The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-20
.MADGE'S MISTAKE.


The speaker was tall, handsome man
of perhaps five and twenty, with bright
eyes and, a dark resolute face. He looked
every inch a soldier as he stood beside
his frie1d on the platform of the crowded
London terminus, where they had met
each other after 3 separation of some
eighteen months.
"Madgcr said the young officers
friend, surely you are not engaged?
You, who were always so proud to pro
claim yourself woman hater.
Not engaged" returned George En-
field with flush on his bron2ed cheek.
Not engaged, lie Roy, but married. Where
have you been all these months not 70
have heard the news?'
Il have forgotten how time passes, "
said LIE Roy Roy, hastily. cor course, the
world has not been standing still since l
left England, with the grim determina>
ton not to open book or newspaper I'M
til | had regained the health and strength
had exhausted in long hours of study.
And You have gained your object, %
said George. with friendly solicitude.
You are quite yourself again.
lie Roy made no immediate answer bat
turned his eyes away, that George might
not see the look OF anguish which dark
ened them for u moment.
81 am better, he said at lISt. with no
trace of emotion on his fine face. II am
better, or l should not hav, returned to
take up the Old life"
"You have come home for good?" said
George, eagerly. You really mean to
remain in England?'
Yes d" said Leroy, absenlly. A man
cannot fly from himself. have come to
the conclusion that the man who seeks
health in travel had far better remain al!
home
George felt that lie Roy was hiding
something from him; hut he would not
utter u word 10 bridge the barrier Of re
serve which his friend had allowed TO
come between them.
He shall tell me of his own free viii
or not at all. thought George Enfield.
Il will not try to wiring his secret from
him.
so there was silence between them for
space as they strobe up and down, each
occupied with his own thoughts.
George Was the first to speak, and bis
voice startled lie Roy, arousing him from
painful reverie. He looked up eagerly,
meeting the eager gaze of his friend.
What is it, George?' he said, apollo
getically. Forgive me; but l scarcely
heard what you were saying"
II was telling you, lie Roy, that my
people do not approve Of my marriage
They have been cruel and unjust, and
could not think of letting Madge 60 Il
them
Il am sorry to hear this" said L. Roy
1t must be hard for her and for you; SHIT
will not be quite alone, hope. OF course
your wife has her own friends.
''She has one sister" returned George
but the two poor children will he verl
lonely when l am gone, lie Roy, and
want you to extend your friendship t
them"
1t was strange request TO make, hu
George could see nothing strange in it
lie loved his friend and had every faitl
10 him, He knew that Wilfred lie Ro,
was the soul of honor
How fortunate that | should hay
met you here, ," he continued, without Civ
ING lie Roy time to speak. You mus
come to our little villa and let me intro
duce you to my wife. l know You hav
an eye for beauty, and will appreciate IN.
good taste Don't accuse me of egolism
old fellow, until you have seen m
Madge"
They jumped into a cab, and as the!
drove quickly in the direction of George
home, the two friends fell to talking quit
merrily when the hanson drew up betor
a pretty cottage not far from Hampstead
Heath.
A pretty little maid with bright eye
and rosy cheeks opened the door in an
swer to Georges ring and Leroy follow
ed her into a quietly furnished parloI
where a young lady was bending owe
some needlework
"Madger said George, putting his han,
on her shoulder, 'let me introduce yot
TO the best friend have in the world
Wilfred lie Roy; Wired, this is my wife
They looked at each other and sud
den CHASTITY pallor came over lie Roy
face, while the girl seemed as if about Il
faint. Then, with warning glance quicI
as flash of lightning, lie Roy held on
his hand to his friends wife, and express
ed his pleasure of making her acquain
lance.
Where is Bertie?' said the uncon
scious George I'm the garden. as usual
suppose III go and look for her
And he hurried out of the room. leav
ing his wife and Wilfred alone together
Madge leaned back in her chair, white a
the lacework that had fallen from he
slender fingers.
you won't tell him. she said piteous
ly, lifting her beautiful eyes to Wilfred'
face.
Wilfred was silent for moment h
could scarcely trust himself to speak
But he controlled his anger by Il might
effort, and said calmly:
Let the past rest-it is gone forever
l wish to remember only that l am you
husbands friend"
1t cost him great deal to speak thes
words, for Madge had treated him yer
badly in days gone by. They hadc bee
engaged, and she had Tilted him, on find
ing that his prospects were less brigh
than people had led her to imagine.
had been secret engagement, and b
had never told the wrong she had don't
But it was rather hard on him to find thi
she was the wife of his friend and this
he was expected to look after her durin
Georges absence.
The worst of it was that he loved hi
still, although he felt that she was III
worthy of his love- Weak and tickle q
she had been, he could not help the men
DRY Of the sweet past coming back to hil
when he looked at her beautiful face.
Then you will keep my secret?' sal
Madge, anxiously; George has sue
strict ideas. He would be angry if
knew had been engaged to you. | don
think he will ever forgive me-"
you can trust my word, l hope, #" re
turned Wilfred, coldly-all the more colo
ly because of the love he could not sub
due
And then he held up his hand warn
ingly, for he could hear voices in the hal
and in another moment George entere
tbn I