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Author

ROBERTSON'S CHEAP SERIES.

POPULAR READING AT POPULAR PRICES.

M ADELI NEI

3sro-\rEij.

— BY-

MARY J. HOLMES,

Anther of Lena Rivers— Tempest and Sunaiiine— Meadow Brook— English Orphant, etew

CO M r L E T E,

TORONTO;
J. ROSS ROBERTSON, 55 KING-ST WEST, COR. BAY.

18 81.

tri

MADELINE.

CHAPTER I.

THE KXAMI.MNO ("OMMITTEK.

Twenty-five years ago the people of Devon-
shire, a little town amons,' the New Knghmd
hills, had the reputation of being rather
nuarrelaome. Sometimes about meeU, gentle
Mrs. Tiverton, the minister's wife, whose
manner of liousekeepiiig, or style of dress,
did not exaetly suit them ; sometimes about
the minister liimself, who vainly imagine<l
that if lie preached three sermons a week,
attended the Wednesday evening prayer-
meeting, the Tuesday evening sewing society,
visited all the sick, and gave to every begaar
that called at his door, besides suprinteiid-
ing the Sunday-seiiool, he was earning his
salary of six hundred per year.

Sdmetimt'S, and that not rarely, the quarrel
crept into the choir, and then for two or
throe Sundays it was all in vain that Mr.
Tivcrtftn read the psalm and hymn, and cast
troubled glances toward the vacant seats of
his refractory singers. Tlierc was no one to
respond, except poor Mr. l{odgc,who usually
9ele> ted something in a minor key,and pitch-
e«l it so high that few could follow him ;
while Mrs. Captain Simpson — whose daugh-
ter was the organist — rolled her eyes at her
next neighbour, or fanned herself furiously
in token of her disgust.

Latterly, howes'or, there had arisen a new
cause for (juarrel, before which everything
else sank into insignificance. Now, though
the village of Devon.>i!>ire could boast but one
public scnool-house, said house lieing divided
into two departments, the upper and lower
divisions, there were in the toNvn several
district schools ; and for the last few ^ears a
committee of three had been aniiiiallv ap-
pointed to examine and decide upon the
merits of the various candidates for teaching,
giving toeachjif the decision were favoura'ole,
a slip of paper certifying his or her qualifi-
cation to teach a common school.
It was strange that over such an
^office so fierce a feud should have

arisen ; but when Mr. Tiverton, Squire
Lnmb, and Lawyer Whittemore, in the full
conviction that they were doing^ right, re-
fusetl a certificate of scholarship to a niece of
Mrs. Judge Tisdale, ami awarded it to one
who.se earnings in a factory had procured for
her a thorouL;!! English education, the villa-
gers were roused as they liad never been be-
fore — the aristocracy abusing, and the demo-
cracy upiiolding the disiiiiiytul trio, who at
last quietly resigned their utiico, and Devon-
shire was without a school committee.

In tills emergency something must le done,
and as the two belligerent parties could only
unite on a stranger, it .«eemed a matter of
special providence that only two months be-
fore the quarrel began, young Dr. Holbrook,
a iifitive of Boston, had rented the pleasant
little office on the village common, formerly
occui)iod by old Dr. Carey, whose days of
practice were over. Besides being hand-
some, and skilful, and quite as familiar
with the poor as tlie rich, the young doctor
was descend d from tiie aristocratic line of
Boston Holbrooks, facts which tended to
make him a favourite with both cla«.ses ;
and, greatly to his surprise, he found himself
unanimously elected tt> the responsible office
of sulc Inspector of Common Schools in
Devonshire. It was in vain tiiat he remon-
stratoii, saying lie knew notliing whatever
of the (iualihcations requisite lor a teacher ;
that he culd not talk to uirls unless they
happened to be sick ; that he should make a ^
miserable failure, and be turned out of
oflioc in less than a month. The people
wouhl not listen. Somebody must examine
the teachers, and that somebody might aa
well be Dr. Holbrook as any one.

' Onljr be strict with 'em and draw the
reins tigiit ; find out to your satisfaction
whether a gal knows her P's and Q's before
you give her a stifficut : we've had enough
of your ignoramuses, ' said Coloi.el Lewis,
the democratic potentate to whom Dr. Hol-
brook was expressing his fears that he
should not give .satisfaction. Then, as a
bri'rht ;de« suggested its 'If to tlv dt'. yvw-

MADKLINE.

tlcman, he added : ' I tell you what, just
cut one or two at first ; that'll give you a
Dame for being particular, which is just the
thing.'

Accordingly, with no definite idea aa to
what was expected of him, except that he
was to find out * whether a gal knew her
P's and Q's, ' and was also to * cut one or two
of the first candidates,' Dr. Holbrook accept-
ed the situation, and then wuited rather
nervously his initiation. He was never at his
ease in the society of ladici), unless they
stood in ttfed of his professional services,
when he lost sight of them at once, and
thought only of their disease. His patient
once well, however, he became nervously shy
and embarrassed, retreating as soon as possi-
ble from her presence to the shelter of his
friendly office, where, with his boots upon
the tablo, and his head thrown back in a
most comfortable position, he sat one April
morning, in happy oblivion of the bevy of
girls who were ere long to invade his r-'.nc-
tum.

' Something for you, sir. The lady will
wait for an answer, ' said his office boy, pass-
ing to his master a little note, and nodding
toward the street.

Following the direction indicated, the
doctor saw near hia door an old-fashioned
one-horse waggon, such as is still occasiunully
seen in New England among the farmers
who till the barren soil and rarely induli^e in
anything new. On this occasion it was a
square-boxed dark-^reen waggon, drawn by a
sorrel horse, sometimes called by the genu-
ine Yankee ' yellow, 'and driven by a white-
haired man, whose silvery locks, falling
around his wrinkled face, gave him a pleas-
ing, patriarchal appearance, wliich interest-
ed tiie doctor far ipore than did the iliitter
of the bine ribbon beside him, even tiiough
the bonnet tliat ribbon tied shadeil tlie face
of a young girl.

The note was from her, and, tearing it
open, the doctor read, in a pretty, girlish
handwriting :

'Dr. Holbrook.'

Here it was plainly visible that a ' D ' had
been written as if she would have said
' Dear.' Then, evidently changing her mind,
she had witli her finger blotted out the ' D,'
and made it into an oddly-shaped ' S. ' so
that it read ;

'Dr. Holbrook— Sir : Will you be at
leisure to (examine me on Monday afternoon,
at three o'clock ?

' Madeline A. Clyde.
' V. S. — For particular reasons I hope you
can attend to me as early as Monday.

M. A. C. '

Dr. Holbrook knew very little of givlnan
their peculiarities, but he thought this not.
with Its P. S., decidoilly girlish. Still li-
made no comment, eitiier verbal or ment;)l
so flurried was he with tlic thought that thf
evil he so much dreaiied liad come upon bin
at last. Had it been left toiiis choice, he wouln
far rather have extracted every one of Madi
lineClyde'steeth, than have set himself up be
fore her as some horrid ogre, ns'\ing what sh'
knew and what she did imt know. But tlu
choice was not his, and, turning at last ti
the boy, he said shortly, ' Tell her to come.

Most men would have sougnt for a glimpse
of the face under the bonnet tied with blue,
but Dr. Holbrook did not care a picayune
whether it were ugly or fair, though it did
strike him that the voice was sinirularlj
sweet, which, after the boy had deliveretl
the message, said to the old man, ' Oh, I am
so glad ; now, grandpa, we'll go honie. I
know you must be tired. '

Very slowly Sorrel trotted ilown the
street, the blue ribbons fluttering in the
wind, and one little ungloved hand carefully
adjusting about tlie ohl man's shoulders the
ancient camlet clojik which had <lone duty
for many a > ear, and was needed on this
chilly April day. The doctor saw all this.
and the impression left upon his mind was,
that Candidate No. 1 was probably a nice
kind of a gtrl, and very good to her grand-
father. But what should he ask her, and
how demi an himself towards her, and wouM
it be well to 'cut her,' as C*)lonel Lewis had
advised him to do to one or two of the first '!
Monilay afternoon was fiightfully near, he
thought, as this wa.s only Saturday ; and
then feeling that he must be prepured. he
brought out from the trunk, where, since
his arrival in Devonshire, they had been
quietly lying, books enough to have fright-
ened an older person than poor little Made-
line Clyde, riding slowly lujiiio, and wish-
ins.' so much tliai she'd liad a glimpse of Dr.
Holln-ook, so as to know what lie was like,
and hoping he would give her a chance to
repeat some of the many pages of Geogra-
phy p.nd History which she knew by heart.
How she would have trembled could she
have seen tlie fomiidable volumes heaped
upon the doctor's table and waiting for her.
Tliere were French and Latin grammars,
Hamilton's Metaphysics, Olmstead's Phil-
csoj)iiy. Day's Algebra, Butler's Analogy,
and many other books, into which poor
Madeline had never so much as looked. Ar-
ranging them in a row, and half wishin,'
himself back again in the days when he bad
studied them, the doctor went out to visit
his patients, of which tliero were so many
that Madeline Clyde entirely escaped his

in'_'

with
of hei
broiigl
speak
frieiu
as a
capoc
a iitt
brook,
Mr.-
seen t
d(jw 11
vi.si((jr
indebt
her ni
iiigton
ac(|il;u
iier. a
just t
in the
paired
in the
Tiii.s i(
and al
That (
LOuld .«
would
iiuittir
peii-kn

MADKLIXK.

miinl, iior did slie trouble him aciiin until
tlie tlrt-iultMl Mondiiy cuiiiu, and the hands uf
hiH wati'li i>ointfd t<> two.

' Oiu- hom iMoi'c. lie Niid to liiinself, just
as tlif itill of winds iiiid cloud ot dust iin-
ULMiurrd the arrival ot homiu one.

'Can it lie Sorrel and tin- .si|\iare wiijjgon?'
Dr. Ilolhrook tliouglit. Hut lar diHen-nt
from ( iraiidtather Clyde's t itnout was tiic
Htylisii carriage and the .spirite*! bayK which
tile coloured coaclnnan stopped in front of
tile w'liitu cuttago in the saiiic yard w itli the
otHce. the lio.i8e where l)r. Uolhrook hoanl-
ed, and where, if he married while in hevou-
ehire. he would most lilvely liriiig hia wife.

Mluy Rcniiiiuton, the vt-ry chap of all
others wliom Id rather see, and, as I live,
tliert's At'iU's, and .Fessie. Who knew she
w as in tliese }iart8 ?' was the doctor "s mental
cxamiii.ition, as, running his tinkers thnnurli
liij hair and making' a feint of pulling up tlie
corners of his ratiicr limp collar, lie liurricd
tj the carriage, from wliicli a dasiiiiig-look-
iiiL' liiiy of thirty, or tliereahouts, wa.s al-
ighting.

' \v iiy, Agnes — I heg your pardon, Mrs.
Keniington— when did you come?' he asked,
otlcriiig his hand to the lady, wlio,co((\ittish-
ly sliakiiig hack from lier )»retty, dollisli tace
a ]>rofu,sion of liglit hrow n curls, gave iiiin
the tips of her lavender kids, wliile slie tol i
him yiie had come to Aikenside the Saturday
before ; and hearing from (iuy that tiie lady
with wiioiii he iiad l)oarded was an old friend
of her.-, she iuul driven over to call, aiul
brought Jessie with her. 'Here, Jessie,
speak to the doctor. He was poor ilear ])apa'a
friend ' and something which was intended
as a sigh of regret for ' poor, dear jiapa,' es-
caped Agnes Kemingtous lips as she pushed
a little "curly-haired girl toward L>r. Hol-
brook.

