The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-20

She cried little. for, although she did
not love her husband very much. he had
been kind to her when her fathers fall
ure and death reduced her and her sister
to poverty, and had given them both a
home by making her his wife.
But for that, she reflected with shud>
der, they would have had to 60 out in the
world and work for their living. BERTHE
would not have minded it as much, but
Madge had recolled from the prospect of
working for her daily bread, with horror.
They went back to the drawing room
after a time, and Madge sat down at the
piano at her husbands request, and play
ed for him, but she could not sing-she
coul'. not, while Wilfred was in the room
She had liked him better than she had
George. althol Oh her husband was better
looking than his friend, and the old fas'
cination was creeping over her.
If she had been wise woman she
would have objected to be left under
Wilfreds guardianship; but unfortunate
ly, she was very foolish one, and it
seemed to her very pleasant arrange
ment.
Now that he had promised not to speak
of the past to George, she was quite cor>
dial and friendly with Wilfred.
1T will he so nice for us to have a
friend to look after US while George is
away" she said will it not, Bertie?'
Very, returned BERTHE, rather dryly.
Girl as she was, she thought LIE Roy all
together too young and too handsome
for The responsibility he had undertaken.
BERTHE was very sweet and girlisb, with
soft blue eyes and p closely cropped head
that gave her quite childish appearance.
Not so brilliantly handsome as her sister,
perhaps. but, nevertheless, very pretty
girl
When George was on his way to
Egypt lie Roy called daily at the cottage,
often staying to partake of afternoon tea
with the two sisters, VINO always gave
him warm welcome,
He is very handsome" said BERTHE, as
she watched him riding down the street
on his brown mare, after spending the at
tern0on with them.
Something in the tone of her voice and
the way she looked after Wilfred annoy
ed Madge, who never noticed how pretty
her sister was getting until that moment.
Yes. she said, 'he is handsome, poor
fellow" AID as she uttered these words
Madge sighed.
Why poor fellow? asked Berthe,
quickly turning 10 look at her sister
Because he will never marry
How do you know that?" cried Bette
cooring wildly: Has he told you so?'
No; but happen to know. He loved
some one long ago and viii never forget
her"
What can you know about Wilfred
lie RoyY'--iucreduously. I'VE have o.
| " known him few weeks
i knew him before poor father died, "
said bIadge, playing with her rings to
avoid meeting her sisters steady gaze.
And You let George think you had
never met before, said BERTHE, slowly.
You never loved him opening her
blue eyes If you had loved him Won
would have been true, in spite Of his pow
erty.'
Months passed on, and taking up the
Times one morning, Wilfred came upon
his friends name in the list of the slain.
1t was terrible blow for him. as he
had loved George with quite brOtherly
affection.
Madge went into Mysteries when she
heard the news, but soon Gained down,
showing admirable resignation to her loss
BERTHE, indeed, seemed to fell it the most
Wilfred came up as usual to the cot
tage, and one day when he and Madg {
were alone, rather abruptly alluded to the
past,
He can't be going to propose already,
thought the pretty widow, and decided il
her mind to put him off at least twelve
month
"Madgc" said WiIfred earnestly
when | first came here and found you
the wife of my friend, l thought l should
60 mad"
Madge murmured something about j
being too soon to talk of such things bu
he did not appear to heed her.
Yes" he went on. Il loved you still
Forgive met WIS wrong, and couldn'
help it. And now"
|, He paused for moment and Madgt
, colored hotly, forgetting her recent be-
. I-teavement and knowing only that tht
man she Lowell was metaphorically at he
feet.
And now" she said, softly, liftir
her eyes to his face.
And now" he returned, in an agitateC
5 voice, now love-I love your sister.
Mrs Enfelds complexion had neve
, looked more lovely-her cheeks were Ike
roses; but her cyesl-wel they had rath
er an angry 81 rkle, and her lips vert
5 slightly compressed,
Il am glad very glad indeed" sh'
, said with emphasis If l were BERTHE
should not care for q mans second love
r but. Of course, everybody to their taste.
And with this parting taunt she walked
out Of the room Just as Berthe entered it
The girl could not understand the mean
ing of the angry look her sister gave her
She did understand it, though, mo
ment later, when Wilfred caught her il
5 his arms and told Of his love.
4 ter all, it was fortunate for all con
, ceGned that affairs had taken this turn
{ for short time later on it was fount
. that George Enfield's name should hav
been among the missing )" not the killed
Madge to do her justice, was genuine
glad when she heard that her husband
had turned up safe and sound, anC
welcomed him as warmly as if she hat
never thought of being his friends wife
So all ends happily, and-for George
5 at least-where ignorance is bliss 1t /
r folly to be wise.