24
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SS q

air is, oh, Angel, / am 80 happy J
am 40 happy that words fail me- an
the bright tender smile dccpcnod on
her face while ghc sat silent for a f"W
| minutes.
The girl drew footstool near hci
mother. and sat down at her feet.
Il am so happy, Angel repeated
her ladysh'p, that words fail me-
Angela looked mp her face bright
with smiles.
81 know why mamma, she said.
| This beautiful night has made yon
| think Of the Abbey, and that has
brought papa to your mind. always
think Of him on these beautiful sum.
mcr nights"
If she had suddenly dashed cold
water into her face her ladyship could
not have started more violently. The
words came TO her Hike a staggering
blow She remained silent. Her task
was rendered doubly hard now, and she
moved uneasiIy, She laid her white,
gcmmed hands on her daughters hair
your papas memory Is sacred to
me always, Angel" said her ladyship;
and the girl looked up in wonder, not
ing the constraint in her mothers
voice. but It was not Of him ] was
thinking just then, but of some one |
hope you will learn to love as much as
you did him"
"That could never be, mamma re-
turned Angela. you are testing:
For you know | could never love any
one onc.hundredth part as much as !
loved papa In life or In death"
81 am quite serious, Angel" Lady
Roodon assured her daughter; "tho
whole happiness Of my life IL at stake
now. Listen to me patiently, dear; |
have something to say to you"
Yet, in spite OF her happiness and
her conviction that she was in every
way ut liberty to please herself In
spite of the certainty she felt that she
was doing no harm, her face blanChod,
her lips grew white and stiff. The
would not come; the hand laid carcss-
ngly on the dark, ripping hair trcm.
bled Never had task before seemed
50 hard.
Angel" she went ON gently. II
want YOU to try to love some one
whom | already love very much, We
have always had the same loves, thc|
the same tastes. the same habits: we
have boon one all our lives. darling;
do not let anything divide us now
now
Nothing can, mamma, now orr
ever she answered foryontly. "You
papa, and | were always one. 1t Is,
just the same now as though he were
living"
And again Lady Roodcn felt as
though some one had suddenly thrown
cold water on her, and for some mo.
mcnts she was silent. She rallied her
courage presently by telling herself
that she was doing no wrong, that she
had been loyal and loving wife to her
husband while he lived and that she /
had perfect right to marry again If !
she chose to do So Why, after all, |
need she fear anything that her
daughter would say? Yet she trem. /
hlcd with emotion when she contin. |
ucd;
Nothing. | am sure, can ever come |
between us, Angel We may differ in !
opinion, but we are always one in |
heart. | want You to please me; |
want You to mako me happier than
am by trying to love some one whom
have learned to love"
still no glimmor OF the truth came
to the girl who loved her mother with
the single love Of Il loyal heart.
Il shall always love your friends
she answered. "They are
the same to me as my own"
"|Ut the person of whom ! speak Is
nearer and domcr than a friend. oh
Angela, it sorms hard to tell you; yet
| cannot tell why 1t should be, | am ,
young yet, and | have hope. a long
lifo before me. have the right TO
please myself in NIL my actions"
Angela took the white. gcmmcd |
hands in her own and kisssrd them
with passionate love.
why do you say such strange
things, mamma" she cried. II do
not understand
Lady Rooden's lips grew sitter and
colder as she continued,
"Lot me tell YOU in few words. IN
gel love with all my heart. and I
have promised to marry Captain Wyn.
yard
\ dead silence seemed to fall over
the room, terrible chill silence that
was broken only by a passionate cry
from Angela--a cry SO fun of anguish
and despair that Lady Roodeu's heart
was touched by it,
1T cannot be true" the girl gasped.
III is not true'" oh, mother. darling
! would rather die than believe it,"
ut is true, Angel, and Il makes me-
happier than words can tell"
with a cry even more despairing