The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-06
love and DUTY
sy JANE OSBORN.

pressive 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.
Burtons first feeling for the inva-
lid was one of great sympathy, and
as he looked at the large, well-propor
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 to 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. and
with the let-up in anxiety, Madge's
nerve was being shaken. Yes. Burton
could do it now. He would have to 90
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 Hardys i'm
provement.
"You have been so good. Burton
she said, letting her hand rest lightly
on his arm for a 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, l will tell
!. you about Hardy. and then you will
know how hard it is
Burton felt no desire to talk about
Hardy, and he looked away from
Madge as she spoke.
Some time, some time," began Bur
ton, "Tll tell you why l have done
what l have done for Hardy" he
l. turned to her almost brutally. "You
know, Madge."
1t was dusk in the valley, and Bur
ton seized Madges wrists tightly IN
u his hands and pressed down upon
them as he looked in her face. "Madgt
you know I"
Madge freed herself. but not angri
". Burton, don't. How can your
And then she ran on alone up thu
q road toward the boarding house.
The next day Burton met Madg'
again. She had regained her compos
!. ure, and so had Burton. He wa
ready to make clear to her that h
q could support Hardy until he wa
J. better IL she would but marry him. H
u started to explain.
u Madge touched his arm ever 8
lightly. Burton" she said, and ne
r, voice had never sounded so sweet, y
10 am sorry didn't tell you sooner. Blu
a. I had no idea that you would think
n saying what you have. Burton, didn
10 you know. haven't you guessed, tina
1T Hardy isn't my brOther?"
The explanation followed In mono
r, syllables. It was harder than Madg
had expected to explain that Hard
and she had been friends In the Eaf
III and had become engaged. Hardy ha
"a no money and no family. only his ow
b. wits to push his way in his law pr'
fession. Then his illness had COM
the Illness that would eventually hav
killed him in the East. He had bee
ordered West. She had decided
C 90 with him, to work for him and
H. nurse him as sister would haV
IN done. Yes, they might have bee
W. married, but Hardy did not wish
at till he knew he would recover. {
MT course. her friends had objected, b
she had come anyway, and Hardy. b
'ie ing helpless, had had to consen
20. They had passed as brother and 81
nj ter. Now Hardy's recovery was
nd most accomplished. There was
ss doubt of it's completeness, In re
er more months he would be able to 0
gin work. In the autumn they wou
be married.
IN. But YOU are not married? You a
Gu free?" Burton was almost 1ubilar
ne "Madge. you must love me. Madg
pc you do"
Burton held her hands to his III
and she made no resistance. "Madg
cir YOU do love me. I know It,"
IT, She stopped in the half darkne
E" and looked steadily in his YOU
face.
'iS "Yes, Burton. do love you. 10
you better than anyone else In t
'eu world. You are strong. You
Ut young, you have all the wor
before you. Hardy has nothing b
me. Don't you see how hard 1t h
" been for him-how it has CALLED hi
how he has hated himself becau
GU he has had to let me do this? But
~ am the woman he loves, the wom
''o who promised to marry him. Tn
made It possible. That made our
ton justifiable Burton, tell me y
understand.
en- And as Burton left Madge that e'
ON ming at the threshold of the boardi
g." bouse he took her hand In his for t
en- last time.
,et- "Madge," he said, you are the I
lch h,es, woman shall ever know
,convright 1915. by the Mcclure Ney
tpaper Syndicate)