The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-08

reconciliation.
Soon after that the young man be-
gan to appear at the window opposite
again.
My 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 q great surprise awaited
me. Madge had struck up q friend.
ship with the boy next door. After
that he used to venture to smile at
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 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. l could not bear
that my lameness, my LONELINESS
should be contrasted with my sister
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. fancied that people
would be talking about them; was
sure they were going to announce
their engagement soon.
And instead of being happy I was
jealous and miserable. Perhaps the
morbid fancies of sick woman may
mitigate such crime. But tempta
ton was stirring in my heart, and II
was this: If Madge married the boy
at the window would refuse to sell
the house and go 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, I did mo-
disguise it from myself any longer
In my childhood days it was l wht
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
l could love him even though w
had never exchanged word. For thu
first time in my life hated Madge.
passed through all the variations o
emotion possible as sat at the win
dow in my invalid's chair.
I think my mind had become q lit
J tie distorted, for sometimes the vic
J lence of my hate frightened me.
was helpless--l was SO helpless, ant
all the while l 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, '
am going to tell you 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
Il shall tell you." she said, "whe
you let me bring Harry to see yor
No. not then, but afterward."
Harry! She had blurted out tn
name involuntarily.
"You need not trouble" whispered
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" sh
said. But l am going to tell 20,
When can bring him?"
The wild pain at my heart demand
ed respite. Let me get the thin
over. Bring him at once! 1 cried.
Madge was gone, and l was waitin
at the window in my invalid chair.
3 saw her cross the street. She wei
8 freely into the house now. watche
till they came out together. His arr
;. was linked in hers, and they wer
+ laughing. What . fool they had mad
y Of me!
It seemed an eternity before Made
came into the room. She laughed Vi
!. comfortably, l thought.
q you know Harry fremont" sh
t said with embarrassment. "He he
9 wanted so much to see you"
I'VE are old friends" said Harr,
. taking my burning palm in his COZ
hands.
don't know how the intervie
came to an end. But 1t was ended
J. last, and suddenly could bear 1t n
q more. Harry was gone and Made
I was kneeling at my side, and I wa
t crying in her arms. And 1 was blur
i ing out all my secret story Of sham
and misery.
U Why, Madges face was like an al
gels as she raised 1t, and the tears
l her eyes made them shine with exalt
q ton greater than anything have eve
seen.
Q Jenny, Did you think that?" st
Q whispered. why, you goose. it wa
you all the time-always you. Harl
told me he loved you ever since
8 was a little boy and used to see yo
!. at the window"
. can walk like other people nov
9 and we still live in the old house
/ Harry and and the little girl who hs
y been named after Madge. Madl