he top the sheet of paper on which he
had last written, "For Madelon Gordon."

Margaret Bean had listened when Lot climbed the stairs. She heard him
when he came down again, entered his library, and shut the door. She
waited a long time. For some reason which she did not herself know
she felt cold with terror. She would not let her husband leave her
alone in the kitchen for a moment. At last, when it was nearly noon,
she bade him keep close at her heels, and went to the library door
and knocked, and when no answer came, knocked again and again and
again, louder and louder and louder. Then she made her husband open
the door, with fierce urgings, and peered around his shoulder into
the room. Then she gave one great shriek, and caught the old man by
the arm with a frantic clutch, and was out of the house with him and
screaming up the street.

Saturday morning Burr and Madelon came riding into the village. As
they passed up the street everybody whom they met saluted them with a
manner which had in it something respectful, apologetic, and solemn.
The lovers felt no wonder at such return of cordiality, seeing in
everything but reflections of their own moods, and knew not what it
meant until they reached home.

Then Elvira Gordon, meeting them at the door, told them that Lot was
dead by his own hand, by a knife-thrust which crossed the old wound
in his side; and she dwelt upon the reason for his deed: that he had
been slowly dying from the disease of his lungs, and had not the
courage to die by inches, which reason now all the town believed,
since the doctor had said no word in contradiction, and never would,
being mindful of his oath.

Madelon listened, white and still, saying not a word; and she said
nothing when, up in their chamber, whither she went to take off her
bonnet, Burr, who had followed, took her in his arms, and they stood
together, looking at each other and trembling. Knowing not, and never
to know, the whole which he had done for them, they yet knew enough.
Suddenly, in the light of their own love another greater showed
revealed; and each exalted the image of Lot Gordon above the other,
and was acquaint with the spirit of what he had written and kept
back; for love that so outspeeds self and death needs no speech nor
written sign to prove its being.

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Madelon, by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADELON ***

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