River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-15
MADGES COUSIN.

by saying ii was ''only jacks
my dear, said Mr.. Selwyn, walking
up and down and stroking his gray beard
in perplexity, Il want to talk to you about
jack
"Oh, please, not now, Papa Selwyn -
She called him Papa Selwyn when she
meant to be coaXing, and that was nearly
always.
"But, my dear, that is all nonsense. |
must talk about Jack some time. Yester-
day it was, oh, please don tiny head is
aching;' and the day before, oh. please
DON'T want to 90 out with Gerty.'
Come, let It's face this affair." And sitting
in the easy chair behind her hassock, he
drew up ON his knees the hand that held
the broken flower and proceeded to lecture
his unmanageable charge ON the endless
subject Of Jack"
Madge was charming charge for any
kind old mans heart to have. No one
could look into her large gray eyes with
out seeing the great warm heart, whose
tale they told every moment; and yet the
bright quick chances and the saucy set of
the lips showed that Madge had will of
carry il out.
This lecture ON Jack was the same as
many others had been. II consisted of
two parts, the first being devoted to prov
ing that she ought to throw her own
whims and pleasures aside, and as Il duti-
full girl fulfil her dying fathers request
and marry her cousin; and the second was
eulogium ON the many good qualities of
Jack Hawkesbury.
"Do, Mr.. Sclwyn," laughed Madge,
after he had been making out that even
Jacks awkwardness came from an over
plus of good nature: edo throw him at
Gertys head as you throw him at mine
hand him over 10 her, and they will be
happy for life"
Gerty was Mr. Selwyn's own daughter,
and at the mention of her name a strange
expression crossed his face, which Madge
could not read.
''Throw him at Gerty's head what
words you use, childn' he exclaimed; his
ANNOUNCE for moment escaping his con
control II wish you had half Gertrud, IS
good sense You fancy Jack thinks of
her is that it! He is the soul of honor
and as far as it depends on him your faith
ers word will he kept
"Oh Papa Selwyn, don't he vexod with
me; | am so sorry" and her face was
hidden on his large hand in "A burst of
sorrow quite childish in its passing inten-
sity.
"Chcer up, my darling girl" he said I;
'.you made mistakc-that's all
Why, one of these days you will forget
poor Papa Selwyn altogether, when you
fall in love with your cousin
'.That WON'T" cried Madge, with all
the strength of her hot heart
All her life, even as far back as her
childhood, she had dreaded the fate that
bound her to marry her cousin. When
Juok HawlSonbury came on the scene and
stayed ON visits at the house, she disliked
and ridiculed him without mercy. An
other, one like fair-haired Gertrude for
instance, might have accepted the inevi-
table and been happy but Madge' active
and independent nature made her run
against fate. And now there was only
one month left before her twenty-Erst
birthday and the betrothal. Often She
told Gertrude she wished he would go
home and stay there; and Gertrude would
only laugh, with deepened tinge of col
in her fair face.
The girls went cut but little, an ar
rangcment against which Madge often re-
bclled, believing it was in some way con
nected with the safe management of the
marriage with her cousin. But there
We're two pleasures in prospect now, an
afternoons boating with Jack and friend
of his and Gertrude, and "A party that the
Ponsonby -JoneseS were going to give, to
which tie Sclwyn family were sure to be
invited First came boating. All. that
ever memorable day-how many years
it would take to make Madge forget d
There were four in the boat that passe
with the measured beat and ripple OF
jacks pair Of souls, along by the reedy
shadows and green wooded banks of the
Upper Thames. The two girls shared
the cushioned seat at the stern, their
white wooden shawls guarding them from
the chill of the autumn wind. Gertrude
was watching the shore and the running
ripples, thinking in her quiet, easy going
way Madge, bright with excitement, was
talking not with Jack, but with the
dark bearded, travel bronzed man, who
was resting from his turn at the scull
He was charmed with the way she chat
ted and listened to his tales of half of the
world, with refreshing absence of self
What would he have said
if had known the thought that strove for
entrance into her heart9 Oh! if Jack
awkward, laundering, good-natured Jack
could be changed into this stranger that
she called timidly Mr.. FitzaIlan, and
Jack and her guardian had greeted at the
the house as Herbert
At last there was pause in the talk.
She gave deep sigh, prompted by a sad
longing to do right, vague fear, first
suspicion of the change that was coming
over her impetuous heart,
"Are you cold, Madge?n asked Jack,
pulling away and bending to his strong
stroke. "Kecp your shawl well about
your shoulders. And, my dear girl, look
to your steering. You have been sending
the boat into curves like corkscrew-
only lid not want to disturb your tete
u -tete'
Poor Cousin Jack She drew the white
shawl closely around her, chilled not by
the wind but by a sudden pang of re-
morse, the foundation of which was very
small. but enough Ia trouble her peace.
What need to tell the inner history Of
Madge's life during tina next few weeks
More and more she lougcd for freedom.
was staying in the neighbor
hood and was frequently at the house and
ia the thousand little incidents of every
Law life she knew he cared for her, and |
honest Jack grew yet more distasteiul III |
her sight.
In due time came the second promised
pleasure. The family that distinguished |
.he name Of Jones by the prefix of Pom
sonby gave their party. Madge was in
Ter glory that night One looker-on
allied her charming; another, the mothci |
If fair daughters, admitted her expression
sas charming. but voted her features |
plain. Mrs. Ponsonby-Jones, weighed |
Town with bright-colorcd silk and jewel /
". said in her finest tone that Mr..
5elwyn's ward would he quite a femme
l'espra. Madge had ne lack of society, |
)ut She kept place in the conversation
or Jack Hawkesbury. and her love Of
mischief was gratified to the full by his
making of it what he called "a hawible
nuddIe.n But the trivial triumph and
pleasures ofa the night were long for
gotten by Madge before she lost one re
nembrance of a scene that passed in the
where the music was hGshed
IN heavy curtains, and there was only the
oft light OF a few dim lamps among the
masses of blossoms and dark green leaves.
She had lost the flower from her hair
ssik