Mrs. Connor, the lady of the house, had
seen them by tliis time, and came running
down the walk to meet lier distinguished
visitor, womleiing a little to wiiat she was
indebted, tor this call from one who, since
her m uriago with the aristocratic Dr. Kein-
iiigton, had sumewliat ignored her former
aequaintauces. Agnes was del: -hted to see
hfir, and as (Juy declined entering 'he cottage
just then, tlie two friends disajjpeared with-
in the door, while tlie iloctor and Cuy re-
paired to the ofHce, the latter sitting down
in tiie chair intended for Madeline Clyde,
Tills reminded the doctor of his perplexity,
and also brought the comforting tlirought
That Cuy, who had never failed him yet,
coulil surely offer some suggestions. ]}ut he
would not speak of it just now, he liad other
matters to talk about ; and so, jamming hia
pen-knife into a pine table covered with

ttimilar jam.<, he said, ' Agnen, it Beems, haa
come to .Aikenside, iiotwitiistandiiig slie de-
clared she n«'ver wouhl, w hen she found that
the whole of the Jlemington prop'i ty be-
longed to your motlier, and not your latlu-r. '

'Oh, yes. She rei-overeti fioni her piipie
as soon as I settled a liandsome little in-
come on Jessie, and, in laet. on her too, un-
til she is foolish eintugh to marry again,
when it will cease, of course, as 1 do not
feel it iiiN duty to su|iporL any man's wife,
unless it be my own,' was (iuy Keiiiiiigtou's
reply ; whereupon the pen-knife went again
i ito tlietablo, and this time witli so much
force that the point was broken od' ; but the
doctor did not mind it, and with the jagged
end eontiiiued to make jigged marks, while
he said : 'Siie'll harill\ marry again, though
she may. She's young — not over twenty-
six

''riiirty, if the family Bible does not lit,'
said Cue ; 'hut slied never forgive me if
she knew I told you that. So let it pass
that she's twenty-eight. She certainly is
not moi«! than two years your senior, a mere
notiiing, if you wis'i to make her Mrs. Hol-
Iji'ook ; and Cuy's dark eyes scanned curl-
misly the doctor's face, as if seeking there
for the secret of his proud young step-mo-
ther's anxiety to visit plain .\lrs. Conner the
moment she heard tluit l)r. Ilolbi'ook was

aiighed
to
(Juy, who was his college chum and long-
tried friemi.

Airiies Itemington, who was reclining lan-
guidly in Mrs. Conner's easy-ciiair, and over-
wiielming her former friend with descrip-
tions of the tray parties she had attended in
15 iston, and the tine siglits she saw in Ku-
rope, whitlier her gray-liaire<l huslianil had
taken her for a wcilding tour — would not
have felt particularly flattered, could she
h.ive seen that smile, or heard how easily,
from talking of her, Dr. llolbrook turned

• 1.^11 villi* liviltil VIKl'V I'll ■■-WlP/l'll^lX T» u,g

her boirder. Ihit tlie,docior only iaughet
merrily at the iilea of iiis being father to

to Madeline Clyde, wnom he expected every
moment. Tli<!ieV\'as a merry laugh on
(luy'st jiart. as he listened to the d 'ctor's
story ; and when it was finished, he said :
' NViiy, 1 see nothing so very ilistasteful in
examining a pretty girl, and puzzling her, to
.see her blush. 1 half wish 1 were in your
place. 1 should enjoy the novelty of the
thing.'

'Oh, take it, then ; take my place, Cuy, '
the iloctor exclaimed, eagerly. ' She does
not know me from Adam. She never ^aw
me in her life. Here are books, all you
will need. Vou went to a district school a
whole week that summer when you were
staying in the country, with your grand-
mother. You surely have some idea what

MAhKLINK.

tlioy ilo there, while I linve iint the «li;<ht-
iHt. Will yoii. (iiiv?' he pcrsiHtt'd iiioif
t'firiicstlv. lis he liriiii \vlic<'ls in the strt't't,
iiiiil was siii'c o'll Si.ti'i'l liiiil r'liiic ;i'..';iiii,

(iiiy iti'iiiiii'iton liked .niylliing Mavouring
ot a fmlir. 1)11'- ill liin iiiiiiil tluTc wiis (.'er-
tuiii coiiscifiicunis Miiiijijcs t(Jiii'liiiig tlu' Juh-
tictMif tlic thill;.', uml Ml) ;it first lie (Uiiiiir-
red ; wliilf the doctor still iiiniHted, until at
last he laiigliingly const-iited to coiimieiicc
the exaiiiiiiatioii. |)rovided the doctor wouhl
flit by, and occnsionally come to his aid.

'You must wiite the certificate, of course, '
lie said, ' testifying that she is qualified to
tcadi. '

' Yes, certainly, Ouy, if she is ; but may-
))e she won't be. and my orders are, to be
strict — very strict at first, and cut one or
two. You have no idea what a row the
town is in.'

'How did the girl look ?' (tuy asked, and
the doctor replied : ' Saw nothinij but her
bonnet and a line ril)bon. Came in a queer
(ilii go-L^iu'iile of a warjon, puch as your coun-
try f.uiiiers drive. There was an old man
with her in a camlet cloak, (iiiess .she won't
lie likely to impress either of us, particular-
ly as I am bullet-proof, and you have been
euj^'nLjjed for years. By the way, when do
you cross the sea again for the fair Lucy?
K;iiiiour says, this summer.'

•Rumour is wrong, as usual, then,' was
Guy's replj', a soft light stealing into his
handsome eyes. Then, after a moment, he
added : ' Miss Ather.si*ne's health is far too
delicate for her to incur the risk of a climate
bke ours. If she were here I should be
glad, for it is terribly lonely up at Aiken-
si<l(!, and I must stay there, you know. It
would be a shame to let the place run down. '

' And do you really think a wife would
make it pleasanter ?' Dr. Holbrook asked,
the tone of his voice indicating a little
doubt as to a man's being happier for having
a helpmate to share his joys and sorrows.

But no such doubts dwelt in the mind of
fi»y Remington. Eminently fitted for do-
mestic happiness, he looled forward anxious-
ly to the time when Lucy Atherstone, the
fair English trirl to whom he hau become
engaged when he visited Europe, four years
ago, should be stiong enough to bear trans-
planting to American soil. Twice since his
engagement he iiad visited her, finding her
always loving and sweet, but never quite
ready to come with him to his home in
America. He must wait a little longer ;
and he was waiting, satisfied that the girl
was worth the sacrifice, as indeed she was,
for a fairer, sweeter flower never bloomeil.
than Lucy Atherstone, his affianced bride.
Guy loved to think of her, and as the doc-

tor's remarks brought her to his mind,
he went ofl in a reverie eoneerniiig her.

I oiiiiii^' so lost in th(iii','ht. tli;it until

the doctor's hand was laitl ujmii his Hlinuliier
by way of rousing him, he did not see thai
what his friend had designated as a go-giggh
was stopping in fmntof tlie oth.-e, and that
from it a young lady was alighting.

Naturally polite, (iuy's first iinpiilse was-
to go to her assistame, but she dni not nee<l
it, as was jnoven by the light spring with
which she reached the ground. 'i'lie white-
haired man was with her again, Imt he evi-
dently did not intend to stop, and a <lo8e
observer might have detected a shade of sad-
ness and anxiety upon his face as Madeline
called cheerily out to him, '(Jood-bye.
grandpa. Don't fear for me, ami I hope you
will have good luck ;' then, as he drove
away, she ran a step after him an<l said,
' I>on't look so sorry, please, for if Mr.
Remington won't let you liave the money,
there's my pony, Beauty. I am willing to
give him up. '

'Never. Mad.ly. It's all the little fortin'
you've got. I'll let the old place go first ; '
and chirruping to Sorrel, the old man drove
on, while ^lacUdine •walked, with a beating
heart, to the office door, where she knocked
timidly.

Glancing involuntarily at each other, the
young 111'^ exchanged meaning snulrs, while
the doctor whispereil softly, ' Verdant —
that's sure.'

As (iuy sat nearest the door, it was he who
opened it, while Madeline (■.uiie in, her soft
brown eyes glistening with something like a
tear, and her cheeks inrniii': with excitement
as she took the chair indicated by tiuy
Remington, who unconsciously found him-
self master of ceremonies, and whom she
naturally mistook for Dr. Holbrook, whom
she had never seen.

CHAPTER IL

MAPKI.INE ri-YDB.

Maddy, her grandfather and grandmother
called her, and there was a world «)f unut-
terable tenderness in the voices of the old
couple when thev spoke that name, while
their dim eyes lighted up with pi iile and
joy whenever they rested upon the young
girl who made the sunlight of their home.
She wa."? the child of their only daughter,
' and had lived with them s nee iur mother's
death, for her father was a sea captain, who
never returne<l from his last voyage to
China, made two mouths before she was
born.

For forty years the aged couple had lived

MAUKLINK.

II thf old It'll faini-lidii.so. filling' tht! Itiurrti
^<iil of tlie roi'kv li(iiiu»tciiil, mul, HiiNc on
•In- sad night when they luiinl that Hi«h-
inl (Hyde was loHt at Hoa. and tin- tar widdfi-
iM'trnin^' wiirn tht'ii' ilaiigiit«'i dii d, thi \ had
l»«en tolerahly frt-c t'n)ni Hdirow ; and, truly
tlmnlct'iil fur tho hlcHsin^M su loni^ vouch-
safed them, tlu-y had retired eaeii ni|;ht in
|M'ace with (rod and man, and ri'^n tach
morning to pray. Hut a change wan eom-
ing over them. In an evd liour (irandpa
Markham iiad signed a note fur .i neighhonr
an<i friend, who failed to pay, and ho it all
fell upon Mr. .\lai kham, wlic. to meet the
demand, had deen compelled to mortgage
hiH homestead ; the recreant iieighliour stiU
insisting that long ht^fore the mortgage wiin
due he shouhl he able himself to meet it.
This, however, he had not done, and, after
twice begging off' a foredcmure, poor old
ilrandfather Markham fouml himself at tne
mercy of a gra.sping, remoi.seles« man, into
whose hand.s the mortgage had ]>as.sed. It
was vain to hope for mercy from a man lik»i
Silas Slociim. The nidiiey must either he
forthcoming, or the red faini-hoise be sold,
with its few acres of land ; an(; as aim njr
his neighbours there was not one who had
the money to spare, even if they had been
willing to do so, he must look for it among
strangers.

' If I could only help,' .Madeline said one
evening when they sat talking over their
troubles ; 'but there's nothing I can do, un-
less I apply for our school this summer. Mr.
(treen is the committee-man; he likes us,
and I don't believe but whathell let me have
it. I mean to go and see ;' and before theohl
people had recovered from their astonis';-
iiient, Madeline had caught lior bonnet and
shawl, and was flying down the roa.l»

Madeline was a favourite with all, especi-
ally with Mr. (ireeii, iuid the acliool would
be small that summer, xhe plan struck him
favouraldy. Her age, however, was an ob-
jection, and he must take time to in([uiie
what others thought of a child like her i)e-
coining a school-mistress. The pco|)le
thought well of it, and iu^foi'c the close of
tiie next day it was generally known through
fIonedalc,as the southern part of Devonshire
was called, that pretty little Maddy Clyde
had been engaged as teacher, and was to re-
ceive three dollars a week, with the iinder-
stjiiiding that she must board herself. It
did not take Madeline long to calculate that
twelve times three dollars were thirty-six
dollars,more than a tenth of what her grand-
father must borrow. It seeni'-d like a little
fortune, and blithe as a singing bird she
flitted about the house, now stopping a mo-
luent to foudle her pet kitten, while she

whispiird the good news III its Very ap|)i«'.
ciativi' ear, and tiieii stroking her grand-
father's silvery hair, as she said ;

■ \ till i:an tell fheiii lh.it you are sure ot
paving lliiity-si\ dolliiM in the fall, and if 1
do well, ma> be they'll hire me longer. I
mean to try my very best. I wonder if any-
Imdy before me t.iught a si-hool when they
were only til teen and a half. ho I look as
young as tiiat?'and for an instant the
i)right, ( hildish hiee scanned itsclt eagerly
in the old-fashioned mirror, with the tigiire
of an eagle on the top.

She did look very young, and yet thert?
was soiiii'thing womanly too in tiie expression
of the face, Hometliing which said that life's
realities w<'re already beginning to be under-
stood l)y hi'r.

