Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-27

I l''fNN'
line was my most formidable rival, and we
began, quietly at first, but afterward with
energy, to fight for the mastery.
The competition, instead OF seVering,
brought us closer TO each other
Madeline respected the spirit which some
times subdued her, and ], for my part, loved
her the better for the humanizlng touches OF
passion which my victory frequently awak-
ened.
We had been friends six months, the quiet
round Of school life had become familiar and
| pleasant TO me, when, one day, ut breakfast,
| noticed that Munster wore a very troubled
! expression, as he broke open the largest OF
number of letters lying before him. The en-
yelOpe was Of peculiar yellow paper, and the
| post-marlS looked foreign.
! Madeline, who sat close by, turned white
and eager and her great eyes fixed them
! selves on the strange missiyc.
| Within the letter to Munster was a smaller
| one, which he handed TO Madeline silently.
/ With hnpctuous cagemess she opened and
! read 1t. 1t was very short. As SHE glanced
/ over it, her bosom rose and fell, her eyes
| Frightened and hlled with tears.
To hide her trouble, she rose and left the
room.
| Meanwhile Munster evinced similar sur
/ Dlloi anu tOINUlUtlIOll Ilt wv lllo ilpo 10
he read his letter, and passed his hand nery-
ously through his hair. Then, with sgnih-
cant look, he passed the letter 10 his wife,
who, reading it, in her turn became similarly
! troubled.
As he passed the letter to her, something
dropped rustlng to the floor, and Munster,
looking rather red, stopped and picked 1t up.
twas curiousy printed paper, and looked
like The note OF some foreign bank,
Breakfast was iinished-sChOOl bGgan-but
Madeline did not appear. Munster still look
ed lidgcty and annoyed.
AS for myself, | was torn by sensations to
which my little heart had been hitherto
stranger | felt on the brink Of n prcCipice,
down which all that held dear was disap.
pearing. ! could not eat, could not say my
tasks, could not think. What was going
TO happenP | asked myself wildly again and
again.
At two o'clock, when we were summoned
to dinner, no sight Of Madeline. But by this
time some hint Of the truth was forcing it,
self upon me.
A whisper had passed round the school
madeline Graham Is going awayF'
Going away? Whittier? 70 that far-dis-
.ant, thai mysterious land whence she had
come, and whittier might never follow her?
Going away fOrcVeri Passing westward,
aud taking with her all that made my young
life beautiful and happy Could this be?
shall never forget the agony of that day.
| have had blows since, but none harder. |
have felt desolaton since, but none deener-
After school, | hung round the house,
haunted every spot where She might be ex-
pcctcd to appear. | yearned to hear the truth
from her own lips paced to and fro like
criminal awaiting his sentence. ! could not
bear the sight Of the other boys, but kept to
the secret places, moody and distracted
Quito late In the evening, | wandered into
the gardCn-a fnvOrite resort Of ours. The
sun had sunk, but his slowly fading light
was still fitting the quiet place, and the sllad-
ows Of trees and bushes were still distinct
upon the ground.
| had not been here long when | heard the
foot ] knew, and turning, bCheld my little
friend fastening toward me.
She was pale, but otherwise composed,
and said at once;
"Hayo you heard tn at am going awayp'
| stNmmorcd something | know not what; |
1t must have been lnnudihlc. | had sharp,
choking sensation, and dropped my looks
from hers.
81 have just got letter from my father |
am to 90 back homo Immediately. See!'
SO saying, SHE placed in my hand the small
Enclosure which she had received from Nun
stcr in the morning. Seeing my puzzled |
look, she exclaimed:
"IOu may read it,
did read it, in one quick, painful glance. /
| remember every word Of IL now. 1t was
written in large, bold hand, and ran as fol-
lows:
M IA A - I d NJ
You will hear nom the good people with
whom YOU are living that great change has
taken place, and that you must como home at
once. Wish kind goodbye to all your
friends In England perhaps you may never
see them again. Come without delay to your
loving father, RODERlCK GRAHAM
Prepared MS had been for the blow, it did
not fail so heavily rs it might have done.
struggled with my feelings, and chOked down
n violent tendency to cry.
She perceived my CONSERVATION, and was
herself moved. But there was quick, strange
light in her eyes, IA If she were contemplate
Ing something tar away.
81 have prayed many a night that my faith
or would suud for me- she said thoughtful
ly; "and now he has done SO, | scarcely feel
glad. am afraid there is something wrong
at home. Shall you be sorry Hugh, when |
go?'
At this open question | broke down utter
| ly, and burst into n violent sob.
She put her hands in mine, and looked
earnestly into my face.
81 thought you would be sorry. None of
them will miss me SO much as you. We have
been great friends; | never thought | could
he such friends with boy. shall tell my
iNthcr of you, and he Will like you, too Will
| you kiss mo, Hugh, and say gool-hye?'
| could not answer for tears; but put my
arms round her neck, and | did kiss her-a
! pure, true, loving boys kiss, worth "A million
Vt the kisses men buy or steal in the broad
world
My tears moistcned her cheek rs did so,
| but She did not cry herself.
| She was altogether Calm and superior, bow
! Ing down to my hoyhood, coutpassionattng
and Chcrishmg me; bat in all possibility
| sharing little OF my intense personal passion
! She was nearer womanhood than | 20 man
hood (grls always ara more mature than
! hoysl and she took MY worship In gentle
state, A queen kissed by a royal subject,
could not offer her check more royalty than
! little Madeline offered her cheek to me.
! Yet her manner was full of strong atTec-
| ton too. She would miss me fCt sure.