The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-03-29

l
good gracious! tomorrow was the 10th.
He would be there tomorrow.
Acting on sudden impulse, she
turned Brownies head again towards
the station, walked into the telegraph
office and deliberately wrote this mes
sage:
II shall leave for Boston on the 11.S0
train. Meet me at the depot"
There! 1t was done and not to be
repented Of. She galloped home and ,
took her place at tho dinner table with
silent, subdued air.
She spent the rest Of the day in her
room making a few preparations, mus
ing upon her grievances and picturing
the meeting on the morrow alternately.
She was allowed to remain unmo-
Tested by the sisters, who were used to
her moods.
There was dash OF Spanish gypsy |
blood in her veins, as she herself sus-
pected. She had daring disregard
for conventionalities. which was now,
under high pressure, overhowing its
boundaries. Yet she was high-prin-
cipled and warm hearted at bottom, and
would be easily governed by one who
understood her complex nature with its
seeming contradictions.
When Miss Mary and Miss Martha
saw her gallop off the next day they
little guessed that she wore travelling
suit under her riding habit, nor that
she had stolen out tho evening before
and secret ed a well-filed valise among
tho brushwood under the trees by the
road, half mile distant.
Making sure that no one was in sight,
she secured tho valisc and rode on
again until she came to strip of wood
land not far from tho little depot. Shc
removed her riding habit, then, after
securing Brownie and lavishing parting
caresses and few tears upon him, she
walked around the ''bend" to the
station, and was soon steaming over the
road to Boston.
Excitement kept her up until, as the
train neared Boston, she began to grow
nervous. Suppose Alfred should not meet
r herr Suppose the telegram should have
, miscarriedl Was sho not doing reck-
less thing2
: She banished reflection. She strug-
gled against homesick feeling as she
; walked up the long platform OF the
depot and found her way to the ladies'
roein.s She sat down near tho door.
, Surely he would come soon. She had
lonely, unprotected feeling. Men pass
ing tho door gave her bold, rude, ques-
Q tioning glances she imagined.
n At length, with a cry of relief in her
9 heart, she caught a glimpse OF Alfreds
face at the door Of the waiting room.
i Ho stood looking around uncer-
# tainly for few moments, then, with
J. rather unsteady steps, he crossed tc
). where she sat, held out both hands and
o said familiarly, "Ah, here you are,
+ beauty. I've been looking for you thu:
, half hour"
- Madge was on her feet in a moment
/ warding..off his touch. His handsome
face was flushed and tho quality of his
glance and smile was insulting. The
q. odor OF the potations he had imbibet
;, sickcnci her. She could have sunl
:. through the floor with shame and dread
% of him. lie had undergone mctamor
:. phosis, Shc had never seen him thu
=, when she met him at the home of hel
a friend. Something like disgust sh
:, felt, which was quickly succeeded by
~ flash Of anger as he laid his hand upol
- her shoulder and said rather unsteadily
"Comc and have something to cat. Yo
=, must be hungry. You-you are unde
- my protection, you know" he fnishe
., with a meaning laugh.
a. The effect upon Madge was madden
- ing. She scorned him and herself fo
nd her folly. He quailed little under tn
od fire in her eyes, as she shook off hi
- hand and stepped backward, with a
imperious air, that had its effect upo
wa him.
- sTam not under your protection,
" she retorted, with certain desperate
- ho, yo;co and manner
:. At that instant she saw Mark Thor
" ton coming towards her across th
, marble floor.
Her first sensation was one OF disma
'.' that Mark had found her iu such con
40 promising situation. The next momer
NJ she had rallied her forces.
"They have sent you after me-" 81
'A said recklessly, after this quiet salut
A'' tion. sIf return it will not be wi
YOU"
les 81 came on tho train with you, but
Ter was not sent" he returned. "and ha'
I'M not the slightest intention of asking "
The to return with me. l thought y
scCmeu III lEouoiO, ahu hSASiJ SAA
he to ask if could be of service to you
our Madgc looked up at him. He SEEM
me so grand and grave and masterful
as contrast with Alfred that a sudd
the sense of his superiority came to Mad
we like revelation, while fear that
uld had compromised herself forever in
eyes came over her as Alfred said sne'
yed ingly:
0 of "I thought your engagement "
ck- with me, but it seems l am one t
ell many"
, to With that he walked off. Madg
rec defiant mood broke down utterly. 5
was wrctched, humiliated.
re- Mark stood regarding her gravely.
not "You will dcspise me- she said.