' If my h.iir were not so short I should do
better. What a pity I cut it the last time I

It would i)e so long and splendid now,'
she contiiiiicil. giving a kind ot conteiiii)tu-
ons pull at the thiirk. Iieautifiil l»rown hair,
on \s liicli there was in certain lights a red-
dish tinge, which added to its richness and
beaut}.

' Never iiiiiul the hair, Maddy.' the old
man saiil, ga/ing tondly at her with a halt
sigh as he reineinliered another brown head,
pillowed now beiieatii the gravt^yard-tiiif.
■ Mavbe you wnn't pass muster, and
then the hair will make no dilh'r. There's
a new coniinittet -man, that l>i. Ilol-
brook, Ikjiii lioston, ;ind new ones are
apt to be mighty .strict, and < spi'cially
young ones like him. 'i'hey say he is mighty
larneii, and can speak in furrin tongues. '

Instantly .Maddy "s lace flusiu'd with nerv-
ous dread, as she thought, 'Wliatif I should
fail '!' f.'Hicying that to do so wouhl be an
eternal disL'i;ice. Hut she should not fail.
Siic was (.ailed by everybody the vei-y best
•cliolar in tin; lioueilaie school, the one
w hom the teachers alwiiys put forward when
desirous of showing o(F, tlie one whom Mr.
Tiverton, and S(|uire Land), and Lawyer
Whittemore always noticed and praised so
much. Of course she shouhl not fail, though
she di<I dread I)r. Ilolbrook, wondering
niiicli what he would ask her first, and
hoping it would l)e something in aritlmietic,
provided he did not atundde upon decimals,
where .she was apt to get bewildered. Shu
could pick out tlu! most obscure sentence
and dissect a double relative \\itli perfect
ease ; then, as to geographj', she could repeat
whole pages of that : while in the spelling-
book, the foundation of a thorough educa-
tion, as she had been tiught, she had no
superiors, and but few (!<|uals. Still, she
would be very glad when it was over, and
she appointed Monday, both because it wa»

MADKF.rVK.

. loe at himl, ami iKMniisr tliftt \v,ih tlic ilay
Idt ^I'aiiilfiitlit!!' Iiml Ni't in wlmli to riilr to
/^!'\fiisiili>, ill an tiilj<>iirniiii{ town, ami ank
itrt yoiiii;^' iiiastor for tliH loan of tlirei* IiiiikI-
I'tMl iluliaiH.

\lv could Imrdly t«)ll wliy he iiad tlioiij:lit
of apidyiii;,' to ( Jiiy F{iMimii.'toii f<«r Ik'1|i. im-
l<'M.s it were that tm-o he Lail Havfd tlic litcof
• iny'M f.if In r, who, aH long as In- livcil, liail
»vitii»(l a gii-at ii'ganl for Imh iK-npfaitoi,
fre(|U»!ntly aHsertiiig that he nioant to «ln
Hoiiu'thing for him. But tlio Momcthin^' was
never iloiio, the father was iIimiI. ami in liis
strait the old man tnriuMl to the son, wiioin
he knew to he very rich, ami m ho, he had
lipon told, waH "xoeedingly ^.'(mk'Ioiih.

' HoM' r wisii F nonlil go witli yon clear up
to AikeiiHide ! Tlify say its so hcuit ifnl, '
Ma eline liad Haid, aH on Satnrdiy evcniiij.'
they sat discussing the cxiKHtcti event of the
following Monday. ' Mrs. Xoali, the Iioiihc-
keeper, had Sarali .lones there once, to sew .
and she told mv. all aliout it. There ;ire
gravelled walks, and niee green lawns, and
liig. tall trees, ami (loweis — Oh I si many !
—and marble fountains, with gold (i.'^he.s in
tlie l)a.'-in ; and stitne.s, liig as folks, .ili over
tlie yard, with tnn lirass lii.iis on Ijie L'ate-
poHts. Hut till! house is tlie tin st nC mII.
There '.s a drawing-roon. bigger tii-in i hall-
loom, with carpets that let your fict .-inlv
in so far ; pictures and mirro-'s clear to the
door — thndi of that, gi-amlpa I a looking-
glass so tall that one can see tlie very bot-
tom of her dress and know just 1k>w it hangs.
Oh, I do so wish I could have a p"ep at it I
There are tM'o in onerooni, and the win.iows
are like door.s, with lace curt.iins ; Init what
is queerest of all, th(! chairs and sofas arc
covered witli real s'lk. Jil-^I iike that funny
gored ijown of gramJ'ii.iM up in the oak clies';.
Dear mo ! I wonder if I'll ever live in such
a place as Aikenside? '

"No, n<>. M.td ly, no. Be satisfieil with
the lot where (lod has put y"U, and don't be
longing aftoj- soniethirig higher. Our
Father in lleiivon know.s just what ir best
for u.s ; as lie ilidift see fit to put you up at
Aikenside, 'tain't no Mays likely you'll ever
live in the like of it.'

'Not unless 1 should happen to many a
rich man. Poor girls like me have some-
times (lone tliat, haven't they ? " was Mad-
dy"s demuie ivply.
(Iramlpa Markh:im shook his head.
* Tiiey have, but it's mostly their ruin-
ation ; so don't build castles in the air about
this (luy Remington.'

' Me ! oh, grandpa, I never dreamed of
Mr. (Uiy ! 'and Madeline blushed half in-
dignantly. ' He's too rich, too aristocratic,
though Sarah said he ditln't act one bit

proud, and in ho pleasant that the Hervant .
all w<>i-<liip him, and .Mrs. .Noah thinks iiiin
good enough for the i^neen of Kngl.md. I
xhall think mo, too, it he lets yon iiave the
iimney. Flow F wish it wan SFondny night.
SI) We could know tor sure I

' F'erhaps Me both shall be terribly diaap
pointed,' suggested grandpa, F»ut .NFatlds
w.is more hopeful.

She. at least, should not fail ; while what
she had heard of(<uy tiemington, th<> niantei
of Aikenside, made her iHdievo that he
wonhl accede at once to her grandfather's
i'(|uest.

All that night in her dreams she was work-
ing to pay the d«rbt, giving the money her-
self intfi the hands of tiny llomington.
whom she had nevi-r seen, but who came up
before her the tall, handsome-looking man
she had so often heard described F>y Sarah
Jones aft»!r her return from Aikensiile,
Mdiere siie had once done some plain sewing
tor the housekeper. Kvvu the next day,
when, liy her grandparent's side, .Maddy
knelt reverently in tiie small church at
IFoneilale, her thoughts Mer*' more intent
upon the to-morrow ami Aikenside tiian the
sacied wokIs her lijis M<'re uttering S e
knew it was wroiiL', and with a nervuii.s start
trieil to bring her mind back from decimal
fiaetions to what the minister was
-■lyi'ig : but Maddy Mas mortal,

ami light in the midst of the Collect, Aiken-
side and its owner would rise before her,
togetlier M'ith the wondt-r Iiom- she and her
giiuuifather would feel one M'eek fiom that
day. Would the desired certiticatc lie hers?
or M'ould she be dis,t;i'aced toiesei'and ever b\
a rejection '1 Would the mortgage be paid
.and her grandfather at ease, or would his
heui t lie br«'aking with knowing he must
leave what had Vjeen his home for so many
years ?

lint no such thougms troubled the aged
disciple beside her — the good old man, M'lioae
M'liito loi;ks sM-ept the large-lettered book
over Mdiich liis Mrinkled face was bent, as he
joined in the responses, or SiWd the piayers
M'liose words hail so soothing an iuHuencc
over him, carrying his thongtits npM'ard to
the house not made M'ith hands, which he
felt assured M'ouhl one day be his. Once or
twice, it is true, the possibility of loosing
tile dear old red cottage flitted across his
mind M'ith a keen, sud(kin pang, but he put
it quickly aside, remembering at the same
instant how the l''ather who loved doeth all
things M-ell to such as are his children.
(Jrandpa Markham Mas old in the Christian
course, while Maddy could hardly be said to
have commenced it as yet. anrl so to her that
April Sunday Mas long and wearisome. Mow

Tlie
pie
ne;it

MADKLINE.

-ha did wish the might look over the

L'lfOgiMpliv, l»,v way (It rftrt'nlmi^j Iut iiicinory,
,.iul !!<••• KXHi'lly liuw tlio rule for extraitiatj
die ciil)ic ludt (lul ri'jul, h^jt Miidily t'on-boto,
ami mail only the I'il^riiuH l'rofl[ri<8ii, tlio
Bible, uiul tiio book bruuglit tioiii the Sun-
<lay-auhuol, vuiiily iiiiiigiiiiiiK ttiut by mu
loing Hhe wuH earning the ^ood hIio au much
luHiied.

With the oarlit'Ht tiawu of iluy aho was up,
imi iuT >;ruM(liuotht'r heard Iut ropfatinp to
itTv If iniu;h of what slu* lancioil Dr. Ilol-
liiiiuk iKi,:.'ht (jut'stioii Imr upon. Kwu whi'U
hu was tteiidiiij.' over tiie wu.sh-tub, tor tlu'it-
.\ ere no acrviiuts at th<! red I'otta;,'*', a ixtok
'VU!* arranvjt'd lifion- her mo tluit slio roiild
•tndy with lier tyuH, while ii-r fat haiuls and
dimpled arms were busy in the .Hud«. He-
:ori; ten o'clock everything was done, the
■dothe.s, white a>. Miiuw-dntpH in the garden
licds, won; .swinging upon the line, the
kitelien thior was si'riibbe<l, the windows
wasiied, tht; bt)«t room swept, tlie vegetal >les
1 lnai:ed for dinnoi', and then Maddy's work
W:is tiiiished. (iraiidina euidd do all thereat,
and Madeline was free to pore over her books
until called to dinner ; but she eonld not eat,
8o iivoA\t was luM' exeiteniunt.

Swiftly the horns tl.w until it was time
to be getting ready, when again the
short liair was deploied, as before her
loo!;ing-giass Madeline briisiied ami arranged
her sliining.beautifnl locks. Wonld Mr. llol-
brook think of her age '! Siippo.^e he siionld
ask it. lint IK), he wouldn't. Unly census-
takers did tliat. If Mr. (Sroen thought her
old enough, surely it was n >t a matter with
which the doctor need troiilile hiniselt ; and
somewhat at ease on that point. Madeline
donneil her longest frock, ami standing on a
chair, tried to disiiover how much of i.cr pan-
talet was visiblf.

' I could see splendidly in Mr. Reming-
ton's mirrors. 8arah Jones says they come
to the floor,' she saitl to hi!r.self, v\ith a half
sigh of regret that iier lot had not been cast
in some such place as Ad<<'nside, inste.id of
there beneath the hill in that wee Ijit oi a
cottage, whose roof slanted back until it al-
most touched the ground. ' After all, 1
guess I'm lia|)pier here,' she tliougiit.
' Everybody likes me, while ii \\\:v*': S\y.
<lu}''s sister and lived at Aikenside, J might
be proud and wicked, an '

She did not finish the sentence, but some-
how the story of Dives and Lazarus, read by
her grandfather that morning, lecurred to
her mind, and feebng how much rather she
wonld rest in Abraham's bosom than share
the fill".' ot him who once w;us <d(jtlied in pur-
ple ;iici fine li;it.:, siie pinned on her little
neat plaid shawl, and tying the blue ribbons

of her coAne «traw hat under hor ehin.Rlane
ml o ,ce more at the rulo for tlio formntalde
cube root, »nd then hurried down ti> wlirre
lier graiidt'tttlier and old Sorrel wer« wmtiug
for hor.

' I •hall be bo happy when 1 ctuno back.
I)#!cau8u it will then be over, ^unt like hafing
a tooth oiit.you know.'Hhu said to her graiul
mother, who Iteiit down for tho guod-bye
kiba, without which Maildy never lett her.
' Now, grandpa, drive on ; 1 v/a« to be there
at three,' and chirruping herself i . .S.trrel,
the impatient Maddy went ridiii;; from tin*
lottage door, chatting chet-rily until the
vdlage of Devonsiiire waa leachrd ; then,
with a farewell to her gi.indtalher, who
never dreaiiictl that the man he was seeking;
was rio near, slu; tripped up the walk, and
siioii stooil in the presence of not only l)r.
Holbrook, but also oi (iny Wetningtou.

