United States or Isle of Man ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Her little child, the one gleam of sunshine that her darkened life had ever known, was born in the little cottage, and there it had died. Dr. Letsom, who was too abrupt for the ladies of Castledene, had watched with the greatest and most untiring care over the fragile life of that little child. He had exerted his utmost skill in order to save it.
Years before, when his eyes were bright with the fires of youth, and hope was strong in his heart, he had invested such money as he possessed in the purchase of a practice at Castledene, and it had proved to be a failure why, no one exactly knew. Castledene was one of the prettiest little towns in Kent.
"You can find many such graves in the pretty church-yard here in Castledene," said the doctor.
I left my child, under the doctor's care, with a nurse, having arranged to pay so much per annum for her, and intending when I returned to England to take her home to Wood Lynton as my heiress. My father, contrary to the verdict of the physicians, lingered about three years. Then he died, and I became Earl of Mountdean. The first thing I did was to hurry to Castledene.
It stood so entirely alone that for weeks together nothing was seen or known of its inhabitants. Henry Dornham was missed from his haunts. His friends and comrades wondered for a few days, and then forgot him; they thought that in all probability he was engaged in some not very reputable pursuit. The rector of Castledene the Rev. John Darnley was the first really to miss them.
"What can be the woman's motive?" the earl would cry, in despair. "Why has she taken the child? What does she intend to do with it?" It never occurred to him that her great, passionate love for the little one was the sole motive for the deed she had done. The papers were filled with appeals to Margaret Dornham to return to Castledene, or to give some intelligence of her foster-child.
All Castledene grieved with him; it seemed as though death and sorrow had entered every house. Then came the morrow, when he had to look his life in the face again life that he found so bitter without Madaline. He began to remember his father, who, lying sick unto death, craved for his presence.
"I had better tell you at once that she will not be able to leave Castledene for a time all thought of continuing the journey must be abandoned." "But she is in no danger?" cried the traveler, and Stephen Letsom saw an agony of suspense in his face. "No, she is not in danger; but she requires and must have both rest and care." "She shall have anything, if Heaven will only spare her.
But all was in vain; and on the very day that Lord Charlewood arrived at Castledene the child died. When a tender nurse and foster-mother was needed for little Madaline, the doctor thought of Margaret Dornham. He felt that all difficulty was at an end. He sent for her.
"When I give her the monument she deserves," he said. "I can add no more." They speak of that funeral to this day in Castledene of the sad, tragic story, the fair young mother's death, the husband's wild despair.
Word Of The Day