Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-07-23

me, and l 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. l used to watch
him through the window, as he sat
writing at his table. He meant to be
an author, Madge told me. and. hav-
| ing a little income of his own, he
would not be driven to the expedient
of writing trash for . 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. l 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 spen.
a good deal of time in her company.
Sometimes they walked down the
street together. l fancied that people
| would be talking about them; l was
sure they were going to announce
their engagement soon.
| And instead of being happy l 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 60 to Vienna. l would
never allow her marriage with the
man l loved to be the price of my
physical redemption.
The man l loved! Yes, / did not
disguise it from myself any longer.
In my childhood days it was l 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.
passed through all the variations OF
emotion possible as l sat at the win
dow in my invalid's chair.
l think my mind had become lit
tie distorted, for sometimes the VIC
lence of my hate frightened me.
was helpless-I was so helpless, and
all the while / had to smile and pre-
tend to be happy. l know Madge be
gan to grow frightened; sometimes
would see her eyes bent on mine IL
the queerest way.
Jenny" she said to me one day, 81
am going to tell you a secret-no'
now, but some time. l think" A
pause. She looked at me with thai
happy smile that charmed everyone
but now filled my heart with black
hatred and impotent rage. And
smiled back, and felt like an assassin
Il shall tell you," she said, "wher
you let me bring Harry to see you
No. not then, but afterward."
Harry! She had blurted out thu
name involuntarily.
you need not trouble" whispered
clenching my hands under the rug un
til the physical pain was intolerable
You need not tell me-"
Madge looked at me in pain. "Hoy
strange you are lately, Jenny" sh'
said. But l am going to tell you
When can l bring him."
The wild pain at my heart demand
ed respite. Let me get the thinI
over. Bring him at once! I cried.
Madge was gone, and l was waiting
at the window in my invalid chair.
saw her cross the street. She wen
freely into the house now. watched
till they came out together. His arm
was linked in hers, and they wer'
laughing. What a fool they had mad
of me!
It seemed an eternity before Madg
came into the room. She laughed un
comfortably, thought.
You know Harry fremont" sh
said with embarrassment. He ha
wanted so much to see you"
I'VE are old friends" said Harry
taking my burning palm in his COG
hands.
1 don't know how the interview
came to an end. But it was ended q
! last, and suddenly could bear 1t n
more. Harry was gone and Madg
. was kneeling at my side, and wa
crying in her arms. And was blur
ing out all my secret story of sham
, and misery.
Why, Madge's face was like an Al
. gels as she raised it, and the tears 1
her eyes made them shine with exalts
| ton greater than anything have eve
D seen.
t Jenny! Did you think that?" sh
! whispered. why. you goose. It wa
| you all the time-always you. Harr
} told me he loved you ever since b
was little boy and used to see 20
: at the window"
can walk like other people nov
t and we still live In the old house
t Harry and l and the little girl who ha
| been named after Madge. Made
l comes to see us often. She is happ
! with her husband. Sometimes q shad
Of jealousy touches my heart to se
I them together, for / learned to b
! very jealous Of love in those days {
D sickness. But then think of Madge
3 face that day, and know that no oil
. er love can ever dim hers and mine.
(Copyright 1915. by w. G. Chapman.)