CIIAITKU 111.

r II K K. \ A M 1 N A T I O N ,

It was (illy who received her, (iuy wlio
pointed to a chair, (Jny who seemed per-
jcctly at home, and, n.'itnrally i noUL;!), slui
took him tor I >r. liolbrook, wondering who
the (itinr black haired man could be, and if
he meant to stay there all IIk; wiiile. It
wonld be very dreadful if he did, and in her
agitation and excitement the cube r(jot was
in danger ot l)eiiig altoj^ether lorg itteii.
Jlalf L'uessing the cause ot tier uneasiness,
and teeling more averse than ever to taking
part ill the matter, the doctor, after a hasty
jur\ey of her person, witiidiew into the
background, and sat wiiere he could not be
seen. This brought t\\('. short dress into full
view, togetiier with the dainty little foot
nervously boating the floor.

'She's very young.' ho thought; 'too
young, by far ; ' and Maddy's chaiici;.'? ot suc-
cess were be^'iniiiii;; to decline even l>efore a
word had bt;en spok«!n.

I low terribly still it was for thetimeduriiig
wlii::li tclegiapiiic coniiminications were
silently passin^; between (iuy and the d(jctor,
til': laLler slia.kmg his iiead decidedly, while
the iniiner insisted that he should do hi.i
duty. Mad'line couhl almost hear the
bcatiii^s ol iier heart, and tuily by ijounting
and recjiinting tlie fioplar trees glowing
across the stre.-t could .-;lie keep back the
tears. What was In- waiting,' for, she W(jn-
ilcred, and, at last, sninnioniii^' all her
c(;iira,L,'e, she lifted her great brown eyes to
(Juy, and said, pleadingly :

'Would you be so kind, sir, as to begin?
I am afraid I shall forget. '

' ^'os, cfrtainly,' -nd electrified by that

MADELINE.

U-

K
■I

voany, bird like voice, the sweetest save one
i.e had ever heard, Guy took from the pile of
l)ooks winch the doctor had arranged upon
the table, the only one at all appropriate to

the occasion, the otheis being as far beyond
what "as taught in district siliools as liis
classical education was beyond Madeline's
common one.

When a boy of ten or theroabonts, (Uiy
liad spent a part of a summer with his grand-
mother ill tlie country, and for a week had
attended a (ii^tri(,•t school. liut he was so
utterly rcg;uil!css of rides and restrictions,
talking aloud and walking about wlienever
the fancy took liim, tliat he was iguomiiii-
ously dismissed at tlie end of the week, and
that wa.' all tlie expcneiice he had ever ' i
in tiie kind of school Madeline was to tcacn.
But even this licipcd him a little, for re-
membering that the teacher in Farniingliam
had commenced her operations by siiuiieii-
•ig a lead pencil, so he now shar])oiied a
similar one, det(;rminiiig as far as he could
to follow Miss liurr's example. Muddy
couiit'jil every fragment as it fell upon the
floor, wishing so much tiiat he would com-
mence, and fancying that it would not be
half so bad to have liim approach her with
some one of the terrible dental insti'uments
lying l)cfer.' her, as it was to sit and wait as
slic was waiting. Had (iuy Remington re-
flei:t'-'d a little, he would never have consent-
ed to do the doctors work ; l)ut, unaccus-
tomed to country usages, especially those
pertaining to schools and teachers, he did
not consider that it mattered in the least
which examined that young girl, Dv. Hol-
brook or h mself. Viewing it somevhat in
the b^iit of a joke, he rather enjoyed it;
and as the Farmincham teacher had fust
asked her pupils their names and ages, so
he, when the iiencil was sharpened suffi-
ciently, startled Madeline by asking her
name.

'Madeline Amelia Clyde, ' was the meek
reply, which (Jiiy recorded with a flourish.

Now, (xuy Remineton intended no irrever-
ence ; indeed, he could not tell what he did
intend, or what it was which prompted his
next (piery :

' ^Vhogave you this name ?'

Peihap.s he fancied himself a Vioy again in
the Suiwlay-achool. and standing before the
railing of th^ altar, where, with otliers of
liis age, he had been asked the question
propounded to Madeline Clyle, who did not
hviiY the doctor's smothered laugh as lie re-
treatcit into the a<ljo'niiig room.

Ill all lier ]H( c nucived ideas of thisoxam-
ii'.tion, she hid never dreamed <:if being
c ttecliised, and with a feeling of teiT(M' as
she thought «f that long answer to the

question, ' What is thy duty to thy neigh -
hour? and doubted her ability to repeat it,
she said, ' My sponsors, in baptism, gave
me the first name of Madeline Amelia, sir. '
adding, as she caugiit and misconstrued the
strange gleam in tlie dark eyes bent upon
her, ' I am afruid 1 have forgotten some oJ
the catechism ; I knew it once, but 1 did
not know it was necessary in order to teach
school. '

' Certainlv. no ; 1 do not tiiink it
is. 1 beg your panhm,' were (iuy
Remington's ejaculatory replies, as lie
glaiiecd f "in NIadcline to the open door
or' the aMJ,<iiiiiig room, where was visilile a
slate, on which, in large letters, the amused
doctor iiad written ' Blockhead.'

There was something in Madeline's quiet,
womaiiiy, earnest mannei- which commanded
(iuy's respect, or he would have given vent
to the laughter which was chockintr him,
and thrown oti' his disguise. But he conld
not bear now to undeceive her. and reso-
lutely turning his back upon the doctor, he
sat down by the pile of books and com-
menced the examination in earnest, asking
first her age.

' (Joing on fifteen, 'sounded older to Made-
line than 'fourteen and a half, ' so ' (ioing
on fiftetai,' was her ici)ly, to which Ouy re-
sponded, ' That is young, Miss Clyde. '

' Yes, lint Mr. Green tlid not mind. He's
the committee-man. He knew how young
I was. He did not care, ' Madeline said,
eagerly, her great brown eyes grow ing large
with the look of fear which came so sudden-
ly into them.

(iuy noticed the eyes then, and thought
them very briu'nt and handsome for brown,
but not as handsome as if they had been blue,
for Lu( \ Atlior's one.s were blue ; and as he
thouglit of her lie was glad she was not
obliged to sit there in that doi'tor's office,
ami i)e questioned by him or any other nnvn.
' Of course, of course, 'he said, 'if your
employers are satisried it is nothing to me.
only 1 had associated teaching with women
much older than yourself. What is logic
Miss Clyde? '

The abruptness with wiiich he put the
question startled Madeline to such a degree
that she could not positively tell whether
she had heanl that word before, much le?s
could siic recall its meaning, and so she an-
swered frankly, 'I don't know.'

A girl who did not know what logic was
did not krow much, in Guy's estimation, but
it would not do to stop here, and so he asked
her next how many eases there were in
Latin !

Maddy felt the hot blood tingling to tier
very finger tips, for the examination had

MAl)Kr,'\K.

;hy neii^li -
repeat it,
i-sin, gave
U'lia. sir. '
(tniofl tlie
It'll t upon
n some of
hut 1 did
■r to teach

think it
■ere iiny
as hf
pen door
H visihie a
e aniuHcd

e's quift,

nninanded

ivcn vent

FiiiL' liini,

lie eouhl

and reso-

doctor, he

and com-

st, asking

i- to Made-
so '(ioing
3h (Juy re-
[vde. '

ind. He's
low young
iline said,
« ing hvrge
so sudden-

d thought

for hrown.

been blue.

and aa he

was not
or's office,
ither man.

' if your
ing to me.
th women

i-s logic.

e put the
h a degi'oe
I] whether
muoii less
so she ;in-

h)gic was
lation, hut
he a.sked
' were in

ng to iier
^itiou had

taken a couise widely diffeient from her
ideas of what it would probably be. She
had never looked inside a Latin grammar,
and again lier truthful ' I don't know, sir,'
fell on ( tuy'.s ear, but this time there was a
half (l-j.ipairing tone in the young voice,
us lally so hopeful.

' l'erha))s tlien you can conjugate the verb
(/wo, " (tuy said, his manner indicating the
doubt 'i:e was beginning to fuel as to her
ijualitications.

Maddy knew what roiiJKf/fUr meant, but
t'lat very (imo, what could it mean ? and had
she ever heard it before ' Mr. Remington
was waiting for her, she must say some-
thing, and with a gasp she began : ' / nmo,
fhou amocM, hn amofH. Plural : We amo,
f/e or ffOH (I mo, thry amo.'

(iuy looked at her aghast for a single mo-
ment, and then a comical smile broke all
over his face, telling poor Maddy plainer
than words oouhl havi; done, that she had
made a most ridiculous mistake.

'Oil, sir," she cried, her eyes wearing the
look (ii the frightened hare, 'it is not right.
I don't know what it means. Tell me, teach
me. What does <imo mean ? "

To most men it would not have seemed a
very disagi'eeable task, teaching young
Madeline Clyde what amo meant, and some
such idea flitte<l across Gify's miiid, as he
thought how pretty and bright was the
eager f;u;c upturned to his, tlie pure white
forehead, suriujed with a faint flush, the
cheeks a crimson hue, and tlie pale lips
parted slightly as Maddy appea ed to him
for the degnition of amo.

'It is a Latin verb, and means to love,"
(Juy said, witli an empliasi^is on the l.ist
word, which would have made .\];id(ly lilu.sh
had s!ie been less anxious and frightened.

Thus far she had answered nothing cor-
rectly, and feeling pu/zled to know how to
proceed, (iuy stepped into the adjoining
room to consult \\itli the doctor but he \\ as
gone. So returning again to Mad •line, 'Iuy
resuii;(Hi the examination by asking lier how
' minus into minus could jjrouuce plus."

Again Maddy was at fault, and her htw-
spoke I ' 1 d'in't knov. " s lundcd like a wail
of des|)air. Uid she know anything.' (Juy
wond'.red. and feeling some cuiiositv now
to asc 'rtain in that fact, he plied her with
(juestious pliiloso})hical, questions algel)rai-
cal, and question.s geometrical, until in an
agony of distress Maddy raised Iier hands
deprecatingly, a« if she would ward off" any
similar questions, and sobbed ou / :

' Oh, sir, no more of this. It makes my
head so dizzy. They don't teach that in
common schools. Ask me something I do
know.'

Suddenly it occurred to Ouy that he ha«i
gone entirely wrong, and mentally cursiii;:
himself for the blockhead the doctor
had called fiim.he asked, kindly :

' What do they teach? Perhaps vou can
enligh.ten me?'

'(ieography, arithmetic, grammar, history,
and spelling-book, ' Madeline replied, untying
and throwing otl' her bonnet, in the vain
hope that it might bring relief to her poor,
giddy head, which throobed so fearfully
that all hev ideas seemeil for the time to have
left her.

Tliis Mas a natural consequence of the high
excitement under which she was labouring,
and so, when Guy did ask her concerninfj
the books designated, she answered but little
better than before, and he was wondering
what he should do next, when the doctor's
welcome step was heard, and leaving Made-
line again, he repaired to the next room to
report his ill success.

' She does not. seem to know anything.
The veriest child ought to do better than she
has done. Why, she has scarcely answered
half a dozen questions correctly.'

This was what poor Maddy heard, though
it was spoken in a low whisper ; but every
word was distinctly understood, and burned
into her heart's core, drying her tears and
hardening her into a block of marble. She
knew that Guy had not done her justice, and
this helped to increase the torpor stealiiu'
over her. Still >he did not lose a syllable oi
what was .said in the back office, aiul iici' lip
curled scoiiifuHy when she heard (Iuy re-
mark, ' I pity lier; she is so young, and
evidently take-: it so hard. Maylie .she's as
good as they average. Sup]iose we give hei
the ccrtiticate. anyway?"

