The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-26
ON IA COUNTRY ROAD.

The shadows fell before them as they
rode. Suddenly her horse SHE'D.
"Why will you ride that brute?" no
asked, anxiously. II an positive he 10
dangerous"
He is," she answered, lightly, but I
can manage him. Once he threw me.
I was riding carelessly when rabbit
lsaped across the road, aud Charles
jumped from under mo-"
She laughed at the thought.
Il wish your father would not al
low you to ride him." he insisted..
He would not after that for sew
eral weeks. Ny cousia took charge
Of him. and subdusd him. at least. Ia
thsr thought 60"
HE 10 named for your cousin?"
"Yss."
And you are very fond of .him?"
"Of my horse? l don't believe I
could live without him."
And your cousin?"
Her eyes widened. then she laughed.
softly scornful laugh, and the color
mounted to her cheekA
II hope that your speculations about
my horse and my cousins have served
to amuse you an idle haif-hour or So"
Forgive me-" he said, beseeching-
"; 1T will break my heart If you are
angry"
Hearts are not 80 easily broken"
she answered.
MOP" he questioned, bitterly. He
leaned forward wistfully, with his hand
still on her horses rein. Madeline, I
am going away. l came to tell YOU
good-by. We won't part In anger"
'Whsre?" she asked
"West!" he answered, drearily.
But why?" Then, as she saw the
look of pain On his face. Forgive
me-" she said gently.
A sudden rebellion against fate broke
loose within him.
II am going away forever-forever!"
he declared, bitterly. Il am leaving
my heart with you. It is nothing since
you don't care for it, but 1t is all have
to give. have held myself In so long;
I have guarded every word; have
eaten my heart out by slow degrees.
1t is a sort Of justice that should find
you hard to me, for have been hard,
unrelentng, cruel and unresponsive
where there was the strongest claim
upon me-"
II do not believe It," she said quick
ly.
He looked at her gratefully.
Madeline, oh, Madeline, 1t Is so
hard"-his face was full of despair
"let me tell you about 1t, then you can
Judge"
"You need tell me nothing" she an
swered, impetuously.
Again he gave her grateful look.
He threw himself from the saddle and
stood beside her.
"You know that life has given US
many of it's sweets, that we have al
ways been considered the most for
tunate people here. Our social posi-
ton, our wealth has been byword.
1t is hard to realize poverty when one
has Just dined in the old way. Hard
to realize that one is pauper with
the glitter Of cut glass and silver on
all sides"
He looked straight into the girls
startled eyes.
my father came to me a few hours
ago and told me that tomorrow our
name-our name," with a gesture of
despair, would be dragged through the
mire. He has seen this danger for
some time. He has staked everything
our home, my mothers jewels-thers
will be nothing left.
But the worst is still to come.
Others suffer. Innocent people suffer.
cannot talk of it," he said YEARLY.
AS told you, was hard and bitter.
l said things will regret all my life.
His white, weary face haunts me-
l had money of which the family knew
nothing. | have worked seven years,
since was 21, and have saved it ALL
/ had no need for It. Ny father has
been generous always. May tell you
why I saved 1t? We are proud race
Once the fancy came to me that my
wife, the woman whom l hoped to
make my wife, would be proud and
glad to know that offered her home, |
bought not with my fathers money,
but by my own efforts. Perhaps it was
a foolish fancy, but 1t grew and
strengthened as time went on.
"Often through the dark hours of
sleepless nights I have planned this
home. Well, the dream is over.
have saved our good name. To-mor-
row | 60 West. In a short while my
mother and father will follow me.
Madeline" he took one Of the girls
hands In his, her face was turned
away, he could only see the downward
sweep OF her eyelanhes and the deli
cate curve of her cheeks, will you bid
me Godspeed?"
She sat motionlesr and silent.
"Good-by dear" he said, raising her
hand to his lips, "as Charles wife l
trust you will be very happy"
She turned to hin. There were hot
tears in her eyes-tears that did not
fall, but there they were, and he had
seen them.
"As Charles wife I would be the
most miserable woman on EARTH" she
flashed. She smiled at his look of
establishment. I'VE are proud race,
too" she said, demurely. None of
them would ever-would ever
WHAT" he asked, and all his heart
was In his eyes.
I'm positive my ancestors-the wo-
man portion-will haunt me all my
days II If /"
Madeline, oh, Madeline, II WHAT"
III ask ysu to take me with you,"
she answered bravoly. /