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

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1t was not until the first shock was
over that any one thought OF the child.
They found her lying near the window
of the room in an agony OF grief which
no words of comfort could abate.
The mystery surroundings SirCharles
Rooden's t,ath was never solved.
Whether he had attempted to cross the
river where it was shallowcst, and had
ibeen carried away by the force of the
current, on whether his horse had be
leone FESTIVE aud dashed into the
water, no one ever knew, No one had
seen the harouet; no one came for
ward to say chat they had met him on
that day. That it was an accident
every one agreed, but how it occurred
there was no living witness to tell.
How deeply the genial. generous
master of Rood was mourued was
shown by the asscmblage of rich and
poor who camr to pay a last tribute
of respect ,o neighbour and friend.
In his will Sir Charles had not for
gotten any OF his faithful old servants
or any of the charities he had sup
ported Vet to those who listened to
the reading of the document there
seemed to he something strange in it,
1t was strange that no income had
been settled on the daughter for whom
he had always such unbouuded affeC-
ton, strange that no dOwry had been
left to her, strange that not one farth-
ing of what must ultimately be a large
fortune should reach her until her
mothers death, strange that so large
fortune should be left to the abso-
lutte disposal of beautiful young
widow. No restriction was placed
upon her, there was no forfeiture Of
money if She married again. The only
thing she could not do was to part
with property belonging in any way to
picture or tree; everything was to
descend to Angela just as she had re-
ceived it.
"A strange will" the listeners
Iagreed, but it only showed the implicit
trust Sir Charles had in his wife
Lady RoAden was little surprised
herself She had not expected such
Iunreservcd generosity, and she had
certainly thought that provision would
have been made for Angela. She
Icaught IT, child in her arms andkissed
the fair yoUIg face in a passion Of
tears.
You shall not suffer, my darling"
she declared, for papa's generosity TO
me- I shall more than make up to
you for it,"
But Angola did not understand. She
only claspad her arms more tightly
round her mothers neck.
Mamma she asked with a shudder,
is it true that they have left papa in
the ground %"
Alas yes, my darling it is true"
And he hated cold and darkness.
Do you remember how he always asked
for light and warmth. | cannot bear
to think Of him lying there"
when You think Of your papa, do
not think of the cold dark grave but
look up at the sky, so bright and blue,
and remember he is there
Then he can see u.s." she cried. and
the sweet childish voice was fun of
awe
Il do not know, my dear, am not
wise enough to tell you; but very
likely he can"
| And Angela grew up with a habit of
(raising her head to the skies. although
seeking her fathers face there. How
she missed him, How terrible was
the blank. the desolatiOn, the pain that
seemed never to grow less! There
were times even when Lady Roodcn
seemed to grow impatient with the
child for her excessive grief
You forget, Angela" she said TO
her one day. that am left with you"
oh, mamma, cried the child, 1T is
not that, ! love you with all my heart;
but papa was all the whole world for
me"
Lady Roodcn mourned her husband
very sincerely. She knew her loss was
Iirreparablc, for no woman living had
ever known love more true and tender.
He had been so careful Of her so anx-
Iious to study her wishes, so kind to
her, that she felt her loss most grlev-
ously. While he lived she had never
to think of herself she was surrounded
by such constant love. She had never
even had time to form new wishes and
speak of them before they were graft.
fed. And now, though she was a
wealthy widow provided with every
luxury, with a vast fortune at her dis.
posal. she realized every day Of her
life how she missed the protection and
sheltering love OF her husband
After Sir Charles death she did not
care to remain at Rood Abbey Her
one desire was to go abroad. TO seek in
change some relief from her present
sorrow. She was married so young
when only seventecn-and the whole
Iof her happy married life had been 50
completely engrosscd by her love for
her husband and a ceaseless round Of
pleasures that she had given little
Thought n foreign travel Now a