The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-08-30

voices are trained to the same metal
lie tone You know the sort I 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 get
ting an interview with Madelon; and
he was rather surprised when the old
gentleman really walked into his box
the same night.
Madelon was playing a secondary
role in some ephemeral melodrama.
almost no "make up" at all was
required by the character she enact.
ed. And when she walked slowly
into the soft glow of the foot-ligh hts,
she looked 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 gentle man was curiously
agitated. His eyes bulged; his wrin-
killed. visage was white as death; his
whole frame trenbled; and his ex-
preston seemed to Indicate some sud-
den startled anxiety almost like ter
ror.
"Who-who is that glrI? he stam-
mered gaspingly.
She is Madelon-my promised
wife," Jack replied proudly.
"Madelon-but what else?' the
Squire asked.
"Madelon Ranlaeh; | have told you
before, dad" Jack answered wonder.
ingly
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, dad2'
"But the Squire did not choose to
explain. He had lapsed into a strange
uneasy silence.
Two hours later the lovely young
actress was offering him chair in
her dainty little parlor.
She, too, was agitated; her fair face
betrayed some hint of contempt, al
though her sweet eyes held gentle
pity.
81 know all you want to inquire"
Madelon interposed as the Squire be-
gan to falter forth something unintel-
ligible. "You are disturbed because
I remind you of a girl whose love you
won long ago. WE'LL / am Katherine
Ranlagh's youngest sister, born five
years after the discovery of your
treachery killed poor Kate"
She brought photograph from an
inner compartment of her desk, and
held it toward him. The Squire
glanced at his own yictured face, shiv-
cred as if with a sudden chill, and
then bowed his head upon his hands.
Apparently he was unconscious of
Jacks presence.
81 recognized you from the photo
graph instantly" Madelon continued
in the same unsteady and pitiless
voice. "You are the man who won
my sisters innocent love, promised
her marriage, and then deserted her
to wed another of your own social
rank. The knowledge of your perf.
dy killed her. Ah, it killed just IS
surely as if you had used knife or a
bullet instead of lying promises and
endearments which were only Judas
treachery.'
The lash of Madelon's reproaches
stung the old Squire and aroused him
from that stricken silence.
I "Don't," he murmured with an i'm
ploring gesture. Il deserve it all.
But still Katherine has been the one
love of my life. Her memory has
ever been my shame, my agony, my
regret. l wanted her for my wife;
but my family-my parents-had a
different plan for me, and l was weak
enough to marry"
He checked himself with guilty
start, and gazed at Jack with eyes of
anguish.
"Forgive me, if you can, my boy"
be said in a choking tone.
He staggered to his feet and crop.
ed unseeingly toward the door.
Jack put his hat and cane into his
shaking hands.
Dear old dad he said with infn-
ite affection.
j