Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-05-31
MISS MADELLE.

He looked at the flowers in the hand
of the young squire, his sallow checks
flushing, a sparkle of pleasure In his
large, sad eyes.
The squire laughed. He nodded as
sent to the boys admiration. He was
big, stalwart, straight-llmbed man of
30, with well cut features, short
brown beard, fair. wavy hair, and
charming air of distin .tion and gentle
ness.
"They are lovely. Jamie. And they
are for II lovely girl. 1 want you to
take them to Rockhaven. and give
them, with my compliments, TO the
pretty Miss Madclle."
Jamie felt for his crutch. and pulled
himself up out of the bed of soft, young
gIass, where he had been lying prone,
enjoying all the scents. sights ana
sounds of the afternoon In early spring.
I'll be glad to. There's no flowers
good enough for her.
Fright you are, Jamie!
When Jamie stood up there was
something pitiful in the contrast be-
tween him and the squire. He was NOT
noticeably deformed, but he was under
sized and shrunken. The pale young
lace WIS HOT WltuOut II Ccitaih EiiAA9h
beauty, but there was Il vacancy about
1t that induced the assertion of the
country folk that Jamie was mot all
right" Although there were others,
who shrewdly declared he was great
deal wiser than he appeared or pre-
tended to be. Two years previous.
i'll and half starved, he had been put
off an empty coal car mt the depot.
Gwynne Hilliard-called thereabouts
"the squire" and the wealthiest young
landowner in that part of the country
had been moved to compassion by
the lads appearance. He had taken
him home and from that day to this
Jamie, treated with all consideration
and affection, had lived with him
Many approving Elances followed
Gwynne Hilliard that evening, when
he walked up the crowded hall, where
the great local ball of the year was in
progress. But he sought only one dark
face of subtle and oriental beauty.
"NIr. Hilliard," said a sweet voice.
He started, looked down on the slen-
der. childish figure before him. She
was all in soft, misty white. Her
small, irregular featured face was lu-
minous with the pleasure of the hour.
Her hair glistened goldenly In the
bright light. She carried sheaf OF
hyacinths.
ers," she said. mo one ever sent
bouuuet before, so am proud rs well
as pleased"
He mlirmured Il few conversational
words. She passed on with her part
ner. He stood still few minutes,
feeling dazed aud bewildercd. Then
Henrietta Madelle was smiling at him
across the room, and he made his way
to her. But, somehow, she failed that
night to exercise her usual fascination
over him. He was n trifie startled TO
recollect that she must be fifteen years
older than her step-sister. He found
himself watching through the dancers
for glimpse of n slim. airy form, In
soft, little white dress.
1T was SO good of you to send Jessie
the flowers" declared Miss Madelle.
Il assure YOU" with an arch smile, for
q moment l felt almost jealous!'
lie smiled, but did not speak.
The next morning he went down in
the wood in search of jamie. He found
the boy in his fnvorite nook, under
Spreading maple.
"WeIl," he began. you made Gne
mistake yesterday, Jamie"
The lad looked up quickly.
"a mistake, sir?"
"Yes. I told you to present those
flowers to the pretty Miss Madeile.
You gave them to her sister,
II gave them to the pretty Miss Ma
delle," insisted Jamie, sturdily.
You gave them to Miss Jessie"
"Of course. You didn't mean to give
them to the other?'
Gwynne laughed out at James In
dignant query. y
II did, indeed"
The boy was SorrOwfully silent Tor
while Then he spoke:
II wish 1t was Miss Jessie. can't
help thinking of how, n few days after
1 got here, 1 was walking along the
road when the dark one came driving
along In her pony carriage. Look out!
cried Miss Jessie, who was with her,
you will drive over the boy!
"Iet him look out answered the
other, What II there were one begSar
the less?"
HiIliard knit his heavy brows in n
troubled frown. He had very lofty
ideas of women, of their compassion
and courtesy. Could this be true?
Soon after" went on Jamie, II net
her in the town. She npologized very
sweetly, saying she had not known l
was Il protege of yours"
"Ah." commented Gwynne Hiiliafd
gravely, and went away. That evening
he called at Rockhaven.
Henrietta was most smiling and ga
cious. He asked for Jessie.
1--WE sent her up to the city this
morning." was the reply. ITO be con-
1idential, we are anxious to break up
the affair between her and that wild
young Murray. You must have noticed
how outragiously she iiirted with him
last evening"
NO" said Gwynne. somewhat short
ly, II cannot say that / no.icad any
thing of the sort. shall be in the city
in few days. Can you give me her
address
"Oh, DON'T" In hesitating confusion,
don't ask it-pleaser'
She paused in apparent perplexity.
why not?' he demanded, hluntly.
IL am afraid she might act rudcly
She is So young and uniformed, she
expresses her prejudices openly. And
she has always had an unaccountable
aversion -"
She broke off entreltin.ly.
''ro me-" he questioned, steadily.
.'oh. it is absurd, Of course" she
preYaricated, ----~- --~--@. = -
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