The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-06

UlClICTS
During these occasions / saw Mar
garet only once or twice, and always
carried away the disturbing impression
that she was in no way impressed either
by my superior manners or talents. This
was slightly annoying, as she was far
and away prettier than any girl of my
acquaintance, east or west. To be sure,
had made her blush--such an exquisite
red-but it was with vexation. Upon
my first departure we had written one
another quite regularly, but about the
middle of my first year 1 received let
ter from her, in which she professed
humbly to believe that her western ways
were but burden to such an exalted
being as ! had become-and wrote no
more. Her letters were so fresh and in
dividual that | missed them, but was
fatuous enough to accept her silence as
simple hearted tribute to my worth. |
say, Sawyer, when a man is a fool how
many different ways he finds to show It'll"
''Or when he is in love!" added Saw
yer ruefully.
THAT stage was to come soon
enough. Along the last months OF the
year had canght winged words here
and there regarding some not impos-
sible she, spending year in Boston,
who had become creator Of contention
between various givers of college
spreads You were in 80 and of
course not interested. Would this she
accept one or all of the invitations show
cred upon her? Would she like Van
Rensselaer's rooms best, filled as they
were with old colonial furniture and
silver. or would she prefer to linger at
Tarrey'ss In a purely Bohemian atmos-
phere, with boxing gloves and burrings2
1.-The affair promised to be interesting,
and was bent upon being a witness
possibly myself not wholly unnoticed.
It was therefore with very bad grace
that read In letter from my mother
that Margaret Burton was in Boston,
and asking me to see that she was suit
ably initiated into the preciousness Of
things Harvardian. And yet ! was
piqued enough when in answer to my
formal note-l had dispensed with the
needful CALL received closely worded
little note saying that she had already
accepted for spreads at Weeds and
Halworthy. had of course supposed
that she knew nobody, and had been by
no means averse to act the modern
mentor to fair Telemacha. OF course
you've guessed the end. Even an expert
detective would have a clew by this.
"But was as unsuspicious as only
foregone conclusion can make one, and
when sauntered into Whites rooms at
Halworthy and saw Margaret sur
rounded by the superlatives,' as we
call them, smiling, gracious. witty and
wholly at ease. was dumfounded,
overcome, ecrase. Whether it was that
my nativity spoke for me, or as think
now, from pure womanly kindness, Mar
garet neither scorned me, as deserved,
nor froze me. as she well knew how.
She gave me her hand in its long yellow
glove, made place beside her, and then
seemed to quite forget me.
I've made a. lengthy preamble. bnt
the denouement is at hand. Suffice it
that the next year | was her slavish
shadow climbed awkwardfy down
out of the rarefied air of my superiority.
content to De in the same world with
her. She perhaps suspected the truth
of one Of my own epigrams-that it is
only an unrequited love that makes a
man good and keeps him humble. She
was sweet and frank and charming. but
she had no bushes to hide from me.
There were no quarrels to make up, and
while got as many smiles as the rest
and the rest were many and ardent
was never given confidence nor made
trembling witness of a tear.
wherever Margaret went followed,
usually on later train. as was always
forbidden If | stated my intentions.
Now comes the crisis, modestly dra-
matte! Margaret had gone to Nara
gansett for a week. After two days
found the town insupportably hot, and
getting off late arrived at the hotel
about IL o'clock. There was dancing
in the ballroom, and as registered at
the desk through the wide doors could
see the lights and the moving figures.
AS hesitated there, making up my
mind, as there was no chance Of dance
with her, to grumble Grossly off to bed
and lovers dreams, a child, almost a
baby, dashed suddenly out of the side
corridor and ran. screaming shrilly,
through the doors and down the aisle
made by the dancers-who were begin
ming the lancers.
Behind the child came an enormous
mastiff, his eyes blazing, a length of red
tongue showing between his dripping
jaws. do not know to this day how ]
got there, but an instant later stood in
the middle of the ballroom holding the
child high in the air. Then the child
began to pound my head and face,
kicking violently. The dog stood by
my side wagging his tail. A roar from
the men and heartless giggle from the
women began to enlighten me. When
| the child's mother took him from me
and began resentfully to smooth down
his tumbled laces quite understood.
''The dog was the pet and victim OF
this enfant terrible, and the hero OF a
comedy. Cruelty mortified and deep
ly disgusted, turned to go. Somebody
stepped out Of the group nearest me. 1t