The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-14
= Love and DUTY
BY JANE OSBORN.

course in college. He was only TWEEN
ty.four, but in his big, rather Loosely
1ointed frame. in his kindly, large. e1'
nressiye features, and in his direct Dc
cisiye way of saying things, no
seemed much older. The Gay aiter
his arrival at the boarding house
he had noticed Madge.
Burton soon found out about Madge.
Everyone in Silver Cliff Crossings
knew about the Lathrops. she was
the secretary of the manager OF the
works and supported herself and ner
invalid brother on her hardearneo
wages.
Burton's first feeling for the inva'
lid was one of great sympathy. anu
as he looked at the large. wentpropor'
toned figure spread out in the sun
light on the veranda OF the boardiAs
house on Sunday morning, he felt .
great pity for the man who was. forced
to live on his sisters earnings.
Before long, Burton became friend
" with the Lathrops. and as . means
Of helping Madge he spent hours with
Hardy, talking to him and cheering
him. Often Madge had to WORK
evenings with the mine MANAGER, ana
then she would knock at Burton's
door and ask him to come n spend
the evening with Hardy.
It was spring, and Hardy was show.
inp marked signs of Improvement, and
with the let-up in anxiety, Madges
nerve was being shaken. Yes, Burton
could do it now. He would have to DO
it. 1t was killing him to sec Madge
shaving any longer.
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 I'M
provement.
"You have been so good, Burton"
she said, letting her hand rest lightly
on his arm for q second.
Burton for an instant felt contempt
for the helpless brother. He longed
to shield Madge, to take her away
from the mine works forever.
Some time, perhaps. l will tell
you about Hardy. and then you will
know how hard 1t is"
Burton felt no desire to talk about
Hardy, and he looked away from
Madge as she spoke.
Some time, some time,' began Bur-
ton, "IIl tell you why I have done
what I have done for Hardy" He
turned to her almost brutally. you
know, Madge."
It was dusk in the valley, and Bur-
ton seized Madge's wrists tightly in
his hands and pressed down upon
them as he looked in her face. "Mad9e
you know l."
Madge freed herself, but not angri-
~. Burton, don't. How can you?"
And then she ran on alone up the
road toward the boarding house.
The next day Burton met Madgo
again. She had regained her compos-
ure, and so had Burton. He wa4
ready to make clear to her that he
could support Hardy until he was
better IL she would but marry him. He
started to explain.
Madge touched his arm ever 80
lightly. Burton" she said, and her
voice had nevet sounded SO sweet. Il
am sorry I didn't tell you soc But
I had no idea that you would of
saying what you have. Burton, uldn't
you know, haven't you guessed, that
Hardy isn't my brOther?"
The explanation followed in mono
syllables. It was harder than Madge
had expected to explain that Hardy
and she had been friends in the East
and had become engaged. Hardy hsd
no money and no family, only his own
wits to push his way in his law pro-
fession. Then his illness had come.
the illness that would eventually have
killed him in the East. He had been
ordered West. She had decided to
20 with him, to work for him and to
nurse him as q sister would have
do1fe. Yes, they might have been
married, but Hardy did not wish it
till he knew he would recover. OF
course, her friends had objected, but
she had come anyway, and Hardy, be-:
ing helpless, had had to consent,
They had passed as brother and sis
ter. Now Hardy's recovery was al
most accomplished. There was no
doubt of it's completeness. In . few
more months he would DO able to be.
gin work. In the autumn they would
be married.
but you are not married? You are
free!' Burton was almost 3ubilant.
"Madge. you must love me. Madge.
you do"
Burton held her hands 70 his lips
and she made no resistance. "Madge,
you do love me. know II"
She stopped In the half darkness
and looked steadily in his young
face.
Eyes, Burton, l do love you. I love
you better than anyone else in the
world. You are strong. You are
young, you have Ill the world
bsfore you. Hardy has nothing but
me. Don't you 9 how hard It has
been for him-how It has called him
how he has hated himself because
he has had to let me- do this1s But I