The Lamar register., 1923-04-18

lb II menu WHtll ne uEuuh All the
same l know, whatever he did. he
meant no shame to you. Come now,
don't think about It again tonight"
She took up the lamp and led Made
line into little room, Wont you
let me help you undress-can't do
anything for your"
"You are very kind. thank you, but
l can manage" replied Madeline.
"Well. then, good night The sooner
/ 90 the sooner you'll rest. Just for
get what happened and think how fine
a surprise you're TO give your brother
tomorrow"
With that she slipped out and softly
shut the door.
As Madeline laid her watch on the
bureau she noticed that the time was
past two O'Clock II seemed long since
she had gotten off the train. When
she had turned out the lamp and
crept wearily into bed she knew what
1t was to be utterly spent She was
too tired to move finger
When she awakened the room WAS
bright with sunlight. She was lazily
and dreamlly contemplating the mud
walls of this little room when she
remembered where she was and how
she had come there.
How great shock she had been
subjected to was manifest in a SEN
sation OF disgust that overwhelmed
her. She even shut her eyes to try
and blot out the recollection. She felt
that she had been contaminated.
Presently Madeline Hammond again
awoke to the fact she had learned
the preceding night-that there were
emotions to which she had heretofore
been a stranger. She scarcely remem-
bered when she had found II nscss-
sary to control her emotions. There
had been no trouble, no excitement.
no unpleasantness in her life. II had
been ordered for her-tranquil. luIu-
rious, brilliant, varied, yet always the
same
Then Madeline heard Florence rap
on the door and call softly:
"Miss Hammond Are you awakef"
Awake and dressed. Miss Kings
ley"
Presently there were slow. reluctant
steps outside the front door, then a
pause, and the door opened. Stewart
stood bareheaded IN the sunlight. Mad
ellne's glance ran over him swift
as lightning. But as she saw his face
now she did not recognize II. The
mans presence reused in her a revolt
Yet something In her. the incompre-
hensible side Of her nature, thrilled In
the look OF this splendid dark-faced
barbarian.
"Mr. Stewart, will you please come
inT' she asked, after that long pause.
II reckon not" he said The hope
lessness of his tone meant that he
knew he was not fit to enter a room
with her, and did not care or cared
too much.
Madeline went to the door The
mans face was hard. yet II was sad,
too. And II touched her
81 shall not tell ny brother OF your
your rudeness to me-" she began
1t was impossible for her to keep the
chill out OF her voice, to speak with
other than the pride and aloofness OF
her class. Nevertheless. despite her
loathlng. when she had spoken so far
It seemed that kindness and pity fol.
lowed involuntarIly. 81 choose to
overlook what you did because you
were not wholly accountable. and be-
cause there must be no trouble be-
tween Alfred and you. May 1 rely on
you to keep silence and to seal the
lips Of that priestr You will spare
me further distress, will you not
pleasef"
His hoarse reply was incoherent but
she needed only to see his working
face to know his remorse and graft
tude.
Madeline went back to her room; ;
and presently Florence came for her.
and directly they were sitting at break
fast Madeline Hammond's impress
sion of her brothers friend had to be
reconstructed in the morning Light.
She felt a wholesome, frank, sweet
nature. She liked the slow southern
drawl. And she was puzzled to know
whether Florence Kingsley was pretty
or striking or unusual. She had
youthful glow and flush, the clear tan
Of outdoors, a face that lacked the
soft curves and lines of eastern
women, and her eyes were light gray,
like crystal. steady, almost piercing,
and her hair was a beautiful bright
waving mass.