The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-03-27

won't be angry, will you, no matter
what it is.
He took her face between his hands,
and the FIRE flashed up and showed him
how earnestsit was.
" am quite sure" he said, " nothing
can make me anything but SIS deeply in
love with my second daughter as q poor
old fellow like me can be- Why, child,
am under a cloud all day because to-
morrOW-as soon as tomorrow can be
Papa Selwyn no more, and Madge viii
be thinking about nobody but her
cousin"
"No, indeed p cried Madge impet-
uously. You viii be Papa Selwyn
aIways-always; and I don't care for my
cousin Bit"
But her guardian shook his head
My dear. you will marry your
cousin"
The fire light had died down low, and
Madge had courage enough to blurt out
with an effort the few words:
g 1 can't marry Jack, because I ought
to love my husband, and I can never
care enough for him. Or, if must be
engaged to- him tomorrow "-here there
was great sob-'' Mr.. FitzaIlen is very
good and kind, and do Mt want to hurt
him, but-but he must go away"
Her head sunk upon his knees with
the great effort of that request.
Ny poor child" he said, "I know
your secret. Bravely said, my little
Madge, my bonnie grill You have had
the truth out aud done nobly. You are
worthy of the man tDat is to have you,
and that is saying q good deal ! E" Then
raising her head gently he bade her
listen, for he was going to tell her q
secret in return for hers When she
heard it she waited with Wi,'o wondering
eyes while he tol6 it q sec0Ld time, for
| she could not believe in her Joy g As
you know, Msdge," 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 a very distant cousin, and
that it was to him her father wished ner
to be married. Fitzallen's father had
been the companion of his labozs, aud
Herbert himself had been loved by the
| dying man as a son; for Herbert was
twenty when Msdge was an orphaned
baby of four. L" You ask what about
lack, then 7' said the old man. That
was my clever trick upon Madge. I
never said you were to marry Jack.
told you of your fathers wish.
brought Jack here, the only cousin you
knew and l praised his good qualities
which are fine enough, [ can tell you,
and appreciated by g young lady not far
from here. l knew that wayward heart
of yours, and l knew that q woman
should not marry without real love, and
a great store of it, too. So I left my dar-
ling open to the idea that Jack was to be
the lucky fellew and she did Just what
I and all sensible folks Xpected-almost
hated Jack and her doom. Then I took
care that the man you were meant for
who, my dear, has the best and truest
heart In the world-ghould come in the
way Just at the right time and show an
interest in you. And have I not sue
ceeded and made my Madge choose hel
iather's choice with her own free hear
and will As for Fitzallen, he is al
impatience for tomorrow, and he woulC
have told you the secret at the ball TIT
other night, when he says that he wa
put to q desperate trial, but he haC
promised me never to disclose it till W
were quite sure of success. Well, ar
you happy now, Madge ?"
My dear, good second father How
can I love you enough ?'' was all sh,
could say when she felt his arms arounC
her at that moment of fulfilled desires
and his lips pressed TO her forehead il
fatherly affection now that his long soli
citude was at an end and his hard tasl
well done.
That very night Madge, scarcely abl
to realize her joy, was betr0thed to Her
bert Fitzallen, who once the secret Wa
, disclosed, would not wait another hour
, Have 1 not waited years ?" he said
"All my time abroad l was waiting, ant
then came back and found my Madg
} more than ever l had dared to hope.
But Madge IN her new freedom di'
not forget poor Jack. Indeed she wa
almost in trouble about her unkindnes
! to him when she heard that he had bee
, only playing q part bearing all her teas
! ing, and being purposely ungTaciou
: whenever she grew kind. But Gertrud
a consoled her effectually on that score b
) telling another secret after her kiss {
{ congratulation.
! "Jack was indeed doing his best t
' carry out the plsn," she said; 'and b
/ was often grieved about you; but, des
Madge, yeu must congratulate Us now
not me, but us. Jack and I made it u
: between US months ago, and we ha
: many a laugh about you.
So Madge herself accepted the Tin
and wore her golden fetters by her ow
! free will after all nor was there ever
j, happier or more willing captive. AS f0
Fitzallen if he was not another Arthur
: as the girls fancy had prompted her
= call him, he was as Z" blameless" as th
; Prince of the "Idyls," and far MOI
blest; and ii he reigned over no reall
!, he was at least king of one brave an
tender heart-a kingdom wide enough
= satisfy his desires and 8 prize which tin
proved to be well worth his years
? waiting.