The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-03-10
Misfrllaneons.
WILD MADGE.

Come, where did you pick up that home
ly little elf that was scfubbing the stoop
when ] came in ="
Hush, Paul, she will hear you. She
came hero one night almost frozen and in
q starving condition. so mamma took her
in. and lets her work for her board. We
call her wild Madge."
" \ good name. upon my word. Why.
it's as good rs u dose of salts 10 look at her
| am seriously inclined TO fall in love with
her beautiful phiz. What would you ad.
wise me 10 do, coz.
IL would advise you to stop making fun
of the poor child. so we will change the
subject il you please
Paul Raynor was o yoang man Of per-
haps twenty-five ar three wears. who. hav-
ing an abundant share ofihis worlds goods.
was inclined TO ignore those less favored
by fortune, and consequently his proud and
overbearing manner rendered him disagree.
able TO those whom he termed his interiors
That lac was handsome we will admit
at least so thought Madge. Us she watched
him come up the walk, his curly lock- blow.
ing in the wind. Very grand he looked TO
he. unsophisticated eyes, and she stepped
aside with a feeling Of awe as he passed.
stopping to listen 90 his voice as il sound.
ed through the open window Of the room
above. But when she heard the first SEN
tence that passed his lips she stood spell
bound, drinking in every word he uttered /:
and very pale was that pale little face as
she turned again TO her work wondering il
she really was such an ugly little ELF as he
called her.
When her work was done she quietly
slipped away to her little garret bedroom
81. d, ,.ina, Of rfau- ftnt 4
found, from her pocket. eagerly scanned
the features before her. and truly they were
not very pretty.
She was. perhaps fourteen years Of age,
and though at first glance We would term
her decidedly homely and aiiera moments
study there was something peculiarly inter-
esting in that little face. Certainly the
eyes were too large and wild looking. and
as the wild orbs rolled hiiher and ihiiher
they had strange weird expression. The
features were small and pinched, and the
complexion what might be called muddy.
while very black. straight hair. cropped
close around her head. comprised the pic
ture that Madge was gazing At so earnestly.
and il did not please her apparently. for
with a long drawn sigh she laid the glass
aside, and sitting down by the window
muttered
"No. don't hate him for saying so, for
he don't know how il hurt nc and besides
am Just as homely as he said. and worse,
too. But what of IL ain only poor ser
want oh dear" she exclaimed. rising. '' |
wish | might be somebody. and have peo-
pie TO love mc-and will too! !" she said.
bringing her little hand down on the win
dow.sill. If am homely. can be bet
ter than mere drudge :" and in her child
ish face there grew look OF high womanly
resolve, indicative Of high and noble IN.
tcllect.
During his visits Paul seemed TO take
special pains TO worry and provoke poor
Madgc, and many joke did he thought
lessly crack at her expense. never thinking
il worth his while 10 speak civil or pleas
ant word to the poor wall. till she grew to
shun him as she would a serpent and. to
cap the climax. the day before he was to
return home, us he was riding toward the
house ON horseback, seeing Madge in the
yard and thinking il good time 10 show
his authority, he ordered her TO open the
gate.
Why don't you run you ugly whelp p
Take that for not oheying gcnileman's or
ders with better grace - so saying he gave
her a cut across the neck which made her
start and turn pale. but in second the hot
blood mounted 10 her face. and her large
eyes flashed defiance rs she watched him
out OF sight, his mocking laugh still ring
ing in her ears, when, with wall she sunk
into the tall grass, her little form convulsed
with sobs