Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-23

time 1t seemed 70 her as II dreadful
darkness obscured all the world, dark
ness in which she CROPPED blindly for a
grave, where she might lie down and
die. Was not he dead? What was there
left in all the universe now that he was
gone?
Happily for the sufferer, there is at
tendant upon all mental anguish kind
OF numbness, stupefaction OF the
senses, which in some manner deadens
the sharpness of the torture For long
time Isabel could not think of what had
happened within the last few troubled
weeks. She could only sit helpless and
fearless in the little parlor at Gray
bridge.
1t was on the second day after the
surgeons funeral, the day following that
infinitely more stately ceremonial at
Mordred church that Mr.. Raymond came
to see Isabel He had been with her
several times during the last few days;
but he had found all attempts at con-
ISOLATION utterly in vain, and he, who
had so carefully studied human nature,
knew that it was wisest and kindest to
let her alone.
But on this occasion he came on
business errand; and he was accompan-
led by grave-looking person, whom he
introduced to Isabel as the late Mr..
Lansdell's solicitor.
81 have come to bring you strange
news, Mrs. Gilbert" he said. News
that cannot fail to be very startling to
you"
She looked up at Charles Raymond
IL
was not slow to interpret. 1t said so
very plainly: do you think that any
thing that can happen henceforward
upon this earth could ever seem strange
to meT
when you were with-him-on the
last day of his life, Isabel" Mr.. Ray
mond continued, "he talked to you very
seriously. He changed-changed won
derfully with the near approach of death.
1t seemed as if the last ten years had
been Dlotted away; and he was a young
man again, just entering life, full of no.
bit yearnings and aspirations. pray
God those ten idle years may never be
counted against him. He spoke to you
very earnestly, my dear; and he urged
you, if ever great opportunities were
given you, which they might be, to use
them faithfully for his sake. I heard
him say this, and was at loss to I'M
derstand his full meaning. compre-
bend it perfectly now"
He paused; but Isabel did not even
look up at him. The tears were slowly
pouring down her colorless cheeks. She
was thinking of that last day at Mord-
red; and Roland's tenderly earnest voice
seemed still sounding in her ears.
Isabel, a great charge has been in
trusted to you. Mr. Lansdell has left
you the bulk of his fortune"
1t is certain that Mr.. Raymond ex-
| pected some cry of surprise, some token
of establishment, to follow this announce
ment; but Isabel's tears only flowed a
| little faster, and her head sank forward
on the sofa cushion by her side.
Had you any idea that Roland in
| tended to leave his money in this man
| ner?'
'Oh, no, no! don't want the money;
l can do nothing with it. Oh, give it to
some hospital, please; and let the hos
| pital be called by his name. 1t was cruel
of him to think that l should care for
money when he was dead"
Il have reason to believe that this will
was made under very peculiar circum-
stances" Mr.. Raymond said, presently
when Roland was laboring under a de-
fusion about you-a delusion which you
yourself afterward dispelled, Mr.. Lans-
dell's solicitor fully understands this;
| Gen. Ruysdale and his daughter also
understand 1t; and no possible discredit
can attach to you from the inheritance
1 sc I'll l.
might very possibly have made some
| alteration and modification of this will.
| AS 1t stands. it is as good a will as any
ever proved. You are very rich wom-
an, Isabel Gwendoline, her father and
myself are legatees to a considerable
amount: but Mordred Priory and the
bulk Of the Lansdell property are left
| to you"
Gwendoline hard promised to be the
friend of Isabel; and she kept her word.
There was no bitterness in her heart
! now; and perhaps she liked George Gil
berts widow all the better on account
of that foolish, wasted love that made
a kind of link between them.
| So Mrs. Gilbert was permitted to pos
sess her new wealth in peace. She
| went away with Gwendoline and the
general to those fair foreign lands for
which she had pinned in the weedy gar
den at Camberwell. Even during the
first bitterness of her sorrow she was
not utterly selfish. She sent money to
| Mrs. Sleaford and the boys-money
which seemed enormous wealth to them
and she instructed her solicitor to send
them quarterly installments of an income
which would enable her half-brothers
to receive a liberal education.
And now Isabel Gilbert passes away
into higher region than that in which
this story has lain-useful, serene, al
most happy, but very constant to the
memory of sorrow-she is altogether
different from the foolish wife who neg
lected all a wife's duties while she sat
| by the mill stream at Thurston's Crag
| reading poetry.
CThe end)