Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-07-16

elton had been my brothers ''guide,
philosopher and friend" and in one
way and another had heard more than
enough of him all my life, though,
through my having no mother, had
never been at Garth when Jeff 8 friends
visited him. In fact, / had worshiped
him secretly and afar off-from Jefrs
descriptions and made him the hero
of more than one 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, I suppose
he had in way, for jeff surely must
have mentioned me to him.
After 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 resolved not
to write, as no doubt he would accept it
from mere pity.
Three months passed away, and I
was on terms of almost civility with nv
hated editor but I had written moth
ing for the Arlington-on that point [
was obstinate had I told Mr..
Cashelton very much about myself or
my own affairs beyond the first sudden
burst of confidence, which seemed in
evitable. What / wrote and how I sue
ceeded [ never would talk about. in
spite of several very insinuating ques-
tions. But about Je9 would talk for
hours, and he did not seem to weary of
the subject, either.
Sometimes I accompanied him to an
afternoon concert to st. James Hall or
matinee at the Lyceum, and he was
always very kind and attentive; but
never could get over the fact that he
had laughed at my poetry. Had he
laughed only at myself l should have
forgiven and forgotten it.
One evening he called after having
absented himself for fortnight, and
was wondering in spite of myself what
could have, happened to him. I was
about 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.
have something very particular to say,
Madeline, and [ want to say it to you
alone. Madeline, and somehow he
got possession of both my hands-"I
love you; I want you for my wife; I
want to take care of you, dear, if you
will let me-"
Il can't help it," I returned feebly
and vaguely. aG
"No, of course not, and don't want
you to. Darling, you must have seen
that l love you, and you must, you
surely must care for me little in re-
turnr'
81 don't know" said more feebly
still; and the golden opportunity for
revenge and retaliation was gone forever.
/ might have been 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 I
liked it. 1t is humilating, it is horrid,
but it is true-I did love the handsome,
hateful editor. s @
Darling" he cried, holding me
from him at arms length. "you are a
vixen you're too fond of that vagrant
poet-you detest me cordially; still,
Madeline, I love you, and I believed I
have loved you from that day when your
presence made spot of sunshine in my
very shady editorial den. Some day,
perhaps, you will learn to care little
about me-"
*
Six months afterwards we were
married 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
[ write what please for the Arlington
and, though the editor goes over it, he
does not dare alter syllable, so that
in that respect I have gained my point,
I have conquered my first editor.