The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-05-17
MADGE.

please sle lufeu her mOlnef ana 5ne
loved her garden. she loyed her HORSES
tSnd she loved herself Which 81 the
iouF commanded most Of her Fiction
ljt Is diiiieuit TO says
Providence had endowed Ter With
rare gifts and fleh ossesslons anu
she had made good use Of them. TAN.
shape1y; tolerant and stately, she
knew her worth, and was not at al
disposed TO nnderEalue It.
Ii happened IN The year OF grace
Inineteen hundred and as many as you
please, that d climax was arrived at.
Madee was then %. Nineteen Of 5her
admirers found consolation. Seven
we're left. I,Inew them all They also
ali knew me. / sometimes wish they
had mot. Other peoples love Affairs
are apt TO be boring, and it is difienlt
10 say exactly the right thing in seven
cases. j did my best, Of course / told
Phil Harte TO make a little more Of
Madge's mother. told Ben symms
10 learn to ride. | told Elijah Hop
kins he should change his name. /
told the other four much that was
good for them, and trust that they
appreciated It.
SO matters ran. The countryside
decided IT was time Madge married.
Mrs. s. declared that II she didn't she
might lose her chances. and chances,
added Mrs. S., don't come again. 1t
was rumored she had taken hers.
The fayorite was Adam BIeaze. He
asked for my advice, / gave 1t to him.
Girl and women, 1have known Madge
Craven Eve and twenty years. l said,
"and she will please herself which,
ii plain fact, she did.
Adam worked hard. He made good
practice with her mother, stormed her
garden, cultivated horses, danced at
tendance on her, and, to all appear
ances. did well. The countryside pro-
claimed him victor. But! is an
awkward word; 1t throws one back
upon ones Launches made no
progress.
Now 1t fell upon certain summers
day that Adam came to me and said:
Look here, old man, wish you would
put in a good word for me with Madge.
She thinks a lot Of YOU"
/ promised him would, and meant
10 wait my opportunity. 1t came soon
er than I had expected, for it fell up
on the very day that Madge rode over
in the morning. She looked well. She
always did, and in her riding habit
specially we'll. may have noticed it.
"T2 have been thinking about ,you,p l
said, after the usual greetings. "You
are very kind. And what have you
been thinking "That its time you
married." $50 it Isl" said Madge.
That's why I have called. l have
come for some advice"
II shall be happy to give you what
cam said /
"Yes, 1 know" said Madge. you
give a lot, and you take none. That's
you all over"
She said this rather sharply. l look
ed up. Hello" thought I, sin fighting
trim. All right"
"If you had not called on me- I
said, 81 should have called on YOU"
IT'S about time you did," said
Nfadge.
"As an ambassador" said 1. "on'
whose behalf?" said Madge. "a friend
Of mine is very fond OF you
There's nothing new In that said
Madge. "All your friends are
This was quite true, but the direct
ness OF It was little disconcerting.
well, which was IT." said Madge,
describing little circles on the lawn
with the handle Of her whip.
/ pleaded Adams cause. thought ]
pleaded well, but did not make much
progress.
He is very NIGEL" said Madge, al
last.
What more do you want" asked
II want more bratns!" said Madge,
you mean he does!" said Madge
laughed, and our eyes met,
It was not the first time they had
met by any means Nor is It likely
Il will be the last Madge looks yo9
in the face frankly and fearlessly.
Her eyes are not accustomed to de.
feat. But this time they fell-fell
suddenly and swiftly before mine.
A flood Of triumph surged over my
heart.
"Madge!" | whispered. "Madge!"
aud in hot burning words pleaded
my own cause, for all the world for
getting about Adams.
AT last Madge turned to me. Again
her eyes met mine, This time they
did not fall, and in their clear, silent
depths / read the sweetest story that
a man can read, The old-world story
Of woman's love,
No need to say more. The morning
sped,
I asked Madge why she came. She
laid her hands upon my shoulders,
looked into my eyes. and said: IL
scane to ask what woman ought to