Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-05-05
MADELINE.

and operas. Not SO with Madeline De-
launey. The dying will of her father
made her aunt's house her home for the
years between Is and 81; and, even if
Madeline had been unwilling to COM
ply, she would still have gone. so
great was her respect for her fathers
memory,
Mrs. Chathard was an invalid, and
her family consisted only of soma
man over 30, and said to be eccentric
and the old family servants. Decid-
edly not very brilliant prospect for
Madeline.
1t was sullen autumn day when
Madeline rode, for the first time, up the
avenue leading to her aunt's house.
She saw gray sky, flying clouds, and
a white beach on which the sea beat
heavily in, and, standing in the midst
of cluster of pines, was a low, massive
building that might have been prison,
and possibly was a house. No one
came to the door to welcome her. Mr..
Chathard was not at home; Mrs Chat
hard was in the library, and begged
that Madeline would come to her there.
She found her lying on the sofa, busy
with some sort of knitting-a sallow,
delicate, fretful woman.
No." she said, shrinking back, as
Madeline showed disposition to kiss
her; mo one but Frederic has kissed
me for years. Don't commence. I am
creature of habit; I don't like to be
disturbed in any of my regular habits.
| only came down to-day on your &C
count, and it has quite unnerved me.
[ shall not try it again. I must have
perfect repose. Frederic comes to see
me morning and evening; that is as
much as I can bear"
With that, Madeline was waved off to
her room, where indignation supplanted
a strong desire to cry, and curiosity
gradually got the better of both. It
was really, she decided, on looking
about her, a pleasant room, with Grim
son curtains and furniture, and deep
window looking out on the sea. There
was bureau, with great many little
drawers that she pleased herself with
arranging mentally. There was vase
of flowers that spoke of conservatory;
she had seen that the library was well
filed; pretty piano occupied a recess
in her room.
81 shall pass my time very tolerably,"
thought Madeline, resignedly. Il won
der what my cousin is like"
Perhaps this last thought had some
influence in her toilet, else why should
she have braided her hair and put on
her most becoming dress? It was hardly
to be supposed that her charms would
have much effect on the quiet parlor-
maid, who alone was in attendance.
Madeline ate her supper with curling
lip and stormy brow.
@He is a barbariani I know 7 shall
hate himl" was her inward comment.
I" He must have known that would be
here. He might have been civil. How
ever, / shall do very well without him p
And, getting book from the library
shelves, she sat herself down resolutely
to read. But, try as she would, her
thoughts wandered back to the pleasant
room where she used to sit with her
girl-friends, reading and talking-so
different from this great, silent, hand
some house. I am afraid the contrast
was not too favorable, for her pillow was
wet with tears that night.
A week passed away. During that
time Madeline saw Mrs. Chathard once
that was all. The rest of the time
she passed in solitude, till Saturday
evening, when the prim old housekeep-
er entered the parlor where Madeline
was sitting, work-basket in hand.
Mr.. Frederic is at home," she said,
land Mrs. Chathard thinks it proper
that [ should sit in the room" with
which explanation she walked over to
the extreme end of the apartment and
vanished behind the curtains of the
bow-window.
Madeline curled her lip slightly at
these prudential preparations and
went on with her reading, trying to
convince herself that her heart was not
beating fast. She heard a quick, mas
culine step without in the hall-heard
it come Ill the room and advance toward
her, but did not raise her eyes until he
stood directly before her. She had
hard work to suppress her surprise, he
was SO little like what she had imagined.
Not old-for if he was really 80 he
by no means looked his age-not tall,
thin and sallow; on the contrary, small,
though well formed, with an abundance
of curling brown hair; large blue eyes
that should have belonged to a woman.
so evenly arched were the brows, so
long the lashes, so soft, SO almost suf-
fering, their expression; clear-cut feat
ures; teeth that showed white and even
through his thick mustache; a gentle,
quiet, assured manner, neither austere
nor frownish. as Madeline had mag
ined, but that of gentleman and a
man of the world.
He apologizeo easily enough for the
apparent incivility. Important bust
ness" that much-enduring scapegoat,
had detained him-he was extremely
sorry.
But Madeline, who had no patience
with his lame excuses, interrupted him,
sharply:
pray spare your regrets; it is quite