The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-24

with her, and she had never seen q
happy moment since she parted from
him.
IF I had any privileges like other
girls" she thought bitterly, '1 could
invite him out to see me, but Miss Mary
and Miss Martha would be scandalized
at the mention of such a thing"
She CLAN ced over the letter again. He
had given her his Boston address, and,
good gracious! tomorrow was the 10th.
He would be there tomorrow.
Acting on a sudden impulse, she
turned Brownies head again towards
the station, walked into the telegraph
cfficc and deliberately wrote this mes
sage:
Il shall leave for Boston on the 80
train. Meet me at the depot"
There! 1t was done and not to be
rcpented 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, 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-
pccted. She had a daring disregard
for conventionalities, which was now,
under high pressure, overdowing 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 a travelling
suit under her riding habit, nor that
she had stolen out tho evening before
and secret ed a well-filled valise among
the brushwood under the trees by the
road, half mile distant.
Making sure that no one was in sight,
again until she came to a strip of wood
land not far from the little depot. She
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
her? Suppose the telegram should have
miscarried? Was she not doing a reck-
less thing?
She banished reflection. She strug-
gled against q homesick feeling as she
walked up the long platform of the
depot and found her way to the ladies'
room. She sat down near the door.
Surely he would come soon. She had a
lonely, unprotected feeling. Men pass
ing the door gave her bold, rude, quos-
tioning glances she imagined
At length, with cry of relief in hel
heart, she caught glimpse of Alfred's
face at the door of the waiting room.
He stood looking around uncer-
tainly for few moments, then, with
rather unsteady steps, he crossed tc
where she sat, held out both hands and
said familiarly, 'Ah, here you are,
beauty. I've been looking for you this
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
odor of the potations he had imbibed
sickened her. She could have sunk
through the floor with shame and dread
of him. He had undergone metamor-
pho5is. She had never seen him thus
when she met him at the home of her
friend. Something like disgust she
felt, which was quickly succeeded by 6
fash of anger as he laid his hand upon
her shoulder and said rather unsteadily,
Come and have something to eat You
must be hungry. You-you are under
my protection, you know" he finished
with meaning laugh,
The effect upon Madge was madden
ing She scorned him and herself fol
her folly. He quailed little under the
fire in her eyes, as she shook off his
hand and stepped backward, with an
imperious air, that had its effect upon
| him.
~ am not under your protection, "
she retorted, with certain desperation
in her voice and manner.
at that instant she saw Mark Thorn
ton coming towards her across the
marble floor
Her first sensation was one of dismay
that Mark hal found her in such a com
promising situation. The next moment
she had rallied her forces.
They have sent you after me-" she
said recklessly, after this quiet saluta
ton. '1f return it will not be with
you"
81 came on the train with you, but
was not sent he returned, "and have