Then Dr. Moihrook spoke, but to poor,
beuildciril Madily liis words were all a
riddle. It w;;s nothing to him whetlier she
knew any thill'; or n.it, — who was he tiiat he
should be dictating thus? Tlieie secineil tf.
be a diff'ereiu\' of ojiinion lietwicu the younij
men, (Uiy iiisist.ng tiiat out of pity she
siiould 11. it be rejected ; and the doctor de-
murring (.ii the ground t.iat he on^dit ti) be
niorc strict, especially witli the rir.-,t one. A?
u-.ra1. Guy overruled, and seating liimsell
at the table, the doctor was just coinmenc

iiig, 'I heicby certify ' while (iuy was

bending over him, wlien the latter was
stai'tleii by a iiand laid lirndy on his arm,
and. turning (|iiickly, he confronted Madelint
Clyde, who, with her short hair pushed la"!;
from her blue-veined forehaul, her lar> a
pale as ashes, save where a round spot ut
purplish red burned upon her cheeKs. and
her eyes gle£;ming like coals of fire, stood
before him.

' ?l

MADELINE.

lii
?if

' He need not write t)iat,' she said,
tiuskily, pointing to the doctor. ' It
wouhl be a lie, and I could not take it. You
tlo not think nie qualified. I heard you say
so. I do not want to be pitied. I do not
want a certificate because I am so young,
and you think I'll feel badly. I do not

want '

Here her voice failed her, her bosom heav-
ed, and the choking sobs came thick and
fast, but still she shed no tear, and in her
bright, dry eyes tliere was a look which made
botli those you men turn away involuntarily.
Once Guy tried to excuse her faihue, saying
slie no doubt was frightened. She would
probably do better again, and might as well
accept the certificate; but Aladeline still said
no, so decidedly that further remonstrance
was useless. 'She would not take wliat
she had no right to,' slie said, ' but if they
p cased slie would wait tiiere is the back
ottiue until iier grandfather ca*".e liack ; it
woulil not be long, and she would nut trou-
ble them. '

Guy brought her the easy-chair from the
front room and placed it for h?r by the win-
dow. With a laint smile she thanked liim
and Hiiu\ : 'You are very kind, 'but the
smile hurt Guy cruelly, it was so sad, so full
of unintentional reproacli, while tlie eyes she
lifted to his looked so grieved and weary
that lie insensibly murmured to himself,
' Poor child !' as she left her, and with the
doctor repaired to the liouse, where Agnes
was impatiently waiting for them, and
where, in the light bailinage which followed,
they forgot poor little Maddy.

It was the fiiwt keen disappointment she
had ever known, and it crushed her as com-
pletely as many an older person has been
crushed by heavier calamities.

* Disgraced for ever and ever, ' she kept
repeating to herself, as she tried to shake off
the horrid nightmare stealing over her,
' How can I hold up my head again at home,
where nobody will understand just how it
waa, except grandpa and grandma ? The
jieople will .say I do not know anything, and
I do ! I do ! Oh, graiidpa, I can't earn that
thirty-six dollars now. I most wish I was
dead, and I am dying. Somebody — come —
quick !'

There was a low cry for help, succeeded
by a fall, and wliile in Mrs. Conner's par-
lour Guy Remington and Dr. HolV)rook were
chatting gayly with Agnes, Madeline was
lying upon the office floor, white and insen-
sible.

Little Jessie Remington, tired Oi fitting
still and listening to what her mamma and
Mrs. Conner were saying, had strayed off
into the garden, and after filling her

hands with dagodila and early vio'ets,
made her way at last to the office, the door
of which was partially oj>en, Peering
curiously in she saw the crumpled bonnet,
with its ribbons of blue, and attracted by
this advanced into the room, until she came
where Madeline was lying. With a feeling
that somethina was wrong, Jessie bent over
the girl, asking if she were asleep, while she
lifted the long, fringed lashes drooping on
the colourless cheek. The dull, dead ex-
pression of the eyes sent a chill through
Jessie's heart, and hurrying to the house she
cried. * Oh, brother Guy, somebody's dead
in the office, and her bonnet is all jammed ! '

Scarcely were the words uttered l)efore
Guy and the doctor lx)th were with Madeline,
the former holding her in his arms, while he
smoothed the short hair, thinking how soft
and luxuriant it was, and how fair was the
face which never moved a muscle beneath
his scrutiny. The doctor was wholly self-
))()ssesse(l ; Maddy had no terrors for him
now. She needed his services, aud he
rendered them willingly, applying restora-
tives which soon brouglit back signs of life
in the rigid form. With a shiver and a moan
Madeline whispered, ' Oil, gi'aiidma. I'm so
tired, ane so sorry, but I could not help it.
I foi'got everything. '

By this time Mrl^^, Conner and Agnes liad
come into the office, asking in much surpri.se
who the stranger was, and what was the
cause of her illness. As if there had been a
previous understanding between them, the
doctor and Guy Mere silent with regard to
the recent farce enacted between them, and
simply said it was someone who had come
for medical advice, and it was possible she
was in the habit of fainting ; many people
were. Very daintily, Agnes held back the
skirt of her rich silk as if fearful that it
might come in contact with Madeline's plain
delaine ; then, as the scene was not very in-
teresting, she returned to the house, bidding
Jessie do the same. But Jessie refused,
choosing to stay by Madeline, who by this
time had been placed upon the comfortable
lounge, where she preferred to remain rather
than be taken to the house, as Guy proposed.

' I'm better now, much \)etter, ' she said.
' Leave me please. I'd rather be alone. '

So they left her with Jessie, who, fasci-
nated by the sweet, face knelt by the lounge,
and laying her head caressingly against
Mitdeline's arm, said to her, ' Poor girl,
you're sick, and I'm so sorry. What makes
you sick ? '

There was genuine sympathy in tliat
little voice, and with a cry as of sudden pain,
Maddy clasped the child in her arms and
burst into a wild fit of weeping, which did

MADELINE.

her a great deal of good. Forgettinc; that
Jessie could not understand, and feeling it a
relief to tell her grief to some one, she said,
in reply to Jessie's repeated inquiries as to
what was the matter, ' I did not get a cer-
lificate, and I wanted it so much, for we are
poor, and our house is mortgaged, and I was
going to help grandpa pay it ; and now I
never can, and the house must be sold.'

'It's dreadful to be poor!' sighed little
.Fcssie, as her fingers threaded the soft, nut-
brown hair resting in her lap, where Maddy
had laid her aching bead.

Maddy did not know who this beautiful
child was, but her sympathy was very sweet,
iind they talked together confkiingly.as child-
ren will, until Mrs. Agnes' voice was heard
calling to her little girl that it was time
to go.

• I love you, Maddy, and I mean to tell
brothei: Guy all about it, ' Jessie said, as she
wounded her arms round Madeline's neck
and kibsed lier at parting.

It never occurred to Maddy to ask her
name, she felt so stupified and bewildered,
and with a responsive kisn she sent her away.
Then leaning her head upon the table, she
forgot everything but her own wretchedness,
and so did not see the galy-dressed, haughty-
looking lady who swept past the doov, ac-
companied by Guy and Dr. Holbrook.
Neither did she hear, or notice, if she did,
the hum of their voices, as they talked to-
gether for a moment, Agnes asking the doc-
tor very prettily to come up to Aikenside
while she was there, and enliven her a little.
Engaged young men like ( hiy were so stupid,
she said, as with a merry laugh she sprang
into the carriage ; and, bowing gracefully to
the doctor, was driven rapidly toward Aiken-
side.

Rather slowly the doctor returned to the
office, and after fidgeting for a time among
the powders and phials, summoned courage
to ask Madeline how she felt, and if any of
the fainting symptoms had returned.

' No, sir, ' was all the reply ; le gave him,
never lifting up her head, or even thinking
v/hich of the two young men it was speaking
to her.

There was a call just then for Dr. Hol-
brook ; and leaving his ('ffice in charge of
Tom. lie went away, feeling sligtitly vnconi-
fortabe v/henever he thought of the girl,
to whom he knew that justice had not been
done.

' I half wish T had examined her myself,'
he said. ' Of course she was excited, and
could not answer ; besides, hanged if I don't
believe it was all humbug tormenting her
with Greek and Latin and logic, (iiiy is
such a stupid ; I'll question her myself when

I get back, and if shell possibly pass, give
her tlie certificate. Poor child ! how wliiti>
she was, and what a queer look there was in
those great eyes, when she said, "I shall not
take it."'

Never in his life before had Dr. Holbrook
been as much interested in any woman who
was not sick as he was in Madeline, and
determining to make his call on Mrs. Briggs
as brief as possible, he alighted at her gate,
and knocked impatiently at her door. He
found her pretty sick, while both her children
needed a prescription, and he was detainod
so long that his heart misgave him on liis
homeward route, lest Maddy sliould he gone,
and with her the chance to remedy the wrong
he might have done her

Maddy

was gone, and tiie wheel-ruts of

the square-boxed waggon were fresh before
the door when he came back. Grandpa
MUrkham had returned, and Madeline, who
recognized old Sorrel's step, had gathered
her shawl around lier, and cone sadly out to
meet him. One look at her face was sufficient.

* You failed, Maddy ?' the old man said
fixing about her feet the warm bufTalo robe,
for the night wind was blowing cool.

'Yes, Grandpa, I failed.'

They were out of the village and more
than a mile on their way home before Made-
line found voice to say so much, and they
were nearer home by half a mile before the
old man answered back :

* And, Maddy, I failed, too. '

CHAPTER IV.

GRANDPA MARK HAH.

Mrs, Noah, the housekeeper, at Aiken-
side. was slicing vegetable oysters for the
nice little dish intended for her own sup-
per, when the head of Sorrel came around
the corner of the building, followed by the
square-boxed waggon, containing Grandpa
Markham, who bewildered by trie beauty
and spaciousness of the grounds, and wholly
uncertain as to where he ought to stop, had
driven over the smooth-gravelled road round
to the side kitchen door, Mrs. Noah's special
domain, and as sacred to her as Betsey Trot-
wood's patch of green.

' In the name of wonder, what codger is
that ? and what is he doing here ?' was Mrs.
Nonhs exclamation, as she dropped the bit
of salsify she was icraping, and hurrying to
the door, she called out, ' I say, you, sir,
what made you drive up here, when I've
said over and over again, that I wouMn't
have wheels tearing up my turf and gravel?'

' I— I beg your pardon. I lost my way. I
guess, there was so many turnin's. I'm

MADELINE.

at:

'.I

■J ;:

sorry, but a little rain will fetch it right, '
grandpa aaid, glancing ruefully at the ruts
in the gravel and the marks on the turf.

Mrs. Noah was not at heart an unkind
woman, and something in the benignant ex-

{)re8sion of the old nien's face, or in the apo-
ogetic tone of his voice, molified her some-
what, and witliout further comment she
stood waiting for his next remark. It was a
most unfortunate one, for though as free
from weaknesses as most of her sex, Mrs.
Noah was terribly sensitive as to her age,
and the san^e census-taker would never ven-
ture twice within her precincts. Glancing
at her dress, which this afternoon was much
smaiter tlian usual, grandpa thought she
cobid not be a servant ; au«l as siie seemed
to have a right to say where he should drive
and where he should not, the meek old man
concluded she was a near relation of Guy —
mother, perhaps ; but no, Guy's mother was
dead, as grandpa well knew, for all Devon-
shire had heard of the young bride Agnes.
who had married Guy's father for money
And rank. To have been mistaken for Guy's
mother would not have offended Mrs. Noah
particularly ; but she was fearfully shocked
when Grandpa Markham said :

' I come on business with Squire Guy.
Are you his gran'marm ?'

'His gran'marm!' screamed Mrs. Noah,
feartully. ' Bless you, man, Squire Guy, as
you call him, is twenty-five years old. "

As Grandpa Markham was rather blind he
failed to see the point, but knew that in
some way he had given offense.

' I beg your pardon, ma'am. I was sure
you was some kin — maybe an a'nt.'

No, she was not even that, but willing
enough to let the old man believe her a
Remington — she did not explain that she
was only the housekeeper — but she simply
said .

