The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-04-04
M AID CAP;
Or
THE STORY OF A SIN.
DY HELEN u. MATHEEs.

lie turned ana looked at her keeniy,
for the first time in his life consciously
regarding her as the mother of those
mere unconsidered trihes that he called
his children.
AS idolized sweetheart, wife, friend,
and the little wild Madcap who, in
electing to dance through life to the
tune Of his own sober footsteps, had
come to him to
Fill all the stops OF life with tuneful breath.
he knew her well; but this motherhood
there was to him nothing lovely or
sacred in 1t; on the contrary, fierce
pang smOte him as he realized that his
sole, undivided right to her was gone,
and that others had as great claim
upon her as himself.
He snatched her in his arms, as
though by sheer force he would keep
her still; then put her from him, and
heavily, with the fires of love suddenly
grown chill in his eyes, turned away.
"There-gO," he said. Forty years
Of my life I managed to live without
you; the rest of my existence, as told
you but now, I'll exc out somehow"
For moment she shrank from him
from this selfish virile love that swept
aside all. even duty, in its course; then
with an instant recoil of feeling, the
wOman's heart thrilled to the mans ex-
acting devotion, and she approached
him softly.
Love has no second place." she said;
land could you live without me?" she
added, all the mother gone, and the
sweetheart's airs and graces In full
blow.
"Indeed could. It's living soith you,
and taking second place, that I won't
endure"
"You might do worse,' said Madcap
sadly, and uplifting to him two such
sweet mirrors of fatherhood as man
might look in and find himself emo
bled, not dethrOned.
'"And better, he said. "For instance,
he might breakfast" and he opened
the door as he spoke.
His will carried him across the thres-
hold; but flesh and blood is sometimes
stronger than iron. and somehow Mr..
Eyre found himself led back to chair
while Madcap, in a mere accidental
way, seated herself on his knee.
And pray, ma'am," said he cOldly,
'what do you do here?"
20! I'm used to it, ~ she said, nodding,
as she chung to his coat lapel to save
herself from slipping from the ungra-
cious support afforded.
PRECISELY" he said. Mere habit
duty-what you will-not spark of real
inclination in it-a chair would do as
well. OFF with you, ma am, to the nurs-
cry; there thread your daisy chains,
weave your cowslip balls, and be hap
py:"
"And supposing / would rather stay
here?" she said, twining an unwilling
hand about his neck. Besides, YOU
you've forgotten something."
whats that?" he said, looking with
cold and grudging eyes at the little
mouth
Where the untrcd smile of youth,
Did light outward its own signs;
''tO wish you more years in which to see
me grow old? Your babies have done
that. To kiss you? 1t was Madcap that
l used to kisS-and she's gone; it's
body without a heart that perches so
confidently on my knee"
rs it?'' she said, suddenly clasping
two round, young arms above his ebon
head; "then-then kiss me as q moth
erl"
For moment he did not stir, only
looked hard in her eyes, where bit by
bit he saw himself as detested parent
disappearing, and the lover growing, in
his own proper form; then as their
hearts rushed together, their lips met
In such kiss as suspense had quicken
ed into heaven.
''And you will love them little-for
my sake?" said Madcap, wistfully, as he
released her.
mo; you for theirs. And for me,
Madcap-for me
Keep therefore a true woman's eye,
And love me still, but know not why,
so hast thou the same reason still
= TO dote upon me ever"