The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-11-11
my seltishnesa I was Jealous Of
Madra

|
Yes, that was It I could not bear
that my lameness my LONELINESS
should be contrasted with my sisters
glorious beauty. Madge was prettier
than ever. The boy next door spent
a good deal of time in her company.
Sometimes they walked down the
street together I fancied that people
would be talking about them; was
sure they were going to announce
their engagement soon.
And intsead of being happy I was
| Jealous and miserable. Perhaps the
morbid fancies of q sick woman may
| mitigate such a crime. But O tempta-
ton was stirring in my heart, and it
was this: II Madge married the boy
at the window I would refuse to sell
the house and 60 to Vienna 1 would
never allow her marriage with the
! lian I loved to be the price Of my
physical redemption. 'ss Sc ss 49, ssstsa
The man I lovedI Yes, I did not
disguise it from myself any longer.
In my childhood days it was l who
had discovered the boy at the window.
1t was who had shown him to Madge,
and he was mine by the right Of pri-
ority, and by the right Of my love.
could love him even though we
had never exchanged word For the
first time In ICY life l hated Madge
/ passed through all the variations Of
emotion possible as / sat at the win
dow in my invalid's chair.
think my mind had become lit
tie distorted, for sometimes the VIC
lence of my hate frightened me. /
was helpless-I was so helpless, and
all the while I had to smile and pre-
tend to be happy. know Madge be-
gan to grow frightened; sometimes I
would see her eyes bent on mine in
the queerest way.
Jenny she said to me one day, II
am going to tell you q secret-not
now, but some time. I think" A
pause. She looked at me with that
happy smile that charmed every one,
but now filled my heart with black
hatred and impotent rage. And l
smiled back, and felt like an assassin
Il shall tell YOU" she said. when
you let me bring Harry to see you
No, not then, but afterward."
Harryl She had blurted out the
name involuntarily.
you need not trouble" I whispered,
clenching my hands under the rug IN
til the physical pain was intolerable.
You need not tell me-
Madge looked at me in pain. "How
strange you are lately, Jenny" she
said. But I am going to tell you
When can bring him?"
The wild pain at my heart demand
ed respite. Let me get the thing over.
Bring him at once!" I cried.
Madge was gone, and I was waiting
at the window In my invalid chair. 1
saw her cross the street. She went
freely into the house now. I watched
till they came out together. His arm
was linked in hers, and they were
laughing. What fool they had made
of mel
It seemed an eternity before Madge
came into the room. She laughed I'M
comfortably, l thought.
you know Harry fremont she
said with embarrassment. 'He has
wanted so much to see you"
I'VE are old friends" said Harry,
taking my burning palm in his cool
hands.
/ don't know how the interview
came to an end. But it was ended at
last, and suddenly l could bear it no
more. Harry was gone and Madge
was kneeling at my side, and was
crying in her arms. And was blurt-
ing out all my secret story Of shame
and misery.
Why, Madge's face was like an an
gels as she raised it, and the tears
in her eyes made them shine with ex-
altation greater than anything 1 have
ever seen.
Jenny Did you think that?" she
whispered. why, you goose, it was
you all the time-always you. Harry
told me he loved you ever since he
was a little boy and used to see you
at the window"
! can walk like other people now,
and we still live in the old house
Harry and 1 and the little girl who
has been named after Madge. Madge
comes to see us often. She is happy
with her husband. Sometimes shade
of jealousy touches my heart to see
them together, for l learned to be
very jealous of love In those days of
sickness. But then l think of Madge's
face that day, and know that no 9TH
er love can ever dim hers and mine.
Great Work That Of