Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30

he boats upsetting, but they were willing
TO balance the recklessness with what was
.ealiy creditable action. and so he did not
toVance IN their estimation. In fact, with
me weight of Justice imposed, he could
not 1aii TO sink. So when the vacation was
over, while Raymond was privately invited
10 return with Arabic profuson, Arthur
vas secretly warned not to bring that hor-
rid young Barton ever again.
But what did Madge think OF IL all, after
the boys had gone away, for there was
ample cnaHce for reflection before the re-
turn to the city? At all events there was
no uncertainty in her thinking, for she
knew. When she had sunk in the cold
deadly waters, that cry and that name had
come. unbidden, straight from her heart
When she had opened her eyes once more
on the sunlight and the radiant skies and
could feel life and strength returning 10
every fiber, she had realized that nature
seemed closer and more caressing. and
that her vitality itself was changed 1t
had been restored, an, yes! but as IL from
captivity, as If as a hostage,
Thenceforward all personal interests were
diverted and intensified and concentrated
on the one who had responded SO intui-
lively to her call At first this conviction
displeased her. 1t made her feel older and
she had rejoiced in her youth Ii made
her feel anxious. and she had reveled In
the careless freedom of bird Then forth
from her shrine came the oracles of her
aspirations, approaching. encouraging sus-
tanning her. She studied Jack Barton's vet
uhiorihed character, ana perceived its
weaknesses. and she loved him for them
If, through her. he might become strong.
would he not then be all the more her
own? He had been earnest in haif-uttered
prosestations at their parting. the more
earnest for his very incoherence. They
were both so young; in the lowest class
of the school of life. Come, now: she would
stimulate him to be what he seemed TO
her he might be- this was her duty-how
blessed its identity with happiness.
Madge straightway told her mother these
Sc cred communings of her heart-that is,
she faithfully began to DO so. But con-
fidence cannot stand ridicule, and Agnes
did laugh heartily enough. There. there
my dear child, she protested. That will
do; 1 know 1t ALL l felt the same way
when 1 was a girl. oh, dozens of times.
ciety, you will take of those green spec
tacles, i do assure you. You can't think
how unbecoming they are. Meanwhile. /
wouldn't interfere with your sweet, innocent
passion for the world. Certainly, you may
love Jack Barton forever; the sooner that
Is settled the quicker you'n forget him"
But Agnes was not as ingenious as her
words. The supremacy of wIfehood had
management; just an ant, doubtless, be-
leves 1t can remove a mountain. No one
heed know who pulls the threads if the
screen only be high enough. So she let
Madge talk OF her love as freely as she
pleased. never arguing or retorting but
simply smiling a mute reply. She knew
that a smile cen force contempt insidiously
through the stoutest armor of faith, and
when Madge gradually ceased from talking
she readily believed she had ceased from
thinking. Especially as she had been I'M
firing in distractions; especially Jack
Barton's visit was never repeated, and that
amiable philosopher, Raymond Larned, kept
coming with augmenting ardor Such a
nice young man, so well equipped with
solid. substantial wealth.
BY the time Arthurs senior year had
N fa bah or
confiding to sundry intimate friends that
really there was something between he-
little girl and that distinguished Mr.. Lar
ned. 1t was quite absurd. you know, at
their age, but still-and here her eyebrows
and hands would graciously complete the
sentence. And the sundry intimate friends
respected the confidence as sundry intimate
friends always do. by whispering that il
vas dsgraceful how that old cat had fished
for that poor Raymond Larned. Thus dis
playing their malice in the very incompati-
bility of the mixed metaphor.
Yes, Madge had ceased from talking, for
she perceived its inutility; but silence is
fecund of meditation and discernment. She
appreciated her mothers petty worldly
schemes far better than II she had been
that good woman's conscience, for her
mental qualities had not yet been fckled in
vanity. She perceived, too. that the wall
OF general understanding was being built
around her and Raymond. When the time
came she would push II over, never fear.
AS Tar as he was concerned, he could not
have the slightest Misrepresentation as to
her preference; II he persisted, IL was be-
cause with eyes wide open TO the fruit
being beyond his grasp, he doggeGly waited
for others to upraise him. Meanwhile, she
rested content. She had seen Jack" once
or twice. through her brothers media ton;
for Arthur had the true Pierson sympathy
with the under dog. She had pointed out 10
him. an SO timidly ah so tenderly that IL
as he so fondly boasted, he rarely felt that
he was blessed above all men, then there
was an obligation on him to pro-e that he
had received far less than his deserts And
Jack had gone back TO college. like one
who has left an angel bearing a tinge OF
the divinity with him. Alcibiades the tdler
row went to the wars, and was showing
himself a gallant soldier. Why should not
Madge rest content, indeed; she knew her
self, and oh, how implicitly she believed in
Jack.
The June Of senior year came, and Agnes
deliberated as to whether she had best take
Madge. and, as the beautiful mother of a
more beautiful daughter. grace the festivi-
ties or commencement at Pierson. She did
not hesitate long; poor Jack Barton was the
only argument contra, or, she felt con-
trary; in favor there were Arthurs gradu-
alton and Raymond's honors and her own
personal qualification: OF course She decided
and of course they went.
So low, then, had poor Jack Bartcn's
chances fallen that they had not even the
thistle-down weight requisite to start an
anxious mothers doubts. Yet the news of
such ignoring did not perturb him a whit:
he plumed himself nightly, like a good
knight, who, having worthily made his de-
voirs, was waiting to be crowned BY the
Queen of Love and Beauty. As for Raw
mond. he felt that the time had come when
appraised by maternal announcement and
the constant congratulations of friends. he
would be able to grasp the darling fruit
Arthur surveyed his two comrades with
fraternal amazement. He wished that he
had two sisters, since his sort seemed 10
possess such an exalted value. AS however
that was a little arrangement which he
could not very well consummate he did feel
sorry for old Larned.
The Greenocks arrived quite ten DAVIS be-
fore commencement, and Raymond started
in on his campaign at once. The post of
cavalier to this charming young girl was
generally conceded to him, and admiring
classmates were sincere as they We're
profuse in Fluctuations regarding his young
lady. Poor Jack Barton was not in ey,-
dence at all, unless the bunch of yiolets
which each day expired on Madge's bosom
could be deemed an unobtrusive exhibit
And yet even Jacks sternest critics ad-
mitted that he had come UP wonderfully in
the past two years; while his friends, NAMED
legion, boosted of the credit that his
scholarship and literary skill reflected on
the college.
And Raymond was Jealous OF those same
tranquil flowers, and altogether found but a
shadowy happiness in the possession of a
shadow. He tried SO hard, too, painfully
traditions and fairly sweating
over time-honored jokes. But Madge while
sweet tempered-that is, patural-was not