The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-02
The Euening Story
AIadge.
(BY Jane Osborn

army OF mine WOrkerS-al OF tneI1,
from the owners of the mine down,
rough, self-centered, eager and brutal
as Burton himself was when he was
working with them-its few cheaply
built stores and houses, its long, grimy
days of al1-absorbing work as an cleo
trical engineer in the mine works, the
boarding house with it's freshly var
nished, cheap interior, its shrill-voiced,
bulky proprietress, it's beans and boiled
potatoes. There was all this and there
was Madge.
Burton Jones had come to the cross
ing fresh from the post graduate
course in college. He was only "a, but
in his big, rather loosely-jointed
frame, in his kindly, large, expressive
features, and in his direct decisive way
of saying things he seemed much old
er. The day after his arrival at the
boarding house he had noticed Madge.
This was but natural, for she was
the only woman besides the boarding
house keeper herself in the place.
Madge was eating breakfast in haste,
with her thoughts preoccupied. She
was plainly dressed and not remark
ably pretty, but there was something
even in that first day that gripped
Burton's attention. He watched her as
she finished her breakfast and then, as
she rose from her place, his eyes fol-
lowed her. She went to the pantry
quite as a matter of course and soon
AOIdAh Win q l1oy WAAASA oAAC
proceeded to fit out with the breakfast
that the boarding house table provid-
ed. Then she left the room with the
tray and Burton carried the image of
her figure in his mind he went for
his first days work at the mine.
Burton soon found out about Madge.
Every one in Silver Cliff Crossings
knew about the LathropS. She was
the secretary Of the manager of the
works and supported herself and her
1ar.rNf hnr- y rNv@1
wages. They had come out a year be-
fore, the inducement being the high
wages offered in the Crossings and the
additional fact that the air was bene-
ficia1 to Madge's brother, Hardy, who,
people said, had improved wonderfully
since he arrived. Madge, on the con-
trary, was showing signs of the strain.
Burton's first feeling for the invalid
was one of great sympathy and, as he
looked at the large, well-proportioned
figure spread out in the sunlight on
the veranda of the boarding house on
Sunday morning, he felt great pity for
the man who was forced to live on his
sisters earnings. Burton watched the
two closely. uneasily. all day, feeling a
peculiar fascination in Madge's every
move. In Hardy'S face he detected a
fretful, impatient look, an expression
in his dark features that haunted Bur-
ton as persistently. but not SO pleas
antly, as did that of Madge. For some
reason that he did not understand, he
felt a dislike for the brother.
Before long Burton became friend
ly with the Lathrops and as a means
of helping Madge he spent hours with
Hardy, talking to him and cheering
him. Often Madge had to work eve
nings with the mine manager and then
she would knock at Burton'S door and
ask him to come and spend the eve
ming with Hardy.
They were good friends from the
start, until after Burton had been at
the Crossings six months that he felt
that he had broken down the first
barriers that led to something more
than friendship.
1t was spring and Hardy was show
ing marked signs of improvement and
with the let-up in anxiety, Madge's |
nerve was being shaken. She had
worked very hard all winter and her
constant vigils with Hardy had APP
parently been too much for her. Bur-
ton had received two raises in salary
and as he looked over his bank book |
one day an idea which had been |
him for months took definite |
form. Yes he could do It now. He |
would have to do it. 1t was killing |
Once his increased salary would have |
turned his thoughts back to one of the |
pretty girls he had known in college, |
but now it was Madge.
Purposely he walked toward the Of |
flee of the mine works the next day in |
order to walk home with Madge- At |
first they talked of Hardy's improve |
ment.
you have been so good, Burton"
she said, letting her hand rest lightly |
on his arm for a second. If you only |
knew how hard it is for him some |
times. If you only understood Hardy,
you would see how much good you
have done him.
Burton for an instant felt contempt
for the helpless brother. He longed to
shield Madge, to take her away from
the mine work forever.
Some time, perhaps, L will tell you
about Hardy and then you will know
how hard It isl
Burton felt no desire to talk about
Hardy and he looked away from
Madge as she spoke.
Some time, some time" began Bur-
ton, 'I'n tell you why I have done
what I have done for Hardy" He
turned to her almost brutally. You
know-Madge."
1t was dusk in the valley and Bur
ton seized Madge's wrists tightly in
his hands and pressed down upon
hem as he looked in her face. 'tMadge,
you know L"
Madge freed herself, but not an
srily. Burton, don't. How can you"
And then she ran on alone up the
'oad toward the boarding house.
The next day Burton met Madge
again. She had gained her composure
md so had Burton He was ready to |
make clear to her that he could sup
port Hardy until he was better if she /
would but marry him. He started to
explain.
Madge touched his arm ever so
lightly. Burton" she said, and her |
voice had never sounded so sweet, Il
I'M sorry didn't tell you sooner. But
had no idea that you would think
IF saying what you have. Burt IN,
1idn't you know, haven't you guessed,
hat Hardy isn't my brother?'
The explanation followed in mono
'yllables- 1t was harder than Madge |
had expected to explain that Hardy
md she had been friends in the east
md had become engaged Hardy had
10 money and no family, only his own
wits to push his way in his law pro-
IL Z,