Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-04

thought of losing her, and he found himsel
wondering how he could bear 1t, If he wer,
compelled to surrender 10 much loveliness
For Madeline Robson was more than
beauty; she was O handsome woman Of I
brunette type. Her features, though moi
absolutely faultless in their contour (humar
features rarely are except in novels), were
good: and when lighted up with the anima'
ton impaired by q warm heart and an act
i've intelligence, they appeared incapable
OF Improvement. She had the commanding
presence of tragedy queen, which her
iully developed figure and the proud poise
OF queenly head on magnificent shoulders
enabled her to sustain with natural grace.
She wore rich dress of dead gold silk,
simply trimmed, with q low-cut bodice,
that harmonized admirably with her dark
When Leyton arrived at the Red House
iarm Ehe gave him her cheek to kiss, be-
meath which the warm color glowed like the
sun-ripened blush that burns in the yelvety
skin of the peach. But Leyton's jealous
Tears were stirred anew, as he noted the
luxurious prodigality with which the Rob
sons had made their preparations for the
evenings entertainment. He found him.
self again confronted with the old question
that had tormented him whea he heard of
the rumor connecting Madeline's name with
that Of the wealthy banker. To what source
was Martin Robson's sudden prosperity to
be ascribed? The more he pondered the
question the more feverishly anxious he
grew for the hour of explanation.
The opportunity came at last. At the
close of one of the dances Madeline put her
arm in his and proposed an adjournment to
the garden. Leyton went in search Of a
shawl, which Madeline lightly threw over
her shoulders, that glistened like old ivory
polished to great brilliancy, and then they
went forth into the balmy air of warm
autumn night.
LET US sit here" said Madeline, when
they reached the summer house, in dis
tant part of the garden.
MY ownp said Legion, fondly, as he
seated himself by her side and leaned for
ward to kiss her cheek. But with quick
movement Madeline's lips met his, and she
nestled closer to him until she lay with her
head upon his breast, while the rich mellow
light OF the harvest moon bathed her face
and neck in soft effulgence of glorious light.
The air was still, save for the sounds of
revelry within the old farmhouse, which
sounded faint like the strains of far-off
music-so still that they could hear the
beating of their own hearts.
"Ohl Tom, if this could only last" Mad
cline cried, after they had remained for
some time in silence more eloquent than
speech. And a heavy, weary sigh broke
from her.
why should it not 1ast?" Leyton asked
caressingly.
"Why are you so poor, Tom? And why
must the heart 60 one way and the hand be
given where the heart loves not?" And
odn Awr.c frG1 -
tears at the prospect she had thus conjured
up.
Then it was truel The gossips Of the
Golden Lion were right after ALI Mr..
Englefeld had sought Madeline Robson for
his bride, and she had been promised to
himl
Madeline had often rehearsed this scene
with her lover in her own thoughts, study
ing what she would find to say when the
time came to make the disclosure, and how
she would gather courage to say 1t, and how
Tom would take it. But when the time
came all her prearranged plans broke down.
The overmastering sense of love- and the
parg at her heart as she reflected that these
were the last moments she would ever pass
with her lover, the last moment of peace
she would ever know, prompted her to
speak as she did. The pain at the woman's
heart taught her to make the disclosure in
the only way that could soften the blow to
her lover and win some measure of his sym.
pathy, even while she felt that in his
heart he must despise her for her pusillan-
unity.
Madeline continued to weep convulsively,
and it was long before Leyton could calm
her sufficiently to learn the story from her
lips. She told him at length amid many
h. IL l.- IL
nothing Of the night air that played upon
it, and heaved wildly with the violence of
her emotions. 1t was the old story, more
often enacted in real life than many readers
will perhaps be disposed to think-a mar
riage of convenience; redemption from all |
the sordid cares of poverty at the sacrifice |
of daughters happiness.
Not at first had Madeline consented. Mr.. |
Robson had reasoned persnasively, COM
manded, threatened and wept by turns: but |
not until the old went on his knees be- |
fore his own child had Madeline faltered |
in the firm negative that she had given to |
her fathers proposal Then at the sight OF
the old man, with his long snowy locks |
waving to and fro in the agitation with
which he besought her, while the tears
rained down his cheeks, to step in between
him and despair and earn his lasting graft
tude and his dying blessing. had she sue
cumbed and given her word at last. Even
then her consent was made conditional: that
Mr.. Englefeld should be told that she was
already plighted to Tom Leyton, and that
she should be allowed to tell him herself.
"And you did tell him?" asked Leyton,
hoarsely.
II did, indeed, Tom. told him that 1
loved you and that did not and could not
e. T Ia, oI,
Sand what did he say?" said Tom.
"He said that he thought more highly of
me Tor the confession, and that he was quite
aware OF the sacrifice I was making, but
that he didn't doubt that so good daugh-
ter would make an excellent WIFE"
Anything else?" asked Tom bitterly.
"0h, Tom, don't deserve your anger,
though must seem in your eyes very
wicked. Believe me that I have stood out
against it as long as could, but there is no
help for it-none. Oh, why was 1 ever
born?" And Madeline's tears broke forth
afresh while she covered the hand of her
lover with passionate kisses.
Leyton rose at last and made as though
he would go. Madeline flew to his arms
with bitter cry, and as the light shawl
that she was wearing fell from her, Tom
gathered her to his breast and kissed her
kissed her on brow and cheeks and lips,
kissed her shoulders and neck-and then
tore himself away. With one powerful
wrench he had released himself from her
embrace and flung her aside and was gone
rhe still evening air heard the sound of
bitter, mocking laugh as he went. But
heard it not.
An hour afterward search was made for
Ter, and she was found where Tom had lett
Ter, too stunned to think or to realize what
lad happened, conscious only of dull,
lead pain at her heart.
A month later Madeline went forth from
be fine old church at Chelderton Magma on
he arm of her husband. Madeline Robson .
ad become Madeline Englefeld.
As the joy bells rang out their merry peal,
'om Leyton gnashed his teeth in bitter :
espair and savage anger, vowlng to him.
ELF that the day would come for vengeance ]
n the man that had robbed him OF his !
romised bride.
"When that day comes / will have my
engeance, and will not spare" he NUT
,red to hlmself. ''He has won her, but he j