Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1916-03-02
LOVE And DUTY
BY JANE OSBORN.

course in college. He WAS only twen-
ty-four. but in his big, rather loosely
| Jointed frame. In his kindly, large, ex-
pressive features, and in his direct de-
| cisiye way Of saying things, he
seemed much older. The day after
his arrival at the boarding house
! ne 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 hard-earDed
! 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 a
| 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
evenings with the mine manager, and
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, Madge's
nerve was being shaken. Yes, Burton
could do 1t now. lie would have to do
it. 1t was killing him to see Madge
| shaving any longer.
PurDosely he walked toward the Of
| fee OF the mine works the next day,
\ in order to walk home with Madge.
At first they talked OF Hardys Inn
| provement.
You have been 80 good, Burton"
she said, letting her hand rest lightly
| on his arm for a second.
Burton for All instant felt contempt
for the helpless brother. He longed
to shield Madge, to take her away
from the mine works forever.
Some time. perhaps, | 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, I'm tell you why | have done
| what | 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 on
them as be looked in her face. Nudge
you know L"
Madge freed herself. but not aFgri-
iy Burton, don't How can ydu?"
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 IL 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
| saving what YOU have. Burton, didn't
you know, haven't you guessed, that
| Hardy isn't my brother?'
The explanation followed in mono
| sylahles. II 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 boon
| 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 1t
| till he knew he would recover. or
! 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
freeo" Burton was almost iubilaut,
"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. know it,
She stopped In the half darkness
and looked steadily in his young
| face.
Yes. Burton, do love you. | love
| you better than anyone else In the
world, You ure strong. You are
Young. you have all the world
before you Hardy has nothing but
me. Don't you see how hard Ii has
been for him--how IL has CALLED him
how he has hated himself because
he has had TO let me DO this? But !