The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-07-11

why dlu you shy your ndnte WIS zones 8
Iou might nave known 4 should md
you out. Editors do find out every
thing in time. You are Miss Madeline
Meredith, of Garth, and your brother
JEFF andI were chums at Elton and
Oxford
"Oh,n / said, somewhat surprised,
II didn't knowln
"Of course not. How could You ~
"And I'm not Miss Meredithef Garth
any longer" / said, with an effort at
proud composure, Papa lost all his
money, and our house was sold; then
papa died, and JEFF is with his ship at
the Cape, and aunt Adelaide didn't
want me any longer; sol came to Lon.
don to Mrs. Kent-she's my old nurse
and / earn my bread by my PEN
/ could not help telling him oil that
he seemed to make me, in spite OF
myself; but / uttered the last words
proudly, and he did not smiie at oil,
but looked very grave.
II wonder, Mrss Meredith, if you
have heard JEFF speak of Harold Cashel-
ton ~
"Oh, yes, ofteni"-and then I paused
in some confusion. Mr.. Harold Cash
elton had been my brothers guide,
philosopher and friend" and In n way
and another / had heard more than
enough of him all my life, though,
through my having no mother, 1 had
never been at Garth when Jeff7s friends
| visited him. in fact, / HAD worsinPp5da
him secretly and afar of-from Jeff's
descriptions-and made him the hero of
more than one romance; and now there
he was, chatting to me as if he had
known me all my life-as, indeed. /
suppose he had in a way, for JEFF surely
must have mentioned me to him.
After asking all sorts Of questions
about my brother, he stood UP to GO,
and desired me not to forget the story;
but then more than ever | resolved not
to write, as no doubt he would accept it
from mere pity.
Three months passed away, and / was
on terms of almost ciyility with my
hated editor; but / had written nothing
for the Arlington-on that point / was
obstinate-nor had i told Mr.. Cashel-
ton very much about myself or my own
affairs beyond the first sudden burst Of
confidence which seemed inevitable.
What | wrote and how / succeeded i
never would talk about, in spite Of sew
eral very insinuating questions. But
about JEFF I would talk for hours, and
he did not seem to: weary Of the sub
iect, either.
Sometimes / accompanied him to an
afternoon concert at st. James Hall or
a matinee at the lyceum, and he was al
ways very kind and attentive; but i
never coaid get over the fact that he
had laughed at my poetry. Had he
laughed only at myself / should have
forgiven and forgotten it.
One evening ne called after having
absented himself for a fortnight, and 1
was wondering in spite Of myself what
could have happened to him. / was
about to call Mrs. Kent to light the
gas, though ii was really quite bright,
when he stopped me.
Don't ring for lights" he said in his
lazy way; II want to talk to you. i
hive something very particular to say,
Madeline, and I want to say it to you
alone. MadelineD-and somehow he got
possession of both my hands-"I love
you; Iwant You for my wife: | want to
take care Of you, dear, if you will let
me-"
81 can't help III" I returned feebly
and vaguely.
mo, of course not, and / don't want
you to. Darling. you must have seen
that / love you, and you must, you sure
ly must care d little for me in returnl"
II don't know" / said, more feebly
still and the golden opportunity for re-
venge and retaliation was gone by for
Y I might have Seen cool and proud,
naughty and defiant, laughed in his face
and told him / scorned his love as he
had scorned my poetry; instead Of which
/ stood trembling and blushing in his
arms, while he kissed my face and called
me all sorts Of pretty names; and, in
spite of myself, i confess / liked It. 1t
is humiIiating, it is horrid but it is true
II did love the handsome, hateful ed
itor.
Darling" he cried, holding me from
him at arms length, you're . vixen
you're too fond Of that vagrant poet
you detest me cordially still Madeline,
/ love You, and I believe / have loved
you from that day when your presence
made d spot Of sunshine in my very
shady editorial den. Someday, perhaps,
You will learn to care d little about me-
Six months afterward we were mar
ried at st. Georges, Bloomsbury, and
when jeff came home and heard all
about it, I thought he would have gone
out of his mind with Joy. Now I write
what / please for the Arlington; and.
though the editor goes over il, he does
not dare alter q syllable, SO that in that
respect I have gained my point. / have
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