Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-03-22

my best and dearest friend, and bis life
was g sad one. At leGs. his dying will
must be done. But promise you hap
piness--I do, indeed"
But beyond that day Madgs was un.
able to bear her hearts burden, 81
must tell him everything" she thought.
In the afternoon twilight, some time
after Mr.. Selwyn had returned home,
she found him asleep in his armchair in
the dark diningroom. But little day.
light came in between the red curtains,
and it was only the glow of the fire that
showed her his white hair and long
beard. She knelt beside him, as she
often did Tor a talk when he was in that
chair, and the woke him by stealing her
hands into his.
"Wno is it--Gertyl No, Madge--my
little Madge that is to be 50 pstriarChal
tomorrow"
Papa Selwyn" she began, not giving
hira time to joke any more lest she might
no. be able to disclose all her troubles,
/ want to tell you something and you
wont be angry, will you, no matter
what it is."
He took her face between his hands,
and the fire flashed up and showed him
now earnest ii was,
81 am quite sure" he said, " nothing
can make me anything but as deeply in
love with my second daughter as poor
old fellow ike me can be. Why, child,
| am under a cloud all day because to,
morrow-as soon sc to.morrow-I can be
Papa Selwyn no more, and Msdge will
be thinking about nobody but her
cousin"
"No, indeed p cried Madge impet-
uously. You will be Papa Selwyn
a!ways-always and don't care for my
cyusin Il Bit"
But her gusrdisE shook his head
gravey.
Ny dear, you will marry your
oou4in."
The FIRE light had died down low, and
Mgdge had courage enough to blurt out
with al effort the few words:
/ can't marry Jack, because I ought
to love my husband, and ! can never
care enough for him. Or, if | must be
engaged to- him -to-morrow here there
was a great sob" Mr., FilzAllen is very
GOOD and kind, and l don want to hurt
him, but-but he must 20 away"
Her head suEk upon his knees with
the great effort Of that request.
Ny poor child" he said, 81 know
your secret. Bravely said, my little
Madge, my bonnie grill You have had
the truth out and done n0bly. You are
worthy Of the man tnst ia to have you,
and that is saying a good deal !" Then
raising her head gently he bade her
listen, for he was going to tell her a
secret in return for hers. Wien she
heard it she waited with wide wondering
eyes while he told it second time, for
she could not believe in her joy CAS-
you know, Mgdge,' he began, "most
people in this world have more cousins
than one' And then he went on to
explain to her that Herbert Fitzal.
len was very distant cousin, and
that it was to him her father wished ner
to be married. FitzSiien's father mad
been tue companion OF his lab0rs and
Herbert himself had been loved by the
dying man as son; for Herbert was
twenty when MadGe was an orphaned
baby of four. You ask what about
Jsck, then ?" said the old man. "That
was my clever trick upon Madge. !
never said you we're to marry jack. ]
told you OF your fathers wish,
brought Jack here, the only cousin you
knew and | praised his good qualjtie5---
which are fine enough, can tell yoS,
and appreciated by young lady not far
from here. knew that wsyward heart
of yours, and | knew that woman
should sot marry without real love, and
e great store OF it, too. So left my dar.
ling open to the idea that Jack was to be
the lucky fellow and she did just what
| and all sensible folks expected-almost
hated Jack and her doom. Then took
care that the msu you were meant for
who, my dear, has the b.st and truest
heart in the world should come in the
wa Just at the right time and show an
int, rest in you. And have l not sue,
ceeded and made my Madge choose her
isther's choice with her own free heart
and will? AS for Fitzalen, he IL all
impatience for tomorrow, and he would
have told you the secret at the ball the
other night, when he Gays that he was
put to n desperate trial, but he had
promised me never to disclose it till we
were quite sure Of success, Well, are
you happy now, Madge ?"
{" Ny dear, good second iS.her How
Gan | love you enough ?" was all she
could say when she felt his arms around
her at that moment of fulfilled desires,
and his lips pressed to her iorehesd in
fatherly affection now that his long soils
citude was at an end and his hard task
well done.
That very night MaIge, scarcely able
to realize her joy, was hetrothed to Her.
hert Fitalien, who once the secret was
disclosed, would not wait another hour.
"Have l not waited yesrs" he Haid,
can my time abroad | was waiting, and
then came bSck and found my Madge
more than ever had dared TO hope.
+ But Madge in her new freedom did
I not forget poor Jack. Indeed ahe was
+ almost in trouble about her unkindness
to him when she heard that he had been
r only playing part bearing all her teas
ing, and being purposely uugraGiou'
y whenever she grew kind. But Gertrude
r consoled her efectuslly on that score by
0 telling another secret after her kiss o
s cOngratulation.
; "Jsck was indeed doing his best t
), carry out the plsn," she said; land h,
Q was often grieved about you; but, dea
/, Madge, ySu must congratulate US now
not me, but us. Jack and ! made it VI
y between us months ago, and we hst
= many laugh about you.
. So Madge herselt accepted the rim
and wore her golden fetters by her owl
n free will after all nor was there ever
s hspri, more willing captive. AS 70
Is FitzsiIt. Ae WAS not another Arthur
y as tn, gins fancy had prompted her t
l. cou hin, ha vvaa' % q hlan,alngaD ag III