West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-04-20


any rcpardlon, apology. anything. that
you'd like Pll"-
Madge interrupted my speech there
by holding out her hand.
You don't suppose. 4" she said. ''that
after what you have done for MS / could
De angry over what was merely mis-
take2'
That's what / call a trump OF n girl.
worth loving for lifetime.
Well. we coupled ON TO No. { that
morning and started east, this tiinc MIR.
Cullen's car being the lender" " All ca
2lS were juhilant, as VAS natural. but
kept growing blucr and blucr. L dined
ON their car the night we were due in
Albuquerque, and afterward Miss Cul.
len and Went cut and sat on the back
platform.
i've had enough adventures 20 talk
about for year" Madge said as we
chatted the whole thing over. land you
can no longer brag that the X. and A.
have never had robbery, even if YOU
didn't lose anything"
Il have lost something, said n lit
tie sadly.
Madge looked at me quickly, started
10 speak, hcsitated and then said, "Oh.
MIR Gordon, if you only could know
how badly have felt about that and
how I appreciate the sacri6cop'
had only meant that / had lost my
heart and, for that NATTER probably my
head, for II would have been ungenerous
even TO hint 20 Miss Cullen that I had
made any sacrifice of conscience for her
sake, and would MS soon have asked
her to pay for il in money as have told
her.
"You mustn't think"-I began.
II have felt, " she continued. "that
your wish TO servo MS made Won do
something you never would have other.
wise done. for Well, you--any one
can see how truthful and-and il has
made me feel so badly that We oh.
Mr.. Gordon, no one has a right TO do
wrong in this world for it brings such
sadness and danger TO innocent And
you have been SO generous'-
couldn't let this 20 ON. "What l
did, " ! told her, twas to fight fire with
fire, and no one is responsible for IL but
myself"
Il should like TO think that. but
can't, she said. II know we all tried
10 do something dishonest, and, while
you didn't do any real wrong, yet 1
don't think you would have acted as
you did except for our sake And I'm
afraid you may some day rogrct"-
II shaD't, " cried, land, so far from
meaning that l had lost my self respect.
was alluding to quite another thing"
Timer" she asked.
"No."
"WhatY"
Something else you have stolen"
II haven't, she denied.
You have" / affirmed.
You mean the novel;" she asked,
because I sent IL in 90 81 tonight?"
II don't mean the novel. ("
81 can't think OF anything but those
pieces of petrifiod wood, and those you
gave mo- " she said demurely. II am.
sure that whatever elso have Of yours
you have given me without even my
asking, and If you want it back you've
only got TO gay so"
II suppose that would be the very
best course, " groaned.
II hate people who force present on
ono, she continued, "uud then, lust az
one begins TO like it, want IL back"
Before / could speak Hhe said hurried
ly, How often do you come TO Chi
cago?"
took that TO be a sort Of command
that / was TO wait, and, though longing
to have IL settled then and there, (
bracod myself up and answered her
question. Now i see what duffer /
was. Madge told me afterward that she
asked only because she was so frightened
and confused that she felt she must stop
my speaking for a moment.
did my best till heard the whistle
the locomotive gives as it runs into yard
limits and then rose "Goodby, Miss
Cullen" said properly enough, and
she responded, "Goodby, Mr. Gordon, "
with equal proprioty.
held her hand, hating 90 let her 20,
md The first thing ! knew blurtcd ont,
Il wish had the brass Of Lord Rallies"
81 don't, " she laughed, because IL
you had / shouldn't DO willing to let
yOu"--
And what she was going 70 say and
why She didn't say it is the concern Of
10 one but Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Cor
don
THE FWu