The Newtown bee., 1880-10-27
MADGTE'S HERO.

"So this is the end of all your romance, Madgie! this is the hero you so often vowed you would marry Well. confess am surprised"
 And disappointed, too--why don't you add that, NellieP" Mrs. Bentick said, as she led the way to a cosy little sitting-room where q cheery fire was burning. "Sit down, dear, and drink your tea, and have 8 little rest before dinner. Some day, perhaps, you'll have a better opinion of Phil, and even learn to admire him-who knows?"
 But, Madgie, he really isn't bit handsome, nor romantic-looking, nor poetic, nor anything; and did so hope and expect he would be--different," " and Nellie Grahame paused for want of word to express fully all sine expected Madgie Mason's husband to be.
 Nellie and Madgie had been friends at school, and when they parted-the former to join her father in India Madgie to take up her abode with her uncle, Captain Mason, at the WoOdlands-they had vowed eternal constancy and exchanged schoolgirl l pledges of affection and ramem brance. 1 Scarcely six months after leaving school Madgia was alone in the world, heiress of Woodlands and all her uncIe's wealth, and with Doctor Philip Ben tick for her sole guardian. Nellie was in India, and there seemed no immedi- ! ate prospect of Major Grahame return ing, and as Madgie had no other |" dear friend" to Nellie she poured out all her heart on paper, dwelling at great length on her delightful, solitary, romantic life at Woodlands, and her unalterable m dn hero or remain forever Madgie Mason. And Phil Bentick was the end of all her dreams!
 "He's decidedly ugly" Nellie said, glancing at B photograph which sto Id on the chimney-piece. s'I m sure if had the misfortune to marry such S man, wouldn't have his likeness in every con- spicuous place in the house. I'm sur prised at Madgie, with her love of every thing beautiful and her own prettyn i nfaee nae done better; and yet sine seems happy and contented enough, though she was such hero worshiper."
 Nellie had come in accordance with a long-standing promise to pay Madge 3 visit. It was their first meeting since they had left school, five years before, and she had expected to find her friend just the same as ever-gushing, senti- mental, iapulsive-with dreamy dark eyed lover husband, fond of poetry, and with decided air Of ofmystery about him. | Nothing could be more unlike her pre- 1 conceived idea than Phil Bentick, with | his rough, scanned face, cheery voice l hearty laugh and burly frame a busy 1 active, energetic, hard-working, pract; cal country doctor, ten years older than i Madgie if he was 8 moment, and, oh! SC ugly.
 1 And yet Philip Bentick had had his romance, too. He had been old Captair | Mason's medical attendant, and after hi. i death Madgie's sole counselor, "guide l philosopher and friend" Woodlands was roomy, old-fashioned house buried in pleasant woods, five mile
 rom village, thirteen from town
 ! he nearest neighbors on one side wer
 nly rough and ready farmers, on tn other side poor fisher-folk who tried tc
 wiring 8 wretched subsistence from thu sea and barren westerly shore.
 But Madgie was not lonely. She love,
 Woodlands, loved to wander all da,
 through the gardens with volume 0
 poetry or an old romance in her hand
 loved the distant glimpses of the sea
 loved the dreamy solitude, which sh
 peopled with heroes and heroines of he
 own creating-very delightful bu
 wholly impractieable individuals.
 But with all her sentiment Madgi
 was very charming. and it was not SUI
 prising that Dr. Bentick despite hi
 being her guardian, and 8 poor, strue
 gling country doctor into the bargain
 should fall in love with her. It ws
 what every one expected, and Madgi
 herself was the only person astonishe
 or unprepared when one day, in plai
 honest fashion, he told her of his loy
 and asked her to be his wife. It was if Madgie had been awakened from
 very pleasant dream by rough shak [ During the two years sEe had been Woodlands she had become accustome
 to the doctor. He had always been hand to consult, to confide in, and tai
 all responsibility off her shoulders. SI was used to his honest face and kind voice, to his constant attentions ar
 occasional lectures, and in way st f liked them; but the first idea of lovir or marrying had never entered her hea
 for the doctor was commonplace to ti last degree, and entirely devoid of , , sentiment and romance, and Madgie hs
 set her whole heart on hero.
 But Phil Bentick was not destitute feeling; and when Madgie, more plain
 than politely, declined his proposal, u look of pain and sorrow in his clea | 1 ilOHeSb gray eyes WOuIQ nave aCCOrQt 1 with the most extravagant protestatiol
 of despair and misery But ne did n } give way to them only apologize : gravely for having troubled Miss Maso
 and was taking his departure in u t most matter-of-fact way, when Mada . burst into lmpetuOuS explanation.
 It's not that dislike you, Phil, n like any one else better, and I kno z you're twice too good for me; only-''
 "Only what, Madgiepn
 Down went her brown head in co 2 fusion. It was not easy to tell m, to his face that he was not hero, 8,
 that was the sole objection she had d Philip Bentick.
 d Only what, MadgieP' he rcpeate 2 sternly. s' Is it wealth I lack, or an
 too old-too ugly, or have simply | o misfortune to meet with your cener q disapprovalp Tell me what my failin Q are, that may try and mend them. ,
 Madgie looked up into the grave, ca nest face that bent over her, and bul 7, into tears. It isn't any of those thins = = Phil,n she sobbed. { I'm sure you handsome enough (ss.just like Lara,
 she added, mentally, land rich enouo 2 and-oh, Phil, if you could only s- something !-something great, I mea J do so want my husband to be hero
 An, is that itP Madgie, dear" afi q a long silence, don't you think m s may be a hero without his name bel q familiar in mems mouths, his far