' If it's Mr. Guy you want, I can tell you
he is not at home, which will save you get-
ting out. *

' Not at home, and I've come so far to see
him !' grandpa exclaimed, and in his voice
there was so much genuine disappointment
that Mrs. Noah rejoined quite kindly :

' He's gone o.er to Devonshire with the
young lady, liis atep-motlicr. Perhaps you
might tell your business to me ; I know all
Mr. Guy's affairs.'

' If I might come in, ma'am, and warm
me,' grandpa answered, meekly, as through
the open door he caught glimpses of a cheer-
ful Hre. 'It's miijhty clnlly for such asme. '

He did look cold and bli e, Mrs. N<a'i
thought, and she bade him oonie h'>, feeling
a very little contem])t for the old-fashioned
cimlot clonk in which his feet became en-

tangled, and smiling inwardly at the
shrunken, faded pantaloons, betokening
poverty.

'As you know all Squire Guy's affairs, '
grandpa said, when he was seated before the
fire, ' maybe you could tell whether he
would be likely to lend a strangei three
hundred dollars, and that stranger me?'

Mrs. Noah stared at him aghast. Was
he crazy, or did he mean to insult her mas-
ter? Evidently neither. He seemed as
sane as herself, while no one could associate
an insult with him. He did not know any-
thing. That was the solution of his auda-
city, and pityingly, as she M'ould have ad-
dressed a half idiot, Mrs. Noah made him
understand how impossible it was for him to
think her master would lend money to a
stranger like him.

' You say he's gone to Devonshire,' grand-
pa said, softly, with a quiver on his lip,
when she had finished. ' I wish I'd knew
it; I left my granddarter there to be ex-
amined. Maybe I'll meet him coming back,
and can ask him. '

* I tell you it won't be any use. Mr. Guy
has no three hundred dollars to throw away, '
was Mrs. Noah's sharp rejoinder.

'Wall, wall, we won't quarrel about it,'
the old man replied in his most conciliatory
manner, as he turned his head away to hide
the starting tear.

Grandfather Markham 's heart was very
sore, and Mrs. Noah's harshness troubled him
He could not bear to think that she really
was cross with him ; besides that, he wanted
something to take to Maddy besides disap-
pointment, so by way of testing Mrs. Noah's
amiability and pleasing Maddy too, he said
as he arose, ' I'm an old man, lady, old
enough to be your father.' Here Mrs.
Noah's face grew brighter, and she listened
attentively while he continued. ' You won't
take what I say amiss, I'm sure. I have a
little girl at home, a grandchild, who has
heard big stories of the fine things at Aiken-
side. She has a hankerin' after such vani-
ties, and it would pleaae her mightily to
have me tell her what I saw up here, so may-
be you wouldn't mind lettin' me go iiito that
big room where the silk fixiu s are and the
tall lookin' glass. I'll take off my shoes, if
you say so. '

' Your slioes won't hurt an atom : come
right along,' Mrs. Nodi replied, now in the
best of moods, for except hci cup of green
tea with raspberry jam and cream, she tMi-
joyed nothing more than s'.inwing her mas-
ter's handsome house, in wliich slie iuid
lived so long that, in a way, she ootisirlered
it her own.

Conduct ng him through the wide hall,

■^

]

xM A UK LINK.

y »t the
>e tokening

y's affairs,'

I before the

'hetlier he

ingei three

er me?'

last. Was

t her nias-

seeined as

d associate

know aiiy-

his auda-

have ad-

niade him

for liim to

loiiey to a

ire, 'grand -
on his lip,
1 I'd knew
! to be ex-
niing back,

Mr. Guy
irow away, '

1 about it,'
conciliatory
kvay to hide

ft was very
roubled him
t she really
, he wanted
sides disap-
VI rs. Noah's
too, he said
lady, old
Here Mrs.
ihe listened
' You won't
I have a
, who has
8 at Aiken>
such vani-
nghtily to
sre, somay-
;o into that
re and the
ly shoes, if

bom : come
now in the
p of green
iiM, she (Mi-
i her uias-
li slie luid
oonsiflpred

wide iiall,

she ushered him into the drawijig-rooui,
where fur a time lie .stood ]n.rfectly btwild-
tred. It was hi.s first inlroiluttion to rose-
wood, velvet, and bri'tatclle, and it seemed
to him as if he had siuUlenly been traiispoit-
eil to fairy-laiid

'Maddy would like tliis — it's her nature,'
ho whispereil, advancing a step or two, and
setting,' down his feet ;is .-^oftly as if stepping
on eggs.

Happening to lift ids eyes before one of
the long mirrors, he spied himself, wonder-
ing nmch wliat that '(|ueev looking ciiap ' was
doing there in tlie midst of siicii elegance,
and wliy Mrs. Xoah did n>t turn him out !
Then mentally asking forgiveness for this
flash of pride, and determined to make
amends, he bowed low to tiie Hgure in the
glass, which bowed as low in return, but did
not reply to the good-natured remark, ' How
d'ye do— pretty well to-day 1'

There was a familiar look about the cape
of the candet cloak worn by the man in the
gla.ss. and (riantlpa Markhams face turned
crimson as tlie trntli b^Mst upon him.

'How 'shamed ot me Maddy would be,'
he thought, glancing rii;i-,wise at Mrs. Noah,
who had witnessed the b'under, and was
now looking from the Mimlow to hide her
laughter.

(Jrandpa believed she did not see him, and
conitorted with tliat cassurance iie began to
lemaik upon the mirror, sayini;, 'it made it
appear as if thtJie w;i'* two of you," a teniark
wli;eh Mrs. Xoah fully appiveiated. He saw
the silk chair.-^ next, and >lily touched one ( f
tliciii to see if it <lid feel like the gored,
peach-blossom dress worn by his wife forty-
two years ago this very spring. Then he
tried one of them, examined thfc rare orna-
ments in the room and the grand p av.o, and
came near bowing again to the portrait of
the first Mrs. Remingtun, which iiung upon
the wall.

' This will last Maddy a week, I thank
you, ma'am. You have added consideralde
to the happiness of a young girl, who
wouldn't disgrace even such a room as this,'
he said, as he pa8^'cd into the hall.

Mrs. Noah received his thanks graciously
and led h^m to the yard, vheie Sorrel staod
waiting for him.

' Odd, but clever as the day is long, ' was
Mrs. Noah's comment, as, after seeing Iiim
safe out of the yard, she went back to her
vegetable oysters, which were in danger of
being overdone.

Driving at a brisk trot through the grounds,
Sorrel was soon out upon the highway ; and
with spirits exhilarated bj the thoughts of
going home, he kept up the trot, until turu-
a sudden corner, his inaster saw the carriage

of Aikcnside approaching at a rapid rate.
Tiie driver, Paul, saw him too, hut scorning
to give half tiie road to .Sorrel and ti «
square-boxed waggon, he kept steadily on,
while (iratidpa Markham, determining to
speak to (iuy, reined his iiorsea little ntarer.
raising his hand in token that the negro
should stop. As a natural conseciuence. the
wheels of the two vehicles became inter-
locked, and as the powerful grays werr m • e
than a match for Sorrel, the front wheel < f
(Jrandpa Markham's waggon was wrei ched
of}', and the old man percipitated to ihe
ground, which fortunately for him, was in
that locality covered with sand-banks, .o
that he was only stunned for an instant, and
failed to hear the insolent negro's ii mark :
' Served you riijht, old cove ; might hav«
turned out for a gentleman;" leiiiier
dill he see the sudden flashing of (Iiiy
Kemington's eyes, as, leaping from
his carriage, he seized the astonished
Atiican liy the collar, and demanded
' Wiiat he meant Ity serving an old ncu' so
slameful a trick, and then insi Iting liiiii ? '
All apology and regret, the cringing driver
tried to make some excuse, hut (Juy stopped
himsh(rt, telling him to see how mucli the
waggon was damaged, wiiile he ran to tin;
ol i man, who had recovered from the first
shock, and was trying to extricate himself
from thefoldsof tiie camlet cloak. Near by
was ii blacksmith's shop, and thitlier < iny
ordered his driver to take the broken-dowu
waggon witii a view to getting it repaired.

' Tell him I want it done at once,' h.e said,
authoritatively, as if he knew his name
carried weight with it ; then turning to
grandpa, he asked again if he were hurt.

' No, not specially — jolted my oM l)oncs
gome. You are very kind sir, 'grandpa re-
p'ied, brushing the dust from his pantaloons
and then involuntarily gra-sping Guy's arm
for support, as his weak knees began to
tremble from the effects of excitement and
fright.

"That darkey shall rue this job,' (!uy
said, savagely, as he gazed pityingly upon
the shaky old creature beside him. ' I'll
discharge him to-morrow.'

' No, young man. Don't be rash. Ife'U
never do't again ; and sprigs like iiiin
think they've a right to make fun of old
codgers like me,' was grandpa's meek
expostulation.

' Do, praj', (iuy, how long must we wait
liere ? ' Agnes tasked, impatiently, leaning
oet of the carriage and partially drawing her
veil over her face as she glanced at Grandpa
Markham, hut a look from Guy silenced
her ; and turning again to grandpa, he
asked :

\'6

MADELINE.

' What ilul you say ? You have been to
Aikeiiside to see me ? '

' Yes, and 1 was sorry to miss you. I — I
— i' makes me feel awkward to tell you, but
I wanted to borrow some money, and I
didn't know nobody as likely to have it as
you. That woman up to your house said
she knowed you v/ouldn't let me have it,
'cause you hadn't it to spare, Mebby you
haven't, ' and grandpa waited anxiously for
(Juy's reply.

Now Mrs. Noah had a singular influence
over her young master, who was in the habit
of consulting ner with regard to his affairs,
and nothing could have been more unpropi-
tious to the success of grandpa's suit than
knowing she disapproved. Besides this,
Guy had only the previous week lost a small
amount loaned under similar circumstances.
Standing silent for a moment, while he buried
and reburied his shining bootd in the
hills of sand, he said at last, ' Candidly,
sir, I don't lielieve I can accommodate you.
I am about to make repairs at Aikenside,
and have partially promised to loan money
on good security to a Mr. Silas Slocum, who,
' if things work right,' as he expresses it, in-
tends building a mill on some property
whicli has come, or is coming, into his
hands.'

'Thfit's mine— that's mine, my home-
irtead, ' gasped grandpa, turning white al-
most as liis liair blowing in the April wind.
' Tlieru's a stream of water on it, and he
says if he forecloses and gets it he shall
build a mill, and tear our old house down.'

(Juy was in a dile:nma. He had not asked
how niueli Mr. ]SIarkham wanted, and as
the hitter had not told him, he naturally
coiiciii.led it a much larger sum than it
really was, and did not care just then to
lend it.

' I teli you what I'll do,' he said, after a
little. ' I'll drop Slocum a note to-night
saying I've changed my mind, and shall not
let him liave the money. Perhaps, then, he
won't be so anxious to foreclose, and will
give you time Lo look among your friends.'

( Jiiy laid a little emphasis on that last
Avord," and looking up quickly crandna was
about to say, ' I am not so much a stranger
as you think. I knew your father well ; '
but lie checked himself with the thought,
• No, that will be too much like begging pay
for a deed of mercy done years ago. ' So
Guy never suspected that the old man be-
fore him had once laid his father under a
debt of gratitude. The more he reflected
the less inclined he was to lend the money,
and 113 grandpa was too timid to urge his
ne;il5. the ii^snlt was, that when at last the
wheel was replaced, and Sorrel again trotted

on toward Devonshire, he drew after him a
sad, heavy heart, and not once until the vil-
lage was reached did he hear the cheery
chuckle with which his kind master was
wont to encourage him.

' I'oor Maddy ! I dread tellin' her the
most, she was so sure,' grandpa whispered,
as he stopped l)efore the office, where Maddy
waited for him.

But Maddy 's disappointment was keener
than his own, and so, after the sorrowful
words, 'And I failed, too,' he tried to com-
fort the poor child, who, leaning her throb-
bing head against his shoulder, soobed bit-
terl>', as in the soft spring twilight they
drove back to the low red cottage where
grandma waited for them.

