Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-07-19
2pestern Stars

this brother who had given 1t to her.
"Alfredp r.
Dear old girl" he said, "you
haven't changed at all. except to grow
lovelier. Only you're woman now,
and you've fulfilled the name gave
you. Cd how sight Of you brings
back home 1t seems hundred years
, since left. l missed you more than
all the rest"
Madeline seemed to feel with his ev-
cry word that she was remembering
him. She was SO amazed at the change
In him that she could not believe her
eyes. She saw a bronzed, strong
Jawed, eagle-eyed man, stalwart, SUI
perb Of height and, like the cowboys,
belted, booted, spurred She had bid
den good-by to disgraced, disin-
herited, dissolute boy. Well she re-
membered the handsome pale face
with its weakness and shadows and
careless smile, with the ever-present
cigarette hanging between the lips
The years had passed, and now she
saw him mantle West had made
him man. And Madeline Hammond
felt strong, passionate gladness and
gratefulness, and direct check to her
sudden inspired hatred of the West.
"4ajesty, it was good Of you to
come. I'm all broken up. How did
you ever do It? But never mind that
now. Tell me about that brother of
NINE"
And Madeline told him, and then
about their sister Helen. Question
after question he fired at her; and she
told him of her mother; Of Aunt Grace,
who had died a year ago; of his old
friends, married, scattered vanished.
But she did not tell him of his father,
for he did not ask.
Quite suddenly the rapid-fire ques-
tioning ceased; he choked, was silent
q moment, and then burst into tears.
1t seemed to her that long, stored
up bitterness was flooding away. 1t
hurt her to see him-hurt her more to
hear him. And in the succeeding few
moments she grew closer to him than
she had ever been in the past. Had
her father and mother done right by
him? Her pulse stirred with unwonted
quickness. She did not speak, but she
kissed him, which, for her, was an
indication of unusual feeling. And
when he recovered command over his
emotions he made no reference to his
breakdown, nor did she. But that
scene struck deep into Madeline Ham
Ynnn1,c haort Thrn,,nh Cha Gov,
what he had lost and gained.
alfred, why did you not answer
my last lettersY asked Madeline. II
had not heard from you for two years.
$50 long? How time flies! Well,
things went bad with me about the
last time l heard from you. l always
intended to write some day, but /
never did. You remember all about
my little ranch, and that for a while
did well raising stock? / wrote you
all that Majesty, a man makes enc
mics anywhere. Perhaps an eastern
man in the West can make, if not so
many, certainly more bitter ones. At
any rate, l made several. There was
a cattleman, Ward by name-he's gone
now-and he and had trouble over
cattle. That gave me a back-set. Pat
Have, the sheriff here, has been in
strumental in hurting my business
He's not so much of rancher, but he
has influence at Santa Fee and Ell Paso
and Douglas. | made an enemy of
him. never did anything to him.
The real reason for his anilnosity
toward me is that he loves Florence
and Florence Is going to marry me-
"Alfred r.
whats the matter, Majesty? Didn't
Florence Impress you favorably?" he
asked, with a keen glance.
"Why-yes, indeed I like her. But
! did not think of her in relation to