Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-07-06
SHE BECAME THE RAGE.
BY A. C. ID.

Madge had worked hard all day, an
now the last stitch was put in tn
beautiful garment that was to grace tn
form of Miss Adele Marlboro. As wit
aching back and head she looked at
some very bitter thoughts forced them
selves into her mind. Why were bless
ings SO unevenly distributed, and VIII
was she born to lot where she wa
obliged to work so hard to support her
self and little sister, while others hat
every luxury heaped upon them? Sh
threw herself on her knees by the bee
and cried as if her heart would break
Madge had been left an orphan at tn,
age of fifteen, and for three years haG
known nothing but hardship and sor
row. Her mother had died nine year.
before, leaving to her care the little
sister brought into the world under
such sad circumstances. Her father
was good-natured, easy-going sort OF
a man, with good voice which brought
him in enough to make them tolerably
comfortable. He was in reality a
genius, but want of ambition and love
of ease had prevented his ever amount
ing to anything, and, being fond of
"life" and Jolly companions, he had ac-
qr1ired taste for liquor. One stormy
night, being unable, on account of his
condition, to find his way home, he
took a severe cold, and the next day
fell prey to pneumonia, living but five
days from the time he fell i'll.
Madge, being thus forced to earn her
bread, had served out an apprentice
ship to a dressmaker, and since then
had worked hard at her distasteful
trade. There was hidden away in her
heart an ambition, but for what she
scarcely knew. She would be some
thing some day, she felt sure, but what
would it be, how brought about, and
when would that time come?
It was with thoughts like these that
she beguiled the weary hours that she
sat stitching, stitching, stitching away;
but to-day she had seemed to lose all
hope, and life looked very dark to her.
While she knelt there, weeping, as is
often the case, she grew more cheer
full, and with little muttered prayer,
HOh, Lord, forgive my repining, and,
If it be possible, make my life more
easy" she arose from her knees and
prepared to take home Miss Marlboro's
dress
The walk brought color to her cheeks
and brightness to her eyes. When she
reached the house she noticed the par
lor was brilliantly illuminated. and she
passed hastily through the hall and up
stairs. Leaving her bundle, she hoped
to escape again without being OBJ
served. She had scarcely reached the
landing above, on her way down, when
there arose from the parlor the strains
of a song she had frequently heard her
father sing. She stood there, thrilling
in every nerve. That beautiful voice,
that beautiful song and the memories
it recalled, almost overpowered her
All, why could not she sing like that?
She remembered singing with her
father when she was little girl, and
being told that her voice was sweet
She would try. That very night she
would go home and find out if she could
not sing.
She crept slowly down the stairs, lost
to everything but the music which was
thrilling her soul, when she became
conscious of some one watching her.
George Courtnay had stepped into
the hall for a moment, and glancing
up caught sight of the beautiful but
poorly clad figure.
"What sweet face" he thought,
"and what wonderful expression! 1t
accords badly with her poor clothes.
Whom can she be, and what can she
be doing here?"
1t was while he stood there, wonder
ing and fascinated, that Madge became
aware of his presence and the earnest
gaze he was bestowing upon her. She
started and blushed at being discovered,
and swiftly descending, passed out of
the house. She tripped along lightly
now, for her ambition had taken shape.
Entering her room, she went to her
fathers little melodeon, which had not
been opened since his death, and began
singing the scale. Her father had
taught her the notes, and at one time
she had been able to play some of his
little accomplishments. After running
the scale up and down two or three
times, she brought out some songs and
sang them one after another. Yes,
she could sing-she felt sure she could
but would any one else think so?
That was the question.
She made up her mind that the next |
lay should decide this: and with her
heart high with hope, retired to rest.
The next morning Madge awoke |
bright and early, her heart full of her
project. Everything seemed to have |
taken on brighter hue, and she moved |
around with a sprightliness and joy
BUSINESS that quite mystifed her little |
sister. who was more accustomed to
seeing her sad than gay, and caused
her to say:
@Madge, what has happened? II
never saw you look so happy. Your
eyes fairly sparkle, and-really,
Madge, 1 never knew before how pref
y you were"
Hush, little fatterer," said Madge. |
You will make me vain, I fear. Run
DIFF to school, and forget what q silly |
big sister you have"