CHAPTER V.

THE RESULT.

It was Farmer Green's new buggy and
Farmer Green's bay colt which, three days
later, stopped before Dr. Holbrook's office,
and not the square-boxed wagon, with old
Sorrel attached, for the former was standing
quietly in the chip-yard, behind the low red
house, while the latter, with his nose over
the barn-yard fence, was neighing occasion-
ally, as if he missed the little hands which
had daily fed him the oatmeal he liked so
much, and which now lay hot and parched
and help.less upon the white counterpane
which Grandma Markham had spun and
woven herself.

Maddy might have been
she was if the examination
curred, but it was natural
loved her to impute it
excitement and cruel

just as sick as
had never oc-

for those who
vll to the ettects of
disapnointment, so
th' re was something like indignation ming-
ling with the sorrow gnawing at the hearts
of the old couple as they watched by their
fever-stricken darling. Farmer Green, toe,
sharert the feeling, and numerous at first
were his animadversions against that prig of
a Holbrook, who was not flt to doctor a cat,
much less 'examine a school-marm.' But
when Maddy grew so sick as npt to know
him or his wife, he laid aside his prejudices,
and sugg. sted to (irandpa Markham that
Dr Holbrook be sent for.

' He's great on fevers, 'he said, ' and is
good on curia' sick folks, I 'spose ;'so, though
he would have preferred some one else
should have been called, confidence in the
young doctor's skill won the day, and i^rand-
pa consented, and Farmer Green was sent
for the physician, to whom he said with his
usual bluntness :

MADKLINK.

him a

the vil-

cheery

*r was

' Well, you nxnh aVjont killed our little
Mailtly t'other diiy, when you refused the
Btifficut, and now we want you to cure her.'

Tlie doctor looked up in surprise, but Far-
mer (Jroen soon explained his meaning, niak-
ini,' out a most aggravated case, and repre-
senting Maddy as wild with delirium.

' Keeps talkin' about the big books, tlie
Latin and the Hebrew, and even Cateeliiam,
as if such like was 'lowed in our suliool. 1
s'pose you didn't know no better ; but if
Matldy dies, you'll liavo it to answer for, I
leckon.'

T.ic doctor did not try to excuse himself,
but hastily took down the medicines he
thought he micht need, and .stowed them
cartel uUy away.

He h"<l expected to iiear frfnu tiiat examin-
ation, but not in this way, and rather
nervously he made some inquiries, as to how
long she liad been ill, and so forth.

Maddy's case lost nothing by Mr. (Jreen's
account, and by the time the doctor's horse
was ready, and he on liis way to the cottage,
he had arrived at tiic conclusion that of all
the vilninons men outside the walls of the
State "s Prison he was the most villainous,
and (iuy Remington next.

Wliat a cozy little chamber it was wliere
Maddv lay, — just sucli & room as a girl like
lior might be supposed to occupy, and the
young doctor felt like treading upon forbid-
den ground as lie entered the room wiiicli
told so pl.iinly of girlisli habits, from the
fairy slippers hung on a peir, to tiie fanciful
little work-bax made of cmics and acorns.
Maddy was asleep, and sitting down beside
l.cr wn' (1 >ctor nskcil t'liat tlie shawl wliich
had been pinned l>efnn; the window to ex-
clude the light might be removed, so that
he could see her, and thus judge better of
iiei ccmdition. They took tlie shawi auay,
and the sunlight came .streaming in, disclos-
ing to the dfc'or's view the face never be-
fore seen distinctly, or thought much about,
if seeli. It was ghastly pale now, save
wl; )re the hot blood seemed bursting
through the checks, while the beautiful
brown hair was brushed back from the
brow where the veins were swollen and full.
The lips were slightly apart, and the hot
breath came in quick, panting gasps, while
occasionally a faint moan escaped them, and
once tl*3 doctor heard, or thought he heard,
the sound of his own name. One little
hand laj upon the bed-spread, but the doc-
tor did rot touch it. Ordinarily he would
ha\ e gra.-5ped it as readily as if it had been
a piece of marble, but the sight of Maddy,
lying there so sick, and the fear that he had
helped to bring her where she was, awoke

to life a curious state of feeling with regani
to her, making him almost as nervous as on
the day wht;n she appeared before him as
candidate No. 1.

' Fo( 1 iier pulse, doctor : it is faster inoHt
tiian you can c(puiit,' (Jramlma Markham
whispered ; and thus entreated, the doctor
took the hot, soft hand in his own, its touch
sending through his frame a thrill such as
the touch of no other hand had ever sent.

iJut somehow the act reassured him. All
fear of Maddy vanished, leaving behind only
anintcn.se desire to help, if possible, the
young girl whose fingers seemed to cling
round his own as he felt for and found the
rapid pulse.

'If she would waken,' he said, laying the
hanil softly down and placing his other upon
her burning forehead.

And after a time, Maddy did awaken, but
in the eyes fixed, for a moment, so intently
on him, there was no look of recognition.and
the doctor was half glad that it was so. He
did not wish her to associate him with her
late disastrous failure ; he would rather she
should think of him as some one come to cure
her, for cure her he would, he said to him-
self, as he gazed into her childisn face and
thought how sad it was for such as she to
die. When he first entered the cottage he
had been struck with the extreme plainness
of the furniture, hctokeiiing the poverty of
its inmates ; l)ut now he forgot everything
eX(!opt the sick girl, who grew more and
iiore lestlcss, and kejjt talking of liiin and
the Latin verb whicli nieant to love, and
which was not in the grammar.

Miuy was a fool and I was a brute, the
doctor nuitteicd, as he foldt'il up the l)its of
paper whose contents he iioped might do
nnich toward saving .Maddy's life.

Tiien, promising to come again, he rode
rapidly away, to visit other patients, who
that afternoon were in danger of being sadly
neglected, so constantly was their physi-
cians's mind dwelling upon the little, low
c .amber where Maddy Clyde was lying.
As night closed in she a-woke to partial con-
sciousness, and heard that Dr. Holbrookhad
been the re prcsciibing for her. Turning her
faite to thi- wall, she seemed to be thinking ;
tl\en calliiii.' her grandmother to her she
a kcil, ' Did he smooth my hair and say,
•' ))oor child ?" '

Her Lrrandmother hanlly thought he did,
thou;ih she was not in the room all the time.
' He had stayed a long while and was great-
ly interested,' she said.

Maddy had a vague remembrance of such
an incident, and in her heart forgave the
doctor for his rejection, and thought only
how handsome he had looked, even while

MADKLINE.

I-
I

tormenting her with such unheard-of ques-
tions, and how kind he was to her now. The
sight ot her grandfatlier, who came in to s*)e
her, awoice a new train of ideas, and bid-
ding him to sit beside her, she asked
if their home must bo sold. Maddy was
not to be put ott' with an evasion, and so
grandpa told her honestly at last that Slocnm
would probably foreclose and the place be
sold.

' But never you mind, Maddy,' he said,
oheerfully, when he saw iiow excited she
seemed ; * we siiall manage someiiow. I can
rent two or three rooms clieap of Mr. Green
— he told me so — and with old Sorrel I can
work on the road, and fetch things from the
depot, and in the winter I can shovel snow,
and dean roofs. We shall not starve — not a
bit of it— so don't you worry, it will make
you wus, and I'd rather lose the old home-
stead a thousand times over than lose you.*

Maddy did not reply, but the great tears
poured down her Hushed cheeks, as she
thouj,'ht of her feeble old grandfatlier work-
ing on the road antl shovelling snow to ear i
his bread ; and the fever, which had seemed
to 1)0 aViatiiig, returned with double force,
and when next morning the doctor came,
there was :i look of deep anxiety on his face i
as lie watrlied the alarming symptoms of his
delirious patient, who t;dked incessantly, not i
of tlie examination now, but of the mortgage '
and the foreclosure, begging him to see that :
the house was not sold ; to tell them slie was
earning thirty-six dollars by teaching school ;
that Beauty shovM lie sold to save tbeirdear '
old home. All this was strange at first to
the doctor, but the rather voluble Mrs,
Green, who had come to (Irandma Mark-
ham's relief, enlightened him, dwelling with
a kind of malicious pleasure upon the fact
that Maddy 's earnings, had she been permit-
ted to get a * stilficut, ' were to be appropri-
ated toward paying the debt.

If the doctor had hated himself the previ-
ous day when he rode from the red cottage
gate, he hated himself doubly now as he
went dashing down the road, determined to
resign his office of school inspector that very
day. And he did.

Summoning around him those who had
been most active in electing him, he refused
to officiate again, assuring them that if any
more candidates came he should either turn
them from his door or give them a certificate
without asking a question.

• Put anybody you like in my place,' he
said ; ' anybody but Ouy Remington. Don't
for thunder's sake, take him.'

There was no probability of this, as Guy
lived in ai other town, and could not have
officiated had he wished. But the doctor

was too much excited to reason clearly about
anythinL„save Madeline Clyde's case ; and
during tne next few weeks his other patients
waited many timesinvainforhiscoming, while
be sat by Maddy's side, watching every
change, whether for the worse or better.
Even Agnes Remington was totally neglect-
ed ; and so one day she sent Guy to Devon-
shire to say that as Jessie seemed more than
usually delicate, she wished the doctor
to take her under his charge and visit her at
least once a week. The doctor was not at
home, but Tom said lie expected him every
moment. So, seating himself in the arm-
chair, Guy waited until he came.

' Well, Hal,' he began, jocosely, but the
joking words he would have uttered next
died on his lips as he noticed the strange
look of excitement and anxiety on the
doctor's face. ' What is it ? ' he asked. ' Are
all your patients dead ? '

' (luy, and the doctor came closely to
him, whispering huskily, ' you and I are
murderers in the first degree, and both de-
serve to be hung. Do you remember that
Madeline Clyde whom you insulted with
your loeic, and the Catechism, and Latin
verbs! Siie'd set lier heart on that certifi-
cate. She wanted tlie money, not for new
gowns and fooleries, mind, but to help her
old grandfather pay his debts. His place is
mortgaged. I dor.'t understand it ; but he
asktd some old hunks to lend him the money,
and the miserly rascal, whoever her was,
refused. I wish I had it. I'd give it to him
out and out. But there's nothing to do with
the girl — Maddy, they call her. The dis-
appointment killed her, and she's dying — is
raving crazy — and keeps talking of that con-
founded examination. I tell you, Guy, I
get terribly mixed up when I hear her talk,
and my heart thumps like a trip-hammer.
That's the reason I have not been up to
Aikenside. I wouldn't leave Maddy so
long as there was hope, but there is none
now. I did not tell them this morning. I
couldn't make that poor couple feel worse
than they were feeling ; but when I looked
at her, tossing from side to side, and picking
at the bed-clothes, I knew it would soon be
over — that when I saw her again the poor
little arms would be still enough, and the
bright eyes shut forever. Guy, I couldn't
see her die — I don't like to see anybody die,
but her, Maddy, of all others — and so I
came away. If you stay long enouffh, yoi,i'll
hear the bell toll, I reckon. There is none
at Honedale Church, which they attend.
They are Episcopalians, you see, and so
they'll ' o lie up here, maybe. I hope I
shall be deafer than an adder.'

Here the doctor stopped, wholly out of

MADKLINE.

rly about
use ; ami
' patit'Dta
iiig, while
ij? every
• better,
ne^lect-
I Devon-
iiore than
e doctor
sit her at
I nut at
ni every
he arm -

but the

red next

strange

on the

ed. ' Are

osely to
d I are
both de-
ber that
ted with
[id Latin
it certiti-

for new
help her
s plaeo ia

; but he
le money,
her was,

it to him

do with
The dis-
dying — ia

that con-
Guy, I
her talk,
hammer,
n up to
[addy so
is none
)ruing. I
el worse
I looked
td picking
L soon be
the poor
and the
'. couldn't
rbody die,
\m\ so I
leh, you'll
e is none
y attend,
and so

1 hope I

\y out of

nreath, wliile Ouy for a moment sat with-
out speaking a word. Jessie, in his
hearing, liad t )ld her mother what tlie
"lick girl in tie doctor's otticc had said about
l)eing poor nn I wanting the money for grand-
pa ; w.ulo MrH. Xoah had given himarathe»-
rxuggerated account of Mr. Markham'a
visit ; l)Ut he had not aaso'iiatod the two
together until now, when he saw the matter
IS it was, and almost as much as the doctor
liiinself regretted the- part he had had in
Maddy'sillnessaml hergramlfatlier'sdistress.

