The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-06-15
THE GIRL OF his HEART.

You don't know Madelon YET,
dad"
"Bah know her kind-paint, tin
sci, sham and frivolity."
"Madelon is different" Jack pro-
tested patiently. "She is sincere and
sensiblc-just an honest-hearted,
white-souled little woman. And she
is so young; she isn't 20 yet"
"Bosh and moonshine - old Squire
Cruger growled in angry dissent.
"All young fools talk like that when
they're bewitched by some painted
humbug. A stage woman can man
age to look young at 70 youth is part
of her stock in trade. And no doubt
your goddess was befooling rich young
idiots while you were still wearing
knickerbockers." :"
"Your prejudices hurt me, dad, !"
Jack expostulated in a panied voice.
"It's better for you to be hurt little
now by your father, than to be lured
into a lifetime of disgrace and misery
by such a woman, the Squire rejoin-
ed grimly. "How do you suppose
your mother-a proud Montague
would feel with such creature for a
daughter-in-law? I'm amazed at your
lack of sense, Jack. How a son Of
mine can develop such an amount Of
stupidity is beyond my comprehen-
sion."
Jack remained silent. He felt that
1t was useless to discuss the matter
with his father.
CPL wager what you like" the old
gentleman resumed with short, harsh
laugh that I can buy the wonder
full love of your 'white-souled' divini-
ty. I'll interview her tonight or to-
morrow; I'll offer her $500 spot cash,
if she'll kick you out of her house.
And she'll do it-she'll do it."
Jacks young face turned white.
For an instant his steady, patient eyes
flashed fire.
But he checked the indignant re-
tort which was hot on his lips.
The Squire was his father-one of
the best and kindest. And he would
try to prevent a meeting between the
latter and Madelon Ranlagh.
''I can't quarrel with dear old dad, >"
Jack reflected. "But I'll prevent
him somehow from insulting my poor
little girl. And after a while, I'll
overcome his prejudices, too."
The young actress occupied small
apartment in a little old-fashioned
house, which was owned by an aged
and childless couple. Madelon was
the last of her family, and these quiet
old people were almost parental in
their care of her.
AS an actress, she possessed some
talent, with an exquisite grace and
charm ofpersona1ity. But she lacked
the divine fire OF genius ana she was
deficient, too, in the enthusiastic am
bition by which even mediocre per-
former may sometimes attain celebri-
ty. Like many young women she
regarded her profession as merely a
temporary vocation, by which she
could earn her living, and which she
would gladly and gratefully renounce
for the sweet seclusion of home
shared with the man she loved.
She often talked with Jack about
the home they had planned for them
selves.
"More than all else, I shall prize
quiet-a cosy, harmonious quietude, !"
she had remarked once. 81 Idon't care
much about society; am afraid of
those naughty, emotionless women
whose faces are like masks, and whose
voices are trained to the same metallic
tone. You know the sort mean,
Jack"
Jack had always known that his
family would oppose his marriage
with her, but he had never admitted
it to Madelon.
Jack hardly believed that the Squire
would actually persist in getting an
interview with Madelon and he was
rather surprised when the old gentle
man really walked into his box the
the same night.
Madelon was playing secondary
role in some ephemeral melodrama.
Almost no make up at all was
required by the character she enacted.
And when she walked slowly into the
soft glow of the foot.lights, she look
ed so lovely, so undeniably sweet, and
innocent and young, that Jack turned
to his father with smile of triumph.
But the smile changed to stare of
perplexed wonder.
The old gentleman was curiously
agitated. His eyes bulged his wrin-
kled visage was white as death !; his
whole frame trembled !; and his ex-
preston seemed to indicate some sud-
den startled anxiety almost like ter
ror.
"Who-who is that girl9" he
stammered gaspingly.
"She is Madelon-my promised
wife," Jack replied proudly.
"Madelon-but what else?" the
Squire asked.
''Madelon Ranlagh / have told you
before, dad," Jack answered wonder
ingly.
"Can talk with her somewhere
Can't we drive to her house from the
theater?" the old man queried with
a wistful eagerness which was almost
pitiful.
"Assuredly, if you desire it." Jack
replied. "What ails you, dad?"
But the Squire did not choose to
explain. He had lapsed into strange
uneasy silence.
Two hours later the lovely young
actress was offering him chair in her
dainty little parlor.
She, too, was agitated her faii
face betrayed some hint of contempt,
although her sweet eyes held a gen.
tie pity.
ST know all you want to inquire, !"
Madelon interposed as the Squire be.
gan to falter forth something unin-
i L