Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-07-07

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.
lit is surprising what new interests
an invalid acquires. ~ used to watch
him through the window, as he sat
writing ct his table. II He meant to be
an author, Madge told me, and, hav-
ing h a little income Of his own, he
would not be driven to the expedient
OF writing trash for q 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 2 You are always making ex-s
cuses." II "a .s3s5 IS I'd \; l;JE $5 3 Il
ss.S95I made another excuse; but after
she had, gone realized the nature Of
my selfshness. was Jealous OF
:Madge.. ES ss3 .s$S Z Z rs ~
Yes, that was 1t. IL 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 spent
good deal OF time in her company.
Sometimes they walked down the
street together. Ifancied. that people
would be talking about them; was
sure they were going to announce
their enlargement soon. NJ 5sl
n And instead OF being happy was
Jealous and miserable. Perhaps tho
morbid fancies Of q sick woman may
mitigate such q 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. 7 would
never allow her marriage with the
man I loved to be the price OF my
physical redemption. y, BIKE sss.
The man i loved! Yes, j did not
disguise it from myself any longer.
In my childhood days it was who
had discovered the boy at the window.
twas I who had shown him to Madge,
and he was mine by the right OF prt-
Sority, and by the right of my love.
a. could love him even though we
had never 3exchanged4a word. For the
first time In my life I hated Madge. ~
passed through all the variations Of
emotion possible as 4 sat at the wins
dow in my inyalid's chair. :s3s 3
ri /. think my mind had become . lit
tie distorted. for sometimes the VIC.
lence OF, my, hate frightened me. I
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. u q n /. s.35l q ss
Jenny" She said to me one day, y
am going to tell You a secret mot
now, but some time. ] think a
pause. She looked at me with that
happy smile that charmed everyone,
but now filled my heart with black
hatred and simpotent 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 involuntarily. .5. q Z. f. n. /
X. SS55t..'Y GU need not troub le,"' whispered,
,clenching my hands under the, rug un.
til the physical pain was intolerable.
3s'.'You need not tell me. ..js5
ISS Madge looked at me in pain. How
strange you are lately. Jenny" she
said. But / am going to tell you.
When can bring him ?" # 81. q
The wild pain at my heart demand
ed respite. Let me get the thing
over. Bring him at once! cried.
n 4 Madge was gone. and / was waiting
AT sthe wfnduwsdn my invalid chair. Fl!
saw her cross the street. She went
freely into the house now. watched
TIL they came out together. His arm
was linked In hers. and they were
laughing What a fool they; had made
of me! 3.5 5ses
1t seemed an eternity before Madge
came into the room. She laughed un-
comfortably, 7 thought. 4t55 IN
n 'You know Harry fremont" she
said with embarrassment. He has
wanted SO much to see you. :
" I'VE are old friends" said Harry,
taking my burning palm In his cool
hands. gs, ss, I'm y33
sS I don't know; how the interview
came to an end. II But It was ended at
last, and suddenly I could bear it no
more Harry was gone and Madse
was kneeling at my side, and i was
crying IN her arms. And ! was blurt-
Ing out all my secret story Of shame
and misery.
:a Why, Madge's face was like an an
gels as she raised It, and the tears in
her eyes made them shine with exalta-
ton greater than anything I have ever
seen. &! N $ss n:
NJ q JENNY! Did you think that?'' she
whispered. Why. you goose, it was
you all the time always you. Harry
told me he loved you ever since he
was q little boy and used to see you
at the window!!" 4 tai z5z Il
7 can walk like other people now,
and we still live in the old house
Harry and I and the little girl who has
been named after Madge. Madge
comes to see us often. She is happy.
with her husband. Sometimes shade
OF jealousy touches my heart to see
them together, for j learned to be
very Jealous Of love in those days of