The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-03

n.y." she said, as she kissed me IN
reconciliation.
Soon after that the young man De-
gan to appear at the window opposite
again.
NV invalid chair was by the window.
/ could no longer help seeing him
when he was there. The initiative
had, so to speak, passed out OF my
hands.
One day a great surprise awaited
me. Madge had struck up a friend
ship with the boy next door. After
that he used to venture to smile at
me. and smiled back. Madge had
told me that he wanted to be intro
duced to me; meanwhile I 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 De
an author, Madge told me. and, hay
ing a 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."
l made another excuse; but after
she had gone realized the nature OF
my selfishness. l 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 spent
a good deal of time in her company.
Sometimes they walked down the
street together. 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 a crime. But tempta
ton was stirring in my heart, and il
was this: II Madge married the boy
at the window l would refuse to sell
the house and 60 to Vienna. l would
never allow her marriage with the
man loved to be the price of my
physical redemption.
The man loved! Yes, did no,
disguise it from myself any longer
In my childhood days 1t 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 pr
ority. and by the right Of my love
I could love him even though w
had never exchanged a word. For tn
first time in my life l hated Madge.
passed through all the variations o
emotion possible as sat at the win
dow In my invalid's chair.
think my mind had become III
tie distorted, for sometimes the vic
lence of my hate frightened me.
was helpless-I was SO helpless. an
all the while l had to smile and pre-
tend to be happy I know Madge be
gan to grow frightened; sometimes
would see her eyes bent on mine i
the queerest way.
Jenny" she said to me one day, &
am going to tell you a secret-no
now, but some time. l think"
pause. She looked at me with tina
happy smile that charmed everyone
but now filled my heart with blac
hatred and impotent rage. And
smiled back, and felt like an ASSASSIN
II shall tell you," she said, "whe
you let me bring Harry to see yo'
No, not then, but afterward."
Harry! She had blurted out tn
name involuntarily.
"You need not trouble" whispere
clenching my hands under the rug III
til the physical pain was intolerabl
you need not tell me-"
Madge looked at me in pain. "Ho
strange you are lately, Jenny" st
said. But l am going to tell 20
When can I bring him."
The wild pain at my heart deman
ed respite. Let me get the THU
over. Bring him at once! cried.
Madge was gone, and was waitir
at the window in my invalid chair.
: saw her cross the street. She We
3 freely into the house now. l watch'
till they came out together. His ar
;. was linked in hers, and they we
= laughing. What fool they had ma
Y Of me!
D 1t seemed an eternity before Mad
came into the room. She laughed U
!. comfortably, I thought.
n You know Harry fremont" 81
t said with embarrassment. HE h
Q wanted so much to see you"
t I'VE are old friends" said Harr
d taking my burning palm in his &C
d hands.
Q don't know how the intervis
came to an end But it was ended
> last, and suddenly I could bear 1t
d more. Harry was gone and Mad
It was kneeling at my side, and I W
It crying in her arms. And was blu
Il ing out all my secret story Of shar
d and misery.
u Why. Madge's face was like an {
gels as she raised it, and the tears
l her eyes made them shine with exal
n ton greater than anything have ey
70 seen.
le Jenny! Did you think that?" q
10 whispered. why, you goose, 1t "
you all the time-always you. Hal
told me he loved you ever since
ls was little boy and used to see y
u. at the window"
. I can walk like other people ne