The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-12-06
u LOVE and DUTY
~ BY JANE OSBORN.

n
Burton Jones had come to the
Crossing fresh from his postgraduate
course in college. He was only twen- |,
ty-four, but In his big, rather loosely
jointed frame, In his kindly. large, ex-
pressiye features. and in his direct de-
cisive way Of saying things, he
seemed much older. The day after
his arrival at the boarding house
he had noticed Madge.
Burton soon found out about Madge.
Everyone in Silver Cliff Crossings
knew about the Lathrops. She was
the secretary OF the manager of the
works and supported herself and her
invalid brother ON her hard-earned
wages.
Burton's first feeling for the inva-
lid was one of great sympathy, and,
as he looked at the large, well-propcr-
toned figure spread out in the sun
light on the veranda of the boarding
house on Sunday morning he felt
great pity for the man who was forced
to live on his sisters earnings.
Before long, Burton became friend
ly with the Lathrops, and as means
Of helping Madge he spent hours with
Hardy, talking tc him and cheering
him. Often Madge had to work
evenings with the mine manager, and
then she would knock at Burtons
door and ask him to come and spend
the evening with Hardy.
It was spring, and Hardy was show
ing marked signs of Improvement, ana
with the let-up in anxiety. Madge's
nerve was being shaken. Yes, Burton
could do it now. He would have to do
it. It was killing him to see Madge
Shaving any longer.
Purposely he walked toward the Of
fee of the mine works the next day,
in order to walk home with Madge.
At first they talked Of Hardy's i'm
provement.
! you have been so good, Burton,
/ she said, letting her hand rest lightly
on his arm for second.
Burton for an instant felt contempt
for the helpless brother, He longed
to shield Madge, to take her away
from the mine works forever.
.Some time, perhaps, | will tell
you about Hardy, and then you will
/ know how hard it is
Burton felt no desire to talk about
Hardy, and he hooked away from
Madge as she spoke.
Some time, some time began Bur
ton, '1'll tell you why ! have done
what have done for Hardy" He
turned to her almost brutally. "You
know Madge.'
1t was dusk in the valley, and Bur-
ton seized Madge's wrists tightly in
his hands and pressed down upon
them as he looked in her face. "Madge
you know l."
I Madge freed herself, but not angri-
". Burton, don't. How can your?
And then she ran on alone up the
road toward the boarding house.
The next day Burton met Madge
again. She had regained her compos-
ufe, and so had Burton. He was
ready to make clear to her that he
could support Hardy until he was
better il she would but marry him. He
started to explain.
Madge touched his arm ever SO
lightly Burton" she said, and her
voice had never sounded so sweet, i
am sorry | didn't tell you sooner But
, had no idea that you would think OF
, saying what you have. Burton, didn't
) YOU know, haven't you guessed, that
Hardy isn't my brother9'
The explanation followed in mono
syllnbles. 1t was harder than Madge
; had expected to explain that Hardy
and she had been friends in the East
and had become engaged. Hardy had
no money and no family. only his own
/ wits to push his way in his law PRO
! fession. Then his illness had come
the illness that would eventually have
killed him in the East. He had beer
ordered West. She had decided te
20 with him, to work for him and tt
! nurse him as sister would have
, done. Yes, they might have beer
4 married. but Hardy did not wish i
!, till he knew he would recover. @
} course, her friends had objected, bu
she had corle anyway, and Hardy, be
ing helpless, had had to consent
They had passed as brother and sis
ter Now Hardy's recovery was al
I most accomplished There was n
/ doubt of its completeness. In q fey
/. more months he would be able to DC
+ gin work. In the autumn they woul'
be married.
: "But you are not married? You ar
, free?" Burton was almost jubilani
"Madge, you must love me. Madge
I you do"
i Burton held her hands to his lip
4 and she made no resistance. "Madgt
Il you do love me. know it,
She stopped in the half darkness
and looked steadily in his youn
!. face. AZ
"Yes, Burton, do love you. loy
! you better than anyone else in tn
world. You are strong. You ar
# young you have all the wor1
n before you Hardy has nothing BY
! me. Don't you see how hard it Ia
been for hirn-how it has CALLED hir