Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-07-09
Madpe in q fervent grasp

L am 10 De MS vile, llttlc houSoi bulS
good mans wife, when the beautiful
springl comse. l shall leave you, and
auntie, and uncle, to be all his. But
this is our secret little sister, and only
you can share 1t.
Then her hands relaxed their hold,
and drawing the light scarf over her
shoulders, she trpped silently on
They we're almost there-nearing the
edge of the wood, and the stile was
but step away. Another step for
ward, and then Madge held her sister
back
.Wait!" she whispered; al can see
two men on the seat, Cora. We do
not want to meet strangers there.
"No," she said, drawing back in
the shadow of the wood; it is Neil's
friend, Willis Dean. We will walt
until he goes, for I do not like to meet
him."
Even as she spoke the figure arose,
and the sound of his voice came on the
twilight air, distinct and clear.
And what of this love affair, friend
Neil? When Is it to end, and how?
Are you really in earnest, and do you
mean to marry the girl?"
Cora Smiths hand closed upon the
arm of Madge till she shrank in pain
while they waited for the answer
Neil Rowan laughed softly.
"Marry her !! he repeated. "She
is just the subject for grand flirta-
ton, and | assure you have done the
thing well. But for anything further
bah! | am going back to town to-
morrow. and this is our last meeting;
so be off, old fellow, for | expect her
every moment ;"
Just for one moment Madge Smith S
heart stood still in awful fear, for she
thought Cora was dying. That white,
ghast.y face there in the twilight, that
motionless figure, those tightly locked
hands, it surely was not the fair, sweet
maiden of moment before. But the
spasm past, and, without word, she
arose and gllded noislessly away, and
Madge followed her in silence.
Neil Rowan waited until the light
had all died out of the west, and the
dew lay like summer rain on the grass
at his feet. His cigar was smoked
down to ashes, and his lazy revery
was broken by the cry of the whip
poor
'She isn't coming to night. he said
mentally; "that is certain. Th'
scheming auntie up yonder managed
to prevent it this time. Oh, well. i
saved scene!" 1 will drop loving
farewell note, and SO it ends-a sum
mer's amusement. Ha, hum! ant
Neil Rowan strolled homeward, sing
ing, half consciously, II won't hav'
her, l know won't have her,
know don't care straw who ha
her I know"
The farewell note came to Cor
Smith the following night, but tn
fever bright eyes never rested On tn
creamy page, for, ere the insane ligh
gave place to reason again, death seale'
h the white eyelids. To such nature
as this girls love is life, and the rud
4 blow that woke her from the one brigh
dream of her youth, snapped the slen
der cord that bound her fraiI spirit
earth, and out of the depth of her aw
full grief, the kindly hand of death le'
her to the mountain-top where
t bullded the city of the New Jerusalem
l} Day by day, week by week, montl
by month, SO sped the time until eigh
years were counted. Eight times th
t grass had grown over the little gray
: in the lonely country graveyard, an
e again the OCTOBER winds rustled th
u scarlet leaves over the mound.
l. Wonderful changes had the eigf
years brought Side by side wit
| this grave were two others, and th
headstones bore the names of goo
o Aunt and Uncle Smith. They ha
g rested there six years; every summe
}. beautiful Madge Smith came dow
q from her city mansion and lingere
Il in the old home week, trimming tn
l grasses and planting bright flowers o
the mounds. Bright, beautiful Madg
: Smith. the neiress of all Uncl
y Smiths hidden wealth, the wealth /
r guarded 80 we'll during that toil-wor
e AMI weary life.
Three years before, Madge Smit
q left school, to reign queen of societ'
d beautiful, strangely beautiful, wit
Ii tuat white, high bred face, those wild
,, fathomless, glittering amber eyes,
n figure matchless in symmetry an
d grace, accomplished, polished, and tt
G helress OF great wealth, no wonde
a that lovers, old and young, knelt a
Madge Smiths shrine.-Strane
It wonder, the world said, that all wei
G scorned-not gently and with wore
n of pity and apology, but spurned fror
q her very feet with scornful lips an
g blazing eyes.
l Ay, Madge Smith was an enign
and mystery to ali who knew her.
II No warmer friend, no brighter com
e panlon did those of ner own sex see
: for. But never were those lips see
s to smile, or those wonderful eyes
is soften, in response to any lovers; I