The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-24
WILLFUL MADGE.
BY IRENE PRESTON.

"Thcyll not treat me as if l were q
grown-up child. They'll not select a
{ husband for me- dctest Mark Thorn
ton. I'll run away if they don't stop
Fostering me about him."
Madge had rushed from the presence
of her elders, with rather disrespectful
haste, had ordered Brownie, aad was
arranging herself hastily in her riding
habit Her eyes were flashing, and
two red spots were burning in her dark
checks.
She descended the stairs, holding her
head like young princess, not deign-
ing to lock right or left, and passed out
into the sunshine. Tom held Brownie
beside the block; Madge sprang into
the saddle and galloped off down the
road in the direction of Saxonville, a
small railway and post-otficc station a
few miles distant.
Miss Mary and Miss Martha watched
the angry cloud OF dust settle away, and
then looked at each other helplessly.
They meant we'll, they were painfully
conscientious, after their light, but
somehow they lacked the tact and wis
dom to govern this girl, whom their
brother had found in the south, shortly
after the close of the war, a homeless,
friendIcss child, and had brought her
home and adopted her.
''She's so high-3truag and wilIlul, >
sighed Miss Mary.
Il wish GEORGE would come home,'
remarked Mis-, Martha. ''Everything
has gone wrong since he went away.
He has a knack of smoothing things
over. The more we try to smooth the
more we ruff, her, and she's never been
the same anyway since she came home
from that visit in the west"
Miss Martha would have been still
more unhappy had she known the exact
foundation for the fact of her last as
sertio1. Madge had formed the &C
quaintance of Alfrel Winship during
that vi it. She had kept up a secret
correspond encc with him ever since,
which was easily managed, since she
always rode to the office for the mail,
and was to-day expecting letter.
'T am old enough to be my own mis-
tress," she thought, all the petty re-
straints that had chafcd her wilful, i'm
| VII
uppermost Il will not submit any
longer. l would like now to gallop on
and on away into freedom. l am al
alien any way. feel like a Gagged bird
all the time. There is wild blood in
my veins, l believe. Whatever my
parcntage l never came of such hum
drum stock as these people-ncver!
Her thoughts touched upon Mark
Thornton. He was owner of the estate
adjoining that Of Mr.. Bishop. He was
ten years older than she, and had made
no secret of his preference for her. She
liked HIM fairly we'll until she found
that Miss Mary and Miss Martha wished
treat him with freezing civility.
"Tame and commonplace, always
reading and studying. What do want
of him?" she questioned spitefully, Civ
ing Brownie an extra touch with the
whip. l want vim and dash of spirit
! How Alfred Winship-"
She had reached the station. She rode
up to the window, through which the
postoffice clerk handed her mail as
usual. She repaid him with a dazzling
smile as she caught sight of Alfred's
handwriting, lifting him into the seventh
heaven, for she was beautiful, aud in hcl
gracious moods irresistible.
She let her rcins fall upon Brownie
neck while she read Alfrcds letter. HeI
heart gave great bound. He was com
iny east, would be in Boston on tht
10Th.
Glow delightful it would be-" h
wrote, ''if you could get out of you
cage for a week and meet me-
there. suppose the dragons would a
soon give you permission to visit tho
moon without an escort; and yet w
could have delicious time if you coult
join me-"
Had some evil clairvoyance conveyed
to Alfred Winship the present state o
Mad ce's mind? In her unreasoning Tcck
less mood, with her "balanco wheel,
George Bishop, away, she was open t.
any sug 5estion that had spice of free
dom in it,
why not break loose from this re
straint at once and forever2 Why no