The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-20
MADELEINE'S LOVE.

1 X
However. il IS a good story all the same,
so here II is:
TIE events occurred at Nine. Rouse
| Inns countrs--house near La RCchebil-
lerc. in Wild. densely wooded country.
! where hunting IS the chief amusement
Of the Inhabitants The house Is one of
! the best I know, and Nine. Rousselin
! had added TO its attractions by taking
| her young niece Madeline, who had just
/ lost her parents to 1--we with her Made
! leine had no fortune. but she was d.
/ Vinely pretty. She had those soft. mild
] eyes that GO straight to your heart, ana
| and the most charming and indescriba bic
| air of delicacy refinement. ana affec-
| ticnatenass. She was. indeed. by far
| too tempting a morsel TO pat under the
very claws, so to speak. of that scoun-
I had developed from an ircorrigible
J spoiled cnilG into a man Of rough man
/ ners and violent emotions, as a result of
/ his life in the woods and his constant
association with Doors. Although he was
/ far too stupid 10 appreciate Madeleine
as she deserved, he was yet strongly at
tached to her beauty.
The girls frank contempt and dislike
made him furious. and before long he
became Jealous as well Fer though
| Madeleine had no feeling but aversion
for her BLACKBOARD of cousin, she did
not eXterd that sentiment to men in gen
| eraL Certainly not to one nan in partic-
ular. Edmond Renaud.
Edmond was embolden to make formal
proposition Of marriage. This was
promptly rejected by Nine RoUsselin
and Edrond's parents also had objec-
! tiCns TO offer on account Of Madeleine's
lack Of fortune Nine. Rousselin gave
her niece's youth rs the ground 81 her
refusal, Tut in reality. she was obeNing
the suggestions of her son, whom Made
leines obvious attachment 10 his rival
had made more furious than ever.
Madeleine, on her return from churchone
Sunday, found a note in her muf. There
were only few passionate lines, in which
Edmond assured ner Of his love and beg
ged for a meeting in which she could tell
him whether it was returned or not. II
she loved him, he would wait for her; il
not he would expatriate himself. efface
himself forever. But he must have an
answer, if only a word. He would steal
into her garden that evening, conceal
himself behind the big snowman which
the gardeners sons had erected, and there
wait patiently for her-for hours. if nee
essary. If she did not come at ali. it
would mean no" and he would 90.
He carried out his srogram, but the
snowman did not conceal him from the
sharp eyes of a servant, who reported
the matter to Louis Rousselin.
Hiding, you say?" Louis asked.
Yes, sir; behind the snowman, like his
shadow, opposite the house, which he
is watching as if expecting some one
At first I thought he was a thief, but on
coming nearer l recognized him. What
shall | dO?'
"Ah! my fine fellow" Louis said, to
himself, so you come and put yourself
in my hands, do your
Rousselin was on very good terms with
himself that evening. A successful boar
hunt and an excellent luncheon had con-
sDired to make him mucn more animated
than usual. There was a wicked light in
his eyes, the reflection OF diabolical
thought that had crossed his brain. He
went upstairs. musing. At the first land
ing he stopped and stood watching tho
door of madelines room. He suspected
that she knew who was hiding behlng the
snowman.
Assuming a careless air. and whistling,
he approached a collection of weapons
hanging on the wall. and took down
gun. He was trying the lock when Made
line appeared.
"BeastIy weather for a walk, Madeline
he said.
Madeline stopped in confusion.
you had better take a wrap. if you
must go sneered Louis; ''overshoes, too,
would not be amiss for a tramp in the
snow"
'.What makes you think I am going
out?''
The bright CLEAN in your pretty eyes,
the rich color of your cheeks and the vio-
lent beating of your hearth can almost
hear it, But you will be very foolish TO
run the risk of taking cold in the Off
chance of finding a lover out there in the
snow 1t is too cold a night for lovers;
they would be chilled. You won't lind
any. take my word for it.
There is nobody he said. absolutely
nobody-except the snow man. He isn't
in love with yoa. is he? What splendid
target he would make, with the light from
the window falling on him, and every
thing else black
He played with his gun, slyly watching
and enjoying the look Of terror that over
spread Madelines face.
That fellow has been an eyesore too /
long" he added Il think l will put a
bullet through him. Bet you hit him IL I
the head at the first shot,
Louis, do not shoot. I beg of YOU" /
Madeline cried impulsively.
Why not-iust for the fun Of the I
thing"
Poor Madeline could scarcely speak dis !
tinctly. in her excitement and despair
The noise" she stammered. THE re- /
port-so late IN the evening. II might [
frighten some one"
Whom? Ny mother viii not hear it. /
and you are forewarned. Are you afraid I
of soaring the servants?
Please. Louis. I beseech youi'
Bah, All this fuss about not even a
sparrow-only a snow man"
But filthy chance-there should be
some one -"
In the garden at this hour? a thief.
perhaps? An the better. IL wiz be
killing two birds with one stone However.
! can point a gun, hope. and 1 intend
to hit the snow man alone-right in the
She sDrang forward and grasped the
gun. exclaiming:
''No. no. you shall not shoot"
Then there is some one there?
Yes
Your lover?"
81 do not know" Madeleine retreat
cd in confusion. dreadfully shamed by
the confession that had been wrung from
her but thinking. in her ignorance OF the
workings in Rousselin's mind. that now
ell danger was passed.
Meanwhile Rousselin stood nervously
his weapon. With his face dis
-orted with rage. until another atrocious
nouEht came 10 him
- fine arrangement. truly. and a pretty
COM tSot tl- ne Sneered- Made r1oiSelte
has lovers who come proving about my
d use at night. That is only an additional
-eason a hy 7 should exercise my rights
Z I shcuid wing this lover Of yours. what
complaint could ne make against zee?
Bat pshaw, There e nobody behind tae
rQ7T-rla
There is
Edmond o"
Yes
Rousseiin laughed no longer. and the
sirl made no further attempt AT con