Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-15
pbu.sopher ard friend" and in ono.

way and another l had heard more than
enough Of him all my life, though,
through my having no mother. 1 had
never been at Garth VIXEN Jef's friends
visited him. In fact, l had worshiped
him secretly and afar off-from Jef's
descriptions-and made him the hero of
more than m romance; and now there
he was sitting in my easy chair and
chatting to me as if he had known me
all my life-as, indeed, l suppose he
had in a way, for JEFF surely must have
mentioned me to him.
A.er asking all sorts of questions
about my brother, he stood up to 90,
and desired me not to forget the story;
but then more than ever l resolved not
to write, rs no doubt he would accept it
from mere pity.
Three months passed away, and I was
on terms of almost civility with my hated
editor; but l had written nothing for
the Arhngton-on that point 1 was OBJ
stinate-nor had l told Mr.. Cashleton
very much about myself or my W af-
fairs beyond the first sudden burst Of
confidence, which seemed inevitable.
What l wrote and how 1 succeeded I
never would talk about, in spite of sew
eral very insinuating questions. But
about jeff l would talk for hours, and he
did not seem to worry of the subject,
either.
Sometimes [ accompanied him to an
afternoon concert at St. James Hall or
a matinee at the Lyceum, and he was
always very kind and attentive; but 1
never could get over the fact that he had
laughed at my poetry. Had he laughed
only at myself I should have forgiven
and forgotten it.
One evening he called after having
absented himself for a fortnight, andf
was wondering in spite of myself what
to call Mrs. Kent to light the gas, though
it 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. l
have something very particular to say,
Madeline, and l want to say it to you
alone. Madeline''-and somehow he
got possession of both my hands-'I
love you; l want you for my wife; l
want to take care of you, dear, if you
will let me-"
II can't help it," returned, feebly
and vaguely.
"No, of course not, and I don't want
you to. Darling, you must have seen
that [ love you, and you must, you
surely must care for me a little in re-
turn!"
81 don't KNOW" 1 said, more feebly
still; and the golden opportunity for
revenge and retaliation was gone by
forever. l might have been cool and
proud, naughty and defiant, laughed in
his face and told him l scorned his love
as he had scorned M poetry; instead
of which I stood trembling and blush
ing in his arms, while he kissed my face
ard called me all sorts Of pretty names;
and, in spite of myself, I confess l liked
it. 1t is humiliating, it is horrid, but it
is true-I did love the handsome, hate
full editor.
Darling" he cried, holding me FROM
him at arms length, "y,ou're a vixen
you're too fond Of that vagrant poet
you detest me cordially; still, Madeline,
[ love you, and l believe l have loved
you from that day when your presence
made q spot of sunshine in my very
shady editorial den. Some day per-
haps; you will learn to care u little about
Six months afterwards we were mar
ried at St. Georges, Bloomsbury; and,
when jeff came home and heard all
about it, [ thought he would have gone
out of his mind with joy. Now write
what l please for the Arliaqton; and,
though the editor goes over it, he does
not dare alter a syllable, so that in that
respect / have gained my point. Ihavo
conquered my first editor.