Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-23

the hall, and in another moment
George entered the room in company
with a young lady whom LIE Roy had
never seen before, for she had been
at school in Germany when he had
first known Madge.
George introduced her informally
to LIE Roy as his sister-in-l law, and
then LEFT her to entertain his friend
while he took his wife out of the
room to break the sad news to her of
his speedy departure to Egypt.
She cried a little. for although she
did not love her husband very much,
he had been kind to her when her
fathers failure AID death reduced her
and Ter sister to poverty, and had
given them both home by maxim g
her his wife.
But for that she reflected with a
shudder-they would have lad to go
out IN the world and work for their
living. Bessie would not have mind
ed it so much, but Madge had recoiled
from the prospect of working for her
daily bread with horror.
They went back to the drawing
room after time, and Madge sat
down to the piano at her husbands
request and played for them, but she
did not sing could not, while
Wilfred was in the room.
She had liked him better than she
had liked George, although her hus'
band was better looking than his
friend, and the old fascination was
creeping over her.
If she had been a wise woman she
would have objected to be left, under
Wilfreds guardianship, but unfor
tunately she was very foolish one
and it seemed to her a very pleasant
arrangement.
Now that he had promised not to
speak of the past to George, she was
quiet cordial and friendly to Wilfred.
st will be so nice for Us to have a
friend to look after US while George
is away" she said: will it not,
Bertie2"
very" returned Berthe, rather
dryly. Girl as she was, she thought
LIE Roy altogether too young and too
handsome for the responsibility he
had undertaken.
Berthe was very sweet and girlish,
with soft blue eyes and closely crop
ped head that gave her quite child
like appearance. Not so brilliantly
handsome as her sister, perhaps; but,
nevertheless, a very pretty girl.
When George was on his way to
Egypt LIE Roy called daily at the cot
tage, often staying to partake Of af-
ternoon tea with the two sisters, who
always gave him warm welcome.
''He is very handsome" said BERTHE,
as she watched him riding down the
street on his brown mare, after spend
ing his afternoon with them.
Something in the tone of her voice
and The way she looked after Wilfred
annoyed Madge, who had never
noticed how pretty her sister was get
ting until that moment.
YES" she said, che is handsome,
poor fellow!' and as she muttered
these last words Madge sighed.
why poor feliow2" asked BERTHE,
quickly turning to look at her sister.
because he will never marry"
"How do you know that?" cried
BERTHE, coloring wildly. "Has he
told you so?"
mo, but | happen to know; he
loved some one long ago, and will
never forget her."
"What can you know about Will
fred lie Roy?'-increduloualy. 1--WE
have only known him a few weeks. -"
81 knew him before poor father
died." said Madge, playing with her
ring to avoid her sisters steady gaze.
''And you let George think you had
never met before, " said BERTHE, slow
ly. you never loved him." opening
her blue eyes. eff you had loved
him you would have been true, in
spite of his poverty"
Months passed on, and, taking up
the Times one morning, Wilfred came
upon his friends name in the list of
the slam
1t was terrible blow for him, as ne
mad loved George with quite broth
erly affection.
Madge went into b ysterics when she
heard the news. but soon Gained down,
showing admirable resignation to her
loss, Berthe, indeed, seemed to feel it
the most.
Nilfred came as usual to the cot.
tage, and one day when he and Madge
were alone, rather abruptly alluded to
the past
''He can't be going to propose al
ready" thought the pretty widow and
decided in her own mind to put him
off at least twelve month.
"Madge," said WIlfred earnestly,
when l first came here and found
y / the wife of my friend, | thought
| should go mad. "
Madge murmured something about
it being too soon to talk of such
things, but he did not appear to heed
her.
Yes" he went ON, Il loved you
still. Forgive met was wrong, and
| couldn't help it, And now"
He paused for a moment, aud
Madge colored holly, forgetting her
recent bereavement and knowing only
that tho man she loved was metaphor,
ically at her feet.
And how?" she said, softly lifting
her eyes TO his face.
And now" he returned, in an agi
tated voice, now | 'ove l love your
sister"
Mrs. Eufield' 5 comptexion had never
looked more lovely-her cheeks were
like roses. but her yes!-well they
had rather an angry sparkle, and
her lips were slightly co oppressed,
II am glad-very glad. indeed, =
she said, with emphasis. If | were
BERTHE, | should not care for mar S
second love: but, of course, every boo
to their taste"
And with this parting tauMt she
walked out of the room just as BERTHE
entered it. The girl could not under
stand the meaning of the angry look
her sister gave her.
She did understand it. though, a
moment later, when Wilfred caught
her in his arms and tod her of his
love.
After all, il was fortunate for all
concerned that affairs lad taken this
turn, for a short time later on it was
found that George Entield's name
should have bet n among the missing
not the killed.
Madge, to do her justice, was gen
timely glad when she heard that her
husband had turned up" safe and
sound, and welcomed him as warmly
as if she had never thought of being
his friends wife.
So all ends happily, and-for
George, at least-where ignoi ance is
bliss 1t is foliy To he wise