The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-05-11

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come to see us last night?" asked
Mad triAe bitterly.
"Last night? No; II had
headache"
"Doubtless your new duties as
6ancc prevented you also. How is
the attractive Miss Kitty?"
"Confound Miss Kitty! Do you
believe that cock and bull story, too,
Mad? l thought you had more
sense than to credit every story that
the gossips in this internal pldce set
going" growled Bernard.
A sudden smile crossed Madeline's
piquant face, but she repressed it
instantly.
"Why, l thought she was such
an intelligent lady-so well balanced
and methodical-quite the vision of
your dreams," she added, a spice Of
malice in her tone.
"She is thousand miles from be-
ing the lady of my dreams~ de-
clared- the lieutenant warmly, look
ing earnestly at his pretty compan-
ion. "She? Never! She has none
of the charm, the freshness, the wit,
that would attract me. / want at
least a show of tenderness in the
woman to whose mercies ] intrust
my hcart--somc one who will love
me, if only little. Besides, Mad"
he added, suddenly restraining his
impetuous outbreak, "you might
have trusted me enough to know
that l would have told you before
any one else if it was anything seri-
Gus. DO you trust ME at all, Mad"
he asked after pause.
The young girl looked at him in
surprise.
'Because if you do" Bernard con-
tinued without waiting for an an
swer, 81 want to ask you question.
May II"
Madeline nodded her head in con-
sent.
"Tell me, then, is it true that you
have encouraged young Erskine"
The colonel's daughter moved i'm
patiently, but Bernard braved her
displeasure.
81 cannot tell you how much 1
hope it is not so" he went on. ''Bob-
by is a good chap, but not ut all the
kind of fellow for you. You would
never be haDnv with him in the
the world. You can't depend
upon him for an instant. L realize
that what l am saying and doing
may seem unworthy of an officer
and a gentleman, but, oh, Mad, l de-
sire your happiness more than any
thing else in the world, and / cannot
bear to see you throw yourself away
upon q man who / know is not
worthyw
The lieutenant stopped. He was
pale, but his voice rang clear and
earnest.
"Thank you," said Mad after a
slight pause. 81 did not know that
Mr.. Erskine was desirous of making
me his wife. Certainly l have new
er, never given him the smallest en-
couragement in such an idea"
She was silent for moment and
then added dreamily:
''If ever l marry it will be with a
man to whom | can give my whole
confidence, some one whose COM
panion l will be both glad and proud
to become and who will be gentle
and kind with me-"
Bernard looked at her. He had
never seen her in this mood before.
She had always flouted him when
ever he had tried to be serious.
"What a brute you must think
me, Mad" he murmured contritely.
Glow could ever have been such
an ass as to scold you?"
Madeline moved her hands in
pretty gesture of denial, and her
eyes spoke eloquently. Bernard
looked at her, scarce daring to hope.
Behind the blue eyes lay love too
strong to be denied, and the young
man seized both the white hands in
his. Just then deep voice ex-
claimed above them:
"Seems to me that for two enc
mics you are not doing a killing
business this morning"
"Oh, colonel, colonel" cried Ber-
nard, turning toward the piazza,
"will you--would your
"Will l, would l what?" laughed
Colonel Gregory.
"Now you are jesting with me!
Give me Madeline for my wife! l
beg you. l love her."
The colonel called to Mrs. Greg
ory, who was inside.
"My dear, what is your advice ?"
he asked, smiling. "Here is Ber-
nard, who declares he wants Made
line for his wife because he loves
her. DO you think it can be true?"
Mrs. Gregory looked happily at
her daughter.
"What do you say, dear? Are
you not afraid of such a severe hus-
band"
Madeline glanced up to where her
mother and father were standing;
then she turned frankly to the eager
young fellow beside her.