Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-16
HER TRUE FRIEND.

They'll not treat me as if were a
grown-up child. They'll not select a
husband for me. Idetest 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, and was
arraying herself hastily in her riding
habit. Her eyes were flashing, and
two red spots were burningin her dark
cheeks.
She descended the stairs, holding her
head like young princess, not deign-
ing to look right or left, and passed
out into the sunshine.
Tom held Brownie beside the block;
Madge sprang into the saddle and gal
1oped off down the road in the direc-
ton of Saxonville, a small railway and
post-office station q few miles distant.
Miss Mary and Miss Martha watched
the angry cloud of dust settle away,
and then looked at each other helpless
ly. They meant well, they were pain
fully conscientious, after their light,
but somehow they lacked the tact and
wisdom to govern this girl, whom their
brother had found, shortly after the
close of the war, a homeless, friendless
child, and had brought her home and
adopted her.
''She's so high-strung and wilful.''
sighed Miss Mary.
Il wish George would come home"
remarked Miss 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 rutfle her, and she's never
been the same anyway since she came
home from that visit to the West"
Miss Martha would have been still
more unhappy had she known the
exact foundation for the fact of her
last assertion.
Madge had formed the acquaintance
| of Alfred Winship during thatvisit. and
had kept up Il secret correspondence
| with him ever since, which was easily
| managed since she always rode to the
post-office for the letters, and was to-
| day expecting letter.
"Im old enough to be my own mis-
| tress," she thought, all the petty re-
| straints that had chafed her wilful i'm
perious spirit from childhood coming
| uppermost. Il will not submit any
longer / would like now to gallop on
and on away into freedom. | am an
alien any way. feel like Gagged bird
all the time. There is wild blood in
my veins, l believe. Whatever nay pa
rentage, never came of humdrum
stock as these good people-never!
Her thoughts touched upon Mark
Thornton. He was the 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 well I'M
til she found that Miss Mary and Miss
Martha wished her to marry him, when
she began to treat him with freezing
civility.
Tame and commonplace, always
reading and studying. What do l
want of him?n she questioned spiteful-
ly, giving Brownie an extra touch with
the whip. II want vim and dash OF
spirit. Now Alfred Winship-''
She had reached the station. She
rode up to the window, through
| which the post-office clerk handed her
letter 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 beau
tiful, and in her gracious moods ire
sistible.
She let the reins fall upon Brownie
neck while she read Alfred's letter.
Her heart gave a great bound. He
was coming home, would be there on
the 10Th.
'.How delightful it would be-" he
wrote, eff you could get out of your
| cage for week and meet me there. |
suppose the dragons would as soon
give you permission to visit the moon
without an escort; and yet we could
have delicious time if you could join
me-
Had some evil clairvoyance conveyed
to Alfred Winship the present state of
Madge's mind? In her unreasoning
reckless mood, with her ''balance
Wheel" George Bishop, away, she was
open to any suggestion that had a
spice of freedom in it.
Why not break loose from this re-
straint at once and forever? Why not
meet Alfred Winship as he suggested?
She knew he was desperately in love
with her, and she had never seen a
happy moment since she parted from
him.
eff I had any privileges like other
girls" she thought bitterly, Il could
invite him out to see me, but Miss
Mary and Miss Martha would be
scandalised at the mention of such a
thing"
She glanced over the letter again.
He had given her his new address, land,
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:
L shall leave by the 11:3O train.
Meet me at the station"
There! 1t was done and not to be
repented of. She galloped home, and
took her place at the dinner-table with
silent subdued air.
She spent the rest of the day in her
room, making few preparations,
musing urAn her grievances and pic
turing the meeting on the morrow al
ternately.
She was allowed to remain unmolest-
ed by the sisters, who were used to her
moods.