The Parker post., 1916-02-12
Love AND DUTY
BY JANE OSBORN.

Burton Jones had come to the
Crossing fresh from his postgraduate
course in college. He was only TWEEN
-ty-four, but in his big, rather loosely
jointed frame, in his kindly, large, eX-
pressive features, and in his direct de-
cisive way of saying things, he
seemed much older. The day after
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 her
invalid brother on her hardearned
wages.
Burton's first feeling for the inva-
lid was one of great sympathy, and,
as he looked at the large, well-prOpOr'
toned figure spread out in the sun
light 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.
Before long, Burton became friend
ly 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
then she would knock at Burton's
door and ask him to come and spend
the evening with Hardy.
1t was spring, and Hardy was show
ing 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 see Madge
shaving any longer,
Purposely he walked toward the Of
in order to walk home with Madge
At first they talked of Hardys i'm
provement.
you have been 90 good, Burton,
she said, letting her hand rest lightly
on his arm for a 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, 1 will tell
you about Hardy, and then you will
know how hard it is"
Burton felt no desire to talk about
Hardy, and he looked away from
Madge as she spoke.
"Some tine, some time began Bur
ton, "I'll 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
them as he looked in her face. "Madge
you know /"
Madge freed herself, but not argri-
1y. Burton, don't. How can you?'
And then she ran on alone up the
road toward the boarding house
The next day Burton met Madge
again. She had regained her compos-
ure, and so had Burton. He was
ready to make clear to her that he
could support 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
am sorry / didn't tell you sooner. But
| had no idea that you would think of
saying what you have. Burton, didn't
you know, haven't you guessed, that
Hardy isn't my brother?"
The explanation followed in mono
syllables 1t was harder than Madge
had expected to explain that Hardy
and she had been friends in the East
and had become engaged. Hardy had
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
go with him, to work for him and to
nurse him as sister would have
done. Yes, they might have been
married, but Hardy did not wish it
I'LL lie h11CW Lie WOulu 1SCOSSI vi
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 be able to be-
gin work. In the autumn they would
be married.
''But you are not married? You are
free?" Burton was almost jubilant.
'Madge, you must love me. Madge,
you do"
Burton held her hands to his lips
and she made no resistance. "Madge,
you do love me. I know it"
She stopped in the half darkness
and looked steadily in his young
face.
Eyes, Burton, l do love you. / love
you better than anyone else in the
world. You are strong. You are