Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-12
TWO IN THE GAME


she being the only daughter of
wealthy merchant with society lean
ings. After the season Madeline and
her mother had come down to Sands
foot for a couple of months rest and
quietness, which they thoroughly en-
joyed.
Madeline was very beautiful girl,
small and graceful, with dainty, deli
cate face framed in a wreath of golden
hair Of the ripe Titan hue.
She was a favorite with men gener-
ally; she liked their society better than
that Of her own sex. The openings for
social life at Sandsfoot were very linn
tied, but there was one man there
Sydney Parton, a native of the place
whose society suited Madeline ex
actly.
He wasn't one of her set-she recOg-
pized that He was poor because he
lived very quietly in a cottage worth
twenty pounds a year, but he was
handsome man, with fine square face,
and he could sail a boat better than
any of the fishermen in thebay. He
had been trif1e diffident at first, but
after a little encouragement he had
taken quite naturally to the lessons in
love which Madeline directed with
such consummate skill.
Sydney was hopelessly in love-of
that there was no question. Never be-
fore had Madeline gone so far, but then
Satan always finds some mischief for
idle hands to do. The twain were al
ways together, and that tender, seduc-
tive moonlight over the sea had done
the rest.
No thought of the future troubled
Madeline. 1t never occurred to her
that she had laid the lines for the
destruction of a good mans happi-
ness
She liked to feel his strong arms
against her waist; there was something
blissful in the contact between his
shoulder and her sunny head, where
she would lie, with her blue, trusting
eyes turned up to his, and catch the
fervid protestations of undying love
and affectation. They thrilled and
moved her little at the time, for Sgd
ney had the eyes of a poet, and his
voice was wonderfully low and sweet
for a man. And while he gave her all
it was possible to give, she kissed him
lightly on the lips and led him on to
his doom, with only one thing to
trouble her.
She knew that it would be harder to
give Sydney Parton his congo than it
had ever been with any unattached
lover before, and at the same time the
idea of carrying the idyl beyond Sands
foot was out of the question.
ooh, deari Why cannot this life go
on forever?" Madeline sighed, as she
sat with her back against the rock and
looked out over the restless sea.
There was not a soul in sight, no
body near her but Sydney, lying at
her feet, with his whole soul in his
eyes.
1T can" Sydney replied; sit is en-
tirely in your hands. Madeline, you
are going away to leave me now"
Madeline's eyes grew very sweet and
tender. 1t was in moments like these
that she felt a strong temptation to
throw the work aside and drift away
into the sheltered haven of a good
mans love.
Il am afraid that all things must
have an ending, Sgd" she muTmured,
as she bent forward to play with his
crisp, brown air. Il have been very
happy here, and I shall be very, very
sorry to go away"
Madeline watched for the cloud
which she knew would come into sgd
ney's eyes, and she was not disappoint-
ed
But why go away at alI?" he asked.
''You love lne, we love each other
Why not stay with me altogether and
become my wife? Madeline, I never
loved a woman before You have come
like sunshine INTO my life, and all my
feart is yours. [ know that | lack
worldly knowledge; that am a, plain
simple sort of fellow, and not at all the
kind of a man you have been ac-
customed to; but none care for you as
| do. My darling, you must not go
awayr'
Sydney spoke almost ferce1y in his
passion. He grasped Madeline by her
hands and bent her face over hers, as
il trying to read her very soul. His
glance almost frightened her for a MO
ment, so wild was it.
And suppose" she asked, "that I
must so away? Suppose | told you
that we must part never to meet
again?"
Don't" Sydney said brokenly. 81
cannot bear to think of it."
He half turned away from her so
that she could not see the sadness in
his eyes. Then his mood suddenly
changed.
Madeline" he demanded almost
roughly, you are concealing some
thing from me. Is there some one else
some other man"
He could not continue; something
seemed to choke him. He leaned down
and laid his quivering lips upon her
tiny, dewy mouth
Pardon" he murmured, forgive me
for doubling you. How could I look
into those truthful, beautiful eyes and
ask such a question:
Madeline smiled sweetly in reply as
she gave the speakers arm a loving
little pressure. AS a matter of fact.
she was grateful that Sydney had not
pressed the question, which she could
not have avoided without telling a de-
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