The Red Cloud chief., 1879-04-03

nalured ~Jack-cOuid be changed Int
this stranger that she called timidly Mr.
Fitzallan, and Jack and her guardian
had greeted at the house as Herbert!
At last there was a pause in the talk
She gave a deep sigh, prompted by a sal
longing TO do right, a vague fear, a frs
suspicion of the change that was comm:
over her impetuous heart.
"Are yon cold, Madge?" asked Jack
pulling away and bending TO his stronl
stroke. "Keep your shawl well abou
your shoulders. And, my dear girl
look TO your steering. You hare beer
sending the boat into curves like q cork
screw-only | did not want TO disturb
your tete u etc."
Poor Cousin Jacki She drew tn.
white shawl closely round her, chilleC
not by the wind but by a sudden pans
Of remorse, the foundation Of which wa
very small, but enough TO trouble hel
peace.
What need 20 tell the inner history o.
Madge's life during the next few weeks
More and more she longed for freedom
Fitzallan was staying in the neighbor
hood and was frequently at the house
and in the thousand little incidents Oi
everyday life she knew he cared for her,
and honest Jack grew yet more distaste'
full in her sight.
In due time came the second promised
pleasure. The family that distinguish.
ed the name of Jones by the prefix OF
P~onsonby gave their party. Madge was
in her glory that night. One looker-on
called her charming; another, the moth
er of fair daughters, admitted her ex
preston was charming, but voted her
features plain. Mrs. Ponsonby-Jones,
weighed down with bright-colOred
silk and jewelry, said in her
finest tone that Mr.. Selwyn's
ward would be quite a femme
d'esprit. Madge had 10 lack OF society,
but she kept a place in the conversation
for Jack Ilawkesbury, and her love of
mischief was gratifed to the full by his
making of it what he called ga hawible
muddle." But the trivial triumphs and
pleasures of the night were long forgot
ten by Madge before she lost one
remembrance of a scene that passed in
the conservatory, where the music was
hushed by heavy curtains. and there was
only the soft light of a few dim lamps
among the masses of blossoms and dark
green leaves. She had lost the flower
from her hair-One of her tavorite camel
lias-as she said "with q darling bud"
and Fitzallan had promiSee, with Pom
sonby-Jones's permission, to get her
another with a darling bud too. She
had placed his gift in her hair, and she
sat near the dewy glass, saying it was
cool there and she would rest. Fitzsllan
stood at a little distance, penknife in
hand still, swinging carelessly the fam
like leaf of a dwarf palm.
elf this were nearer, l could fan
you," he said.
"Thank you; l am tired rather than
hot"
Never in her life before had Madge
been so serious or so troubled as she
was now, in the scft light among the
cool plants, within sound of the half
hushed music.
"Will YOU do me a favor?" she in
quired, raising the gray eyes that shOne
for a moment with liquid brightness.
"You have only to name it, am at
your service"
His manner, unromautic to a studied
degree, made her feel all the more safe
in taking heart to speak, while she gave
him at the same time in generous meas
ure that most precious offering to which
every noble-hearted man entities him.
self-a woman'S respect.
So have seemed very happy tonight,
Mr.. Fitzalfen, }" she began in a quiet,
low one. the torn leaf trembling in her
hand and the color dying out of her
face, SHUT l am in great trouble"
Indeed. | am sorry to hear it."
He drew a little nearer, listening atten-
lively and helping her now and again
by a word of encouragement.
Her story vas a simple one. She was
to be married next month to her cousin,
Mr.. Hawkesbury. She had dreaded it
all her life, but it was her fate. And
then taking courage from the respectful
and almost p%aternal demeanor of her
listener she made the frank confession
that she disliked her cousin just because
she was forced to marry him; and to
this she added such a child-li like entreaty
not to be thought "too bad," that it
must have required more than ordinary
self-control for Fitzallen not to say
that would have allowed the
scene to become a tender one; bat this
he seemed determined to avoid, and so
in her simple way was the sadly per-
picked girl that was pouring out her
hears trouble to him.
"Will you speak for me to Mr.. Sell
wynn" she said, "as you are an old friend
of hisp l "a not reason as men do, but
1 want you to try if there is any way of
release for me. Pray forgive me if I
am wrong in asking your interference,
but l Am very wretched"-here came a
burst of tears that must have tried the
listener sorely-" and 1 myself have so
often spoken to Mr.. Selwyn, and it is of
no use. He always says my fathers
will must be carried out; and oh! how
l wish l could do it."
"Itmust be done, if possible," Fitz-
allan said. "But it would not be your
fathers will to mar the happiness of
your sweet life or to put you in bond
age"
80! if Mr.. Selwyn would only speak
like that" said the girl sadly.
swell, I shall have talk with him."
said Fitzsllan, sand do my best for
you happiness, though l would be sor-
~ to injure Hawkesbury's prospects.
Let us 60 back now; there is a new
piece beginning. That is one of Rubin
STEMS. is it not? I need not say you
have done me a favor in granting me
your confidence"
With that he drew aside the heavy
curtains, and they returned to the daz.
zling light an bewildering music and
movement of the ball room.
After that night Madge waited in anx-
iety to hear the result of FitzalIan's