Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-02-21
MADGE'S MISTAKE.


 shrink from the ordeal
 The speaker was tall handsome man. Of perhaps five and twenty. with bright eyes and dark. resOlute face. He looked every inch a soldier as he stood beside his friend on the platform of the crowded London terminus. where they had met each other. after separation of some eighteen months
 -Madge." said the young officer friend. surely you are not engagedf You. who were always so proud to pro claim yourself a wOman-hater.
 Not engaged. returned George En- field with a sl ght flush on his bronZed cheek Not engaged. Le Roy. but mar red Where have you been all these months not to have heard the news."
 Il had forgotten how time passes. said Le Roy. hastily. of course the world has not been standing still since left England, with the grim determination not to open book or newspaper until l had regained the hcalih and strength had ex- haUSted in long hours of study And you have gained your object, said George. with friendly solicitude
 You are quite yourself again. ! Le Roy made no immediate answer. but ! turned his eyes away that George might not see the look of anguish which had | darkened them for moment Il am better. he said al last. with no trace of emotion on his fine face T am better. CT should not have returned 10 take up the old life.
 You have come home for goodt" said | George. eagerly You really mean to remain in England2n
 -les. said Le iioy. absently. A man can not fly from himself. l have coms to al. FI,.s hn aL-s health in travel had far better remain at home
 George felt that Le Roy was hiding something from him. but he would not utter a word Co bridge the barrier of re serve which his friend had allowed tC come between them.
 - He shall tell me of his own free will. or not a; all. thought George Enfield ~l will not try to wiring his secret from him S there was silence between them for a space. as they stroie up and down, each occUn ei with h s own thoughts.
 Georgc was the first to speak, and his voice startled Roy. arousing him from painful reverie. He looked up eagerly. meeting the eager gaze of his friend.
 -What is il. GeorgeY" he asked apolo getically. Forgive me. but l scarcely heard what you were saying
  people do not approve of my marriage, and could not think of letting Madge gC to them.
 -I am sorry to hear this. said Le Roy. - It must be hard for her and for you; she will not be quite alone. l hope. of cour~e. your wife has her own friends
 -She has one sister. replied George but the two poor children will be very lonely when l am gone. Le i.oy. and want you 10 extend your friendship tC them. lt was a strange request Co make. but George could see nothing strange in it. He loved his friend. and had every faith in him. he knew that Nilfred Ls EOy was the soul of honor
 -HOw fortunate that should have mel you here. he continued. without giving lc EOy time tO speak You must come to our little villa aud let me iutr, duce yOU to my wife know you have an eye for beauty aud will appreciate my good taste Don't accrsc me of egotism, old fellow, until you have seen my Madge
 They jumped into a cab. and as they drove quickly in the direction of George home. the two friends fell Co ta king Ot old times. and le Oy Was laughing quite merrily when the hansOm drew up before a pretty cottage not far from Hampstead Heath.
 A pretty little maid with bright eyes and rosy cheeks opened the door in answer 10 Georges ring and Le Roy fOr we'd her into a quietly furnished paror. where a young lady was bending over some needle work.
 ~Madge,- said George. putting his hand on her shoulder. let me introduce you 10 the best friend l have in the wOrld-Wil- fred Ie Roy: Wilfred. this is my wife
 They looked at each other. and a sud den ghaStiy pallOr came over Le ROy's face. while the girl seemed abo f to faint. Then with warning glance. as quick aS a flash of lighting. Ic hoy held out his hand 10 his friends wife. and expressed his pleasure at making her ac1uaintance.
 W here is Bertiey7 asked the uncon- scious George In the garden. as usual. l suppose I'll 70 and look for her.
 And he hurried out of the room. leaving his wife and WilfTed alone together. Madse leaned back in her chair. white as the lacewOrk that had fallen from her slender fngers.
 You won't tell him" she said pite ously lifting her beautiful eyes 10 Will frci'S face.
 WHfIeI Wa, silent for a moment: he cculd scarcely trust himself Co speak. But he controlled his anger by mighty effort, and sui calmly.
 ~l et the Tast rest-it iS gone forever. | wish tO remember only that l am your husl and's fri, nd
 It ,oSt him a great deal to sTeak these | wor,!s. for Mad-c had treated him very 1 badly in days cosc hy. They had been engaged and she had tilted him on find | ing that hs prospects were less bright than | Veope hal led her to imagine. It had | been secret engagement snd he had nev r told the wrong she had done. But ! it was rather hard on him. to find that she was the wife of his friend, and that he was expected to look after her during | Georges absence.
 Tn worst of it was that he loved her | still. although be felt that she was un- worthy of his love. Weak and tickle as | she had been. he could not help the mem | Oyy of the sweet past coming back 10 him. | when he looked at her beautiful face Then you will keep my secret" said | Make anXiously. George has such | strict ilsas. He would be angry if he | knew had been engaged tO you don't | think lic vi ever forgive me ~You cs,1 trust my word hope. re- turned Wilircd. coldl all the more ! Coldly because ot the love he could not suhdUc
 l And then be held up his hand warn | suGiN. LOT E' tuAlu lltstE holttN ll Nuc uAlis and iU another moment George entered | the room in company with a young lady ! whom le oy had never seen before for | she had been at school .G Germany when | he had first known Nadcc. | George introduced her informally to | Lc hoy as his sister in law. and then left ' her Co entertain hs friend while he took . his wife out Ot the room to break the sad ! I,ws io her of his speedy departure for ! I-yit
 : She C-icd a little. for although she did uot love her husband very much. he had ' teen kind 10 her when her fathers failure and death rc u,,d her and her sister to | poverty. and sh, hii given them both a [ home by making Ter his wife. ! But for that-Shc reflected with a shud- cer-they would have had 10 70 out in tho world and work for their living Bessie would not have minded it SO much. but Maize had recoicG from the prospect of working for her daily bread with horror. They went back Co the drawing-roOm after a time. ani Mad-e sat down al the piano at her husband $ request and played for them. but she could not sing-shs could not. while W Hired was in the room.