St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-06
SHE CHANGED HER MIND.

4
l. Woman.
81 know I shall hate the man," cried
Madge Redfeld, tossing her head. 81
wish Cousin Simon would let me pick
out my own husband, and not force me
to marry a man l have never SEEM"
'But he DOESN'T said her sister
| Clara. ''He only said that he wished
you two would marry, and after all he
has done in paying for your education
think he has right to expect you to
be grateful"
Its all very well for you to theo-
rize," was the retort. ''but you are not
the girl who has to marry him. | have
made up my mind not to marry George
CARLYLE" and then Madge founced out
of the room and in few minutes was
seen scampering down the road on the
back of the little pony FREELY. 1t was
late before she thought of returning,
and even then the obstinate little beast
became balky and refused to turn: He
| finally compromised by running off with
| her at full speed.
But FREELY evidently had definite
| goal niview. Suddenly the golden sea
| of wild sunfioWers broke against the
high stone wall of an orchard, and a
| little further on an open gate swung
half across the narrow lane.
FREELY cantered gayly into the farm
yard, and, coming to standStill, gave a
shrilf Whinny of satisfaction.
II beg you to excuse me. My pony
| brought me here. [ assure you l had
nothing whatever to do with the mat
ter" Madge laughingly apologized, as
they were confronted by a boy about
sixteen. in blue-jean overalls, with very
1;rrh% ko; ;oh 0Ad ylyith
his tawny skin and small light eyes,
which expressed all the amazement of
which they were capable.
The youth eyed the pony sharply, then
burst into guffaW of amaZement.
''It's our old pony that pap sold to Mr..
Graham, down Riverside way, while
back. 1t gets homesick and comes back
here when it gets chance. If you let
it stay an hour or two, it'll 60 back to
town like lamb"
"But what shall do?' said Madge in
dismay.
"Hev some dinner with us" promptly
returned the boy. ''We're goin' to hey
cOmp'ny dinner"
Madge thanked him, and said she
would stay-whereupOn she was led to
the kitchen and introduced to ''marm,"
large woman with expansive crimson
cheeks.
"I'm very glad to see you dear" said
'marm," beaming ELUSIVE welcome,
land you kin go right into the settin'
room and visit with Mr.. George"
Madge resigned herself to circum-
stances, and allowed herself to be
walked into the sitting-room.
A very handsome young man lay
nursing a spraifed ankle on a cretonne-
covered lounge, which was gay with
yellow shepherdeSses, on their way to
blue pagodas, bearing baskets of pink
roses, and after brief Introduction the
hostess hurried away.
A tremor of surprise seemed to pass
over Mr.. Georges expressive features
as he caught Madge's name and scanned
her bright face; but he said nothing
not have done.
They talked Of books, travel, country
life, and dozen other things, while the
minutes rolled by on little golden
wheels.
Then came dinner, and then another
long conversation on the porch, where
Mr.. George was Rsettled to enjoy the
mellow October sunshine.
At last, when FREELY was judged to
have fully satisfied her yearning for a
sight of her old haunts, Madge started
for home, after cordial gOod-byes from
all and request from Mr.. George that
he might be permitted to renew the ac-
quaintance as soon as his sprained ankle
allowed him to 60 to Riverside.
She reached home just at the edge of
ing her with kisses and reprOacheS.
When she had returned the one and
disarmed the other by brief eXplana-
ton, she inquired mischievOusly:
"And what did Mr.. Carlyle think of
my absence" a-s'. GSs -. 49,
ssYou wretch! I verify believe you
are enjoying Mr.. Carlyle's fancied mort
ification!' exclaimed Clara. giving her
a gentle, sisterly shaking. ''But as it
happens" she continued, ''Mr.. Carlyle
wasn't here either. A boy brought a
note from him, in which he said he had
taken an earlier train so as to stop over
night with his old nurse, who is the wife
of farmer about twelve miles from
town, and that he sprained his ankle by
stone turning under his foot in the
here fora few days. But what are you
laughing at?' she demanded, as Madge
turned scarlet, then laughed until she
showed signs of imminent choking.
| AS soon as she could speak, she de-
tailed her adventure at length.
.Of course Mr.. George was really
George Carlyle" she said. "He didn't
mention why he was staying at the
farm, but supposed he was staying
there for some reason"
''But you will be good, won't you"
pleaded Clara.
ION the whole, I think I will, es-
pecially as 1 like Mr.. Carlyle better
than any man have ever met" said
Madge, after pretty, simulated DELHI
Grafton of nearly two minutes, during
thorns of anxiety.
And she kept her promise to the letter
when Mr.. Carlyle made his appearance
| in his own proper character.
| Not cloud Of pervelsity.obscured the
| sweet, bright ways that were as natural
| to her as it's hues to a bird of paradise;
! and ere long the bud of mere liking, so
auspiciously developed that day at the
farm, had opened into the royal purple
| blossom of love.
| "Why didn't you tell me who you
really were at first?" Madge demanded
one day for the fiftieth time; George
Carlyle had teasingly refused to crafty
her curiosity on the fOrty-nine times
| previous.
| O"Because Mr.. Winslow had told me
have sister who is the dearest little
flirt in the world, 1 fancied l was we'll
enough acquainted with the ways of
girls to know that it was the very thing
to prejudice you against me. So when
my old nurse, who has probably nearly
forgotten that have any other name,
introduced me simply as Mr.. George
l was glad of the opportunity of gaining
your acquaintance with my identity I'M
suspected"
"Was it fate or FREELY that brought
had made up nv mind to be SO hate
ful?" unused Madge, as she dreamily
fingered the knot of flowers which she
had just tucked into Georges button