Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-07-06
Madge must get married

hands.
One day a great surprise awaited
me. Madge had struck up friend.
ship with the boy next door. After
that he used to venture to smile at
me, and I smiled back. Madge had
told me that he wanted to be intro
duced to me: meanwhile felt that we
were practically acquainted.
It Is surprising what new interests
an invalid acquires. used to watch
him through the window, as he sat
writing at his table. He meant to be
an author, Madge told me. and, hay
ing little income of his own, he
would not be driven to the expedient
Of writing trash for a livelihood. He
hoped to do something big some day.
"But, Jenny" she said, when are
you going to let me bring him up to
see you? You are always making ex-
cuses."
made another excuse; but after
she had gone realized the nature Of
my selfishness. was jealous OF
Madge.
Yes, that was It. I could not bear
that my lameness, my LONELINESS
should be contrasted with my sisters
glorious beauty. Madge was prettier
than ever. The boy next door spenr
good deal of time In her company.
Sometimes they walked down the
street together. I fancied that people
would be talking about them; was
sure they were going to- announce
their engagement soon.
And instead of being happy was
jealous and miserable. Perhaps the
morbid fancies of a sick woman may
mitigate such crime. But tempta-
ton was stirring In my heart, and It
was this: II Madge married the boy
at the window would refuse to sell
the house and go to Vienna would
never allow her marriage with the
man I loved to be the price OF my
physical redemption.
The man I loved! Yes, did not
disguise it from myself any longer.
In my childhood days 1t was who
had discovered the boy at the window.
1t was who had shown him to Madge.
and he was mine by the right Of pri-
ority, and by the right OF my love.
could love him even though we
had never exchanged word. For the
first time in my life / hated Madge. I
passed through all the variations OF
emotion possible as sat at the win
dow IN INV invaIid'a chair
think my mind had become q lit
tie distorted, for sometimes the VIC
lence Of my hate frightened me. !
was helpless was SO helpless, and
all the while had to smile and pre-
tend to be happy. / know Madge be-
gan to grow frightened; sometimes ]
would see her eyes bent on mine in
the queerest way.
Jenny" she said to me one day. Il
am going to tell you a secret
now, but some time. think" A
pause. She looked at me with that
happy smile that charmed everyone,
but now filed my heart with black
hatred and impotent rage. And !
smiled back, and felt like an assassin.
II shall tell you,"' she said, when
you let me bring Harry to see you.
No, not then, but afterward."
Harry! She had blurted out the
name Involuntary.
'You need not trouble" whispered,
clenching my hands under the rug I'M
til the physical pain was intolerable.
avo,, uood MT toll mo
Madge looked at me in pain. Elbow
strange you are lately, Jenny" she
said. But l am going to tell you.
When can bring him?"
The wild pain at my heart demand
ed respite. Let me get the thing
over. Bring him at once! cried.
Madge was gone, and was waiting
at the window in my invalid chair. I
saw her cross the street. She went
freely into tho house now. watched
till they came out together. His arm
was linked in hers, and they were
laughing. What fool they had made
of me!
1t seemed an eternity before Madge
came into the room. She laughed un-
comfortably, thought.
"You know Harry fremont" she
said with embarrassment. He has
wanted SO much to see you"
1--WE are old friends" said Harry,
taking my burning palm in his cool
hands.
I don't know how the interview
came to an end. But it was ended at
last, and suddenly I could bear 1t no
more. Harry was gone and Madge
was kneeling at my side, and was
crying in her arms. And was blurt-
ing out all my secret story Of shame
and misery.
Why. Madge's face was like an an
gels as she raised 1t. and the tears in
her eyes made them shine with exalta-
ton greater than anything I have ever
seen.
Jenny! Did you think that?" she
whispered why, you goose. 1t was
you all the time-always you. Harry
told me he loved you ever since he
was little boy and used to see you
at the window"
l can walk like other people now,
and we still live in the old house
Harry and and the little girl who has