The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-23

were needed, said a vc,ce rnar even
the distance and the planks did not pre-
| vent me from recognizing as that OF
| Lord Rallies.
Yes said she. "You are sure you
can be spared?"
1T couldn't be of the slightest use, -
said Rallies, getting on to the platform
J and joining Madge. "It's as black as
Ink everywhere, and 1 don't think
there's anything to be done till day
light -
'Then I'm glad you came back, for
really want TO say something-to ask
the greatest favor Of you.
lyon only have to tell me what it
| is said his lordship.
even that is very hard, - said Madge.
! Gift Oh, I'm afraid haven't the
courage after all
"I'll be glad to do anything can"
''It's-weu-oh, dear, / can't. Let's
walk little, while think how to put
it,
They began TO walk, which took
weight off my mind, as I had been
forced to hear every word said thus far
and was dreading what might follow,
since 1 was perfectly helpless to warn
them The platform was built around
the station and in q moment they were
out of hearing.
Before many seconds were over, how
ever, they had walked round the build
ing and heard Lord Rallies say:
"You really don't mean that he's in
suited you?''
"That is Just what Go mean" cried
past endurance. I haven't dared TO tell
any one, but he had the cruelty. the
meanness, on Hances trail to threaten
that
At that point the walkers turned the
corner again, and I could not hear the
rest Of the sentence. But had heard
more than enough to make me grow hot
with modification, even while l could
hardly believe I had understood Alright
Madge had been so kind to me lately
that couldn't think she had been feel
ing as bitterly as she spoke. That such
an apparently frank girl was a consum-
mate actress wasn't to be thought, and
yeti remembered how well she had
played her part on Hance's trail. But
even that wouldn't convince me. Proof
Of her Implicitly came quickly enough,
for while Twas still thinking the walk
ers were round again, and Lord Rallies
was saying:
why haven't you complained to
your father or brothers,
Because 1 knew they would resent
his conduct to me, and
"Of course they would cried her |
companion, interrupting 'But why
should you object to that?''
Because Of the letters, !" said Madge. |
"Don't you see that if we made him !
angry he would betray us to Mr. Camp
and'-
Then they passed out of hearing, leav- !
ing me almost desperate both at being
an eavesdropper to such conversation
and that Madge could think so meanly
of me. To say it. too to Lord Rallies
made it cut all the deeper, as any fell /
low who has been in love will under
stand.
Round they came again in moment,
and braced myself for the lash of the
whip that / felt was coming. didn't
escape it, for Madge was saying:
Can You conceive of man pretend
ing to care for girl and yet treating
her so? I can't tell you the grief, the
have felt She spoke
with a half sob in her throat as if she
was struggling not to cry, which made
me wish I had never been born. Its
been all could do to control myself in
his presence have come so utterly to
hate and despise him. she added.
II don't wonder" said Lord Rallies.
"My only surprise is
With that they passed out Of hearing
again, leaving me fairly desperate with
shame, grief, and, IN afraid, with an
ger. Ifelt at once guilty and yet wrong
ed. I knew had been ungentlemanly
on the trail, but had done my best Ito
retrieve my conduct and was running
big risks, both present and eventual. for
Madge's sake. Yet here she was ac-
that thus far she had used
me as puppet, while all the time dis
liking me. 1t was terrible blow, made
all the harder by the fact that she was
proving herself such a different girl
from the one l loved-so different, i'll
fact. that, despite what had heard,
couldn't quite believe it of her and
found myself seeking TO extenuate and
even justify her conduct. While was
doing this they came within hearing,
and Lord Rallies was speaking.
with you, he said. but / still
DO not see what can do. however much
may wish to serve YOU
Cant you go to him and insist that
ne-or tell him what ] really feel to-
ward him-or anything, in fact. to
shame him? 1 really can't go on acting
onger
That reached the limit of my endur-
,nce. and 1 crawled from my burrow,
intending to get out from under that
platform whether I was caught or not.
know it was foolish move-after hav-
ng heard what had little more or
ess was quite immaterial. But entire
Y forgot my danger in the sting of what
Madge had said. and my one thought ,
vas to stand face to face with her long
nough to-I'm sure don't know what
did intend to say.
Just as l had got to the plank, how
yer. heard Lord Rallies ask: