The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-02-21
CROSS PURPOSES.
It was all Celia's fault.

IL was all Cela g fault.
If it hadn't been for her, it would
never have occurred to me to quarrel
with Jack; it would never have &C
CURED to me that any quarrel was
necessary to prove the strength of
his love. l should have taken it for
granted and been happy still.
l detest Celia.
We were SO happy till she came to
stay with Jacks people and told me
| was spelling him. OF course it was
no business of hers if l were, she ad-
mitted that, but she was so fond of
me that she felt she must speak, be,
ing older and more experienced than
|, and implore me to remember that
it wasn't only my lover I was spoil
ing, but my future husband, and if l
let him have his own way in every
thing now l should never be able to
have mine by and by when we were
married. She spoke so seriously
about it that I couldn't help being a
little impressed, though of course l
didn't let her know that, and
wouldn't have told her for the world
that / intended to act on her advice
the very first opportunity that Offer
ed. For it was one thing to quarrel
privately with Jack, but quite IN
other to tell Celia that I was going
to do it and take her into my conf.
dence against him.
So Jack and I quarreled at the
Hornes' dance last night.
hardly know what it was about in
the first instance, but it grew and
grew until it seemed to me there was
nothing we weren't quarreling about,
and Jack was terribly in earnest.
Though we had been engaged for
three weeks, Id no idea he had it in
him to be SO angry, and of course l
lost my head and got angry, too
really angry-and said horrid things.
And-and-I told him our engage
ment was broken off, and there must
be an end of everything between us,
and-and-Jack took me at my word
never thought of his doing that.
LAS you please" he said, speaking
quite quietly all of a sudden. We
were in the conservatory, and the
dance music in the drawing room
must have drowned the sound of our
voices half a dozen yards away. "'You
wish our engagement to end, Maud
So be it. Your letters shall be re.
turned to you tomorrow, and I will
at once leave you free to resume your
Irritation with Frank Horne"
But, jack
His face was set and white. HI
never even looked at me. The music
ceased. Celia and several other dan.
GERS strolled into the conservatory,
and Jack left me.
Yes, he went away and danced with
other girls, and he lever spoke one
word to me or came near me again
the whole evening.
Of course | danced too. What elst
could l do under the circumstances
| danced with Frank Horne, and
firted with him a little-not as Jacl
firted with Molly and Kate and Ce
liza and half a dozen more, but jus
enough to show him that l could
amuse myself very we'll without him
and that l wasn't taking our quarre
to heart.
was acting a lie, and l did it yer,
creditably.
Yes, Jack and l have quarreled
} and it is all Celia's fault.
Our engagement is broken off. w
have said that it is not to be an en-
> gagement any more-and now
l Oh, how miserable | am!
1t is a dull November afternoon
> and mamma has gone out, SC / 81
4 alone in the firelit dining room an
think over all that happened las
. night and wonder what Jacks mex
move will be-. Surely-surely, he car
not mean-
He has not returned my letters yet
Surely that IS a hopeful sign.
am still wearing the ring he CAV
me. suppose if he returns my lei
tiers l shall have to-
Mono. l cant part with it. H
could not be so cruel, SO unreasonable
His letters. too-must | give ther
up2 turn them over in my hand
such a little bundle as there is. and s
very hard to read till one learns t
know the writing or to love the wri'
. er-which is it?-and remember tn
pleasure with which I first receive
them. and the pride with which
have often pored over them since
/ pore over them now. straining m
q eyes to decipher the well know
IL characters in the Pickering freligh
e Dear Jack, what a vile hand b
e writes, and how very nicely he e.
presses
n Harkl Some n Is crossing til
h hall. Surely Jane won't be & foo
IS ish as to show any n in here now,
In another moment Mr.. Drayto1
is announced. and Jack himse
stands before me.
NTock =" sfartod IN mv feof ou