' Doc,' ho said, laying hia hand on the doc-
tor's arm, ' 1 am the ohl hunks, the miserly
rascal who refused the money. 1 1 t the
old man goiiii; iiome that day, and he asked
lue for iu'Ip. Veil Hiiy the place must be sold.
It never .Ahall, never. I'll see to that, and
vou must save the girl.'

' I can't, (iuy. 1 ve done all 1 can, and
now if she lives, it will be wholly owing to
the praNCi'H that old saint of a gramlfather
.says for hei. I never thonglit much of
those things until I heard him pray ; not
that she sliould live any way, but if it were
light Maddy might not die. Guy, there's
something in such a prayer us that. It's more
powerful than all my medicine swallowed at
one grand gulp. '

Guy did not know very much experi-
mentally about praying, and so he di(l not
respond, but he thought of Lucy Ather-
■^tone, whose life wjus one act of prayer and
praise, and he wi.sh<.(l she could know of
.Ma<ldy, and join her petitions with tlio.-<e of
the grandfatiier. Startiiii: sudiicnly from his
chau', he exclaimed, 'i am ,^<)ing down there.
I cannot endure to >\l iieie doing notliiny to
mike amends. It will look (|iic. r, too, to go
.ilone. Ah, I have it 1 I'll drive back to
Aiken-'iile foi' .Jes-iie, who has talked so niucli
of tlie girl thill her mother, forgetting that
she was once a teacher, ia disgusted. Ves,
rU take Jessie with me, but you must order
it ; you must say it is good for her to ride,
and, Hal, give me some medicine for her,
just to (juiet Agnes, no matter what, pro-
vided it is not strychnine.'

Contrary to (iuy's expectations, Agnes
did not refuse to let .Jessie go for a ride, and
the little girl was soon seated by her brother's
side, chatting merrily of the different things
they passed upon the road. But when Guy
tohi her where they were going, and why
thev were going there, the tears came at once
into her eyes, and hiding her face in Guy's
lap she sobbed bitterly.

• I did like her so much that day, 'she said,
' and she looked so sorry, too. It's terrible
to die !'

Then she plied Guy with questions,
rconcerning Maddy's probabU future.

' Would she go to heaven, sure ?' and
when Guy answered at random, •Yes,'
she asked, ' How did he know ? Had he
heard that Maddy was that kind of good
which lets people in heaven ? Because,
brother Guy,' and th? little preacher nestled
closely to the young man, fingering his coat
buttons as she talked, * because, brother
Guy, folks can be goo<l — ^that is, not do
uaiighty things— and still G/od won't love
them uule-sa they — I don't exactly know
what, I wish I did. '

(iuy drew her closer to him, but to that
childish yearning for knowledge he could
not respond, so he .said :

' \\'ho taught you all this, little one ! — not
your mother, surely.'

' Xo, not mamma, l)ut Miriam, the wait-
ing-maid we left in Boston. She told me
about it, and taught me to pray diH'erent
from mamma, who .sometimes keeps her eyes
open in church when she is on her knees,
and looks at the bomiets near us. Do you
pray, brother Guy ?'

The (juestion startled the young man, who
did not know what to answer, and who was
glad that his coachman spoke to iiim juat
then, asking if he should drive through
Devonshire village, or go direct to Houedale
by a shorter route.

They would go to the village, Guy said,
hoping that the doctor might he persuaded
to ai'company tlieni. They found the doctor
at home and willing to go with them. In-
deeil, so impatient hail he become listening
for the first stroke of the liell whieli was to
herald tlie death he deemed so sure, th.at he
was on the point of aiounting his horse and
gallopiiiL' oil' alone, when (Juy drove up with
Jessie. It was five miles from Devonshire
to Moiie<l;iIe. and when they reached a hill
which lay half way between, they stop[)ed
for a few inoinents to rest the tired horses.
SuiMeuly, as they sat waiting, a sharp,
ringing sound fell on theirears, and grasping
(Juy's knee, the doctor saitl, ' I told you so' ;
Madeline Clyde is dead '

It was the Devonshire bell, and its twice
three strokes _ y)etokened that it tolletl for
somebody youthful, liut there were no tears
in the eyes of the young men, as with beat-
ing hearts they sat listening to the slow,
solemn sounds which came echoing up the
hill. There was a pau.se ; the sexton's task
was nearly done, and it only remained for
him to strike the age, and tell how many
years the departed one had nu.nbered.

'One, two, three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, ten ; ' Jessie counted
aloud, while every stroke fell like a heavy
blow upon the hearts of the young men, who

MADELINE.

j I

!i few weeks ago did not know that Maddy
(Myde had ever liad existence.

How long it seemed before another stroke,
and Guy wan beginning to hope tiiey had
heard the last when again the sound came
floating on tlie air, and Dr. Holbrook's lip
quivered as he now counted aloud, * one,
two, three, four, five.'

'riiat was all ; the bell stopped ; and vain
were all their listenings to catch another
sound. Fifteen years oidy had passed over
the; form now foreror still.

'She was tifteen,'Ciny whispered, renicm-
berine distinctly to have heard that number
from Maddy Iiersclf.

' I thdugiit tlioy told me fourteen, but of
course it's slic, tlic doctor rejoined. ' I'oor
ciiild, I would have given much to have
saved her. '

Jessie did not speak but once, wiien she
asked Guy ' If it was very far to Hea\on,
and if he; supposed Maddy had got there by
this time? '

' Hush, .le.ssie ; don't ask sncii (lucstions, '
(iuy said ; then turning to his companion, lie
continued ; * We'll go just the same. I will
do what I can for the old man ; ' and so the
carriage drove on, down tiie hill, across tlie
meado\v-liiiuI,;'iul p.-issed a low-roofed house,
whose walls ciieloscil tlic stifTened form of
the boy for wlioiu the l)cll had tolled, and
who had been the paticMit of another tiian
l)i'. Holbrooke.

Maddy w.as not dead, but the paroxjsm of
restlessness had passed, and slie lay now in
a lieavy slcej) so nearly resembling deatli
tiiat those who watciied by her waited ex-
pectantly to see the going out of her last
breatii. Never before had a carriage like
that from Aikensidc stopped at that iiumide
cottage, but the iiciiihl)i)iirs tlioiiglit it came
merely to bring the doctor, whom they wel-
comed with a glad smile, making way foi
him to pass to Maddy 's bedside. Guy pre-
ferred waiting outside until such time as
Grandpa Markham could speak with him,
but Jessie went with the doctor into the
sick-room, startling even the grandmother,
and causing her to wonder who the richly-
dressed child could l)e.

' She is dying, doctor,' said* one of the
women ; but tlie doctor shook his head, and
holding in one hand his watch, he counted
the faint pulse-beats, as with his eye he
measured off the minutes.

'There are too ntany here, 'he said. 'She
needs the air you are breathing, ' and in his
authoritative way he cleared the crowded
room of the miataker. friends who were
unwittingly breathing up Maddy 's very
life.
The grandparents and Jessie he suffered to

remain, and sitting «lown by Mad<ly he
watched till the long sleep wis ended.
Silently and earnestly the aged couple
prayed for their darling, asking that if pos-
sible she might be spared, and God heard
their prayers, lifting, at last, the heavy
lethargy from Maddy's brain, and waking
her to partial consciousness. It wa« Jessie
who first caught tlie expression of the open-
ing eyes, and darting forward, she exclaimed,
' She's waked up, Dr. Holbiook. She will
live.

Wonderingly Maildy looked at her, and
then, as a confused recollection of where
they had met befon; crossed her mind, she
smiled faintly, and said :

' Wiiere am 1 now ? Kave I never come
home, and is this I)r. Holbrook's ol^ee ': '

' No, no ; it's home, your home, and you
are getting well,' Jessie cried, bending over
the liewildercd girl. ' Dr. Holbrnok has
cured you, aiid(!uy is here, and I, and '

* Hush, you disturli her,' tiie doctor said,
gently pushing Jessie away, and himself ask
ing Maddy how she felt.

She did not recognize him. She only iiad
a vague idea that lie niiglit be some doctor,
but not !)r. Molbroo': ; iiottlieone who had
so puzzled anil tortiireil lier on a day which
seemed now so far behiiiil. From the white-
haired man kneeling by the bcilside there
was a burst of thanksgiving for the life re-
stored, and then ()li'aiidi)a Markham tottered
from the room, out into the open \iv, which
had never fallen .so refreshinglv on bis tried
frame, as it fell now, when he first knew that
Maddy would live. He did not care tor iiis
liomesteatl ; that might go. and he still be
happy with Maddy left. liut He who had
marked that aged disciple's every sigh, had
another good in store for him, ordering it so
t'lat both should come together, just as the
two disappointments had come hand in hand.

From the soft cushions of his carriage,
where he sat reclining, Guy Remington saw
the old liiu ' as he came out, and alighting at
once, he aecu ted him pleasantly, and tTien
walked with in. : to the garden, where jn a
rustic bench, buili .".;'• Maddy bene" th the
cherry-trees, Urandpa Mar^'i /^m sa' down to
rest. From speaking of Madeliii^it was easy
to go back to the day Giiy had first met
grandpa, and refused his application for
money.

'1 have thought better of it since,' he
said, ' and am sorry I did not accede to your
proposal. One object of my coming here
to-day was to say that my pu/se is at your
disposal. You can have as much as you
wish, paying me whenever you like, and the
house shall not be sold.'
Guy spoke rapidly, determined to make a

foi
yo
he
ku

MADELINE.

'i-'.can breaat of it, hut ^'niiulpa iiiwlerHtood
.ill), and bowing liiH white lifini upon his
n.Boiii, the hig ti'iU'H (hopp«'(l likt- rum ujh)!!
tlu! turf, while liia Tips (|iiiv«rtHl, first with
thanks tu the I'ruvideiico wliu ha<l truly ilouo
nil things well, and next with thiinks to his
l)enefactor.

' Blessings on your head, young man, for
tnakijg me so happy. Vou are worthy of
your father, and he was the best of men.

' My father -did yon know him?' Guy
isked, in some surprise, and then the story
.anie out, liow, years before, when a city
liotel was on fire, and one of its guests in
imminent danger from tlic lueality of his
room, and liis own nervou-s fear, wliicli made
iiim powerless to act, another guest had
braved the hissing ilanie, and sealing tiie
tottering wall, had dra^'ged out one who,
until tiiat hour, was to him an utter
stranger.

Pushing baek his snowy liair, (iraiulfather
Markham showed upon his temple a lonu
white scar of a wound received the night
when he jieriiled his own life to .'<ave tiiat of
another. There wa.s a duuldy warm pres-
sure now of tiie old man's hand, as (Juy re-
plied, ' I've lieard that story from fathei
liimself, but tlie name of his pre.-erver had
escaped me. Why didn't you tell me who
you were ?'

'I thought 'twould look too much like de-
manding it as a riglit— too much like l)eg-
ging ' and I s'pose I felt too proud. I'riile
is my besetting sin — the one I pray most
against. '

Guv looked keenly now at the man whose
besetting sin was piile, and as he saw the
cheapness of his attire, his pantalooijs faded
and short, his coat worn threadbare and
shabby, his shoes both patched at the toes,
his cotton shirt minus a bosom, and then
thought of the humble cottage, with its few
rook acres, he wondeied of what he could be
{J Oud.

-Meantime for Maddy Dr. Holbrook had
prescribed perfect (jiiiet, bidding them dark-
en the windows from whicli the siiade iiad
bee removed, and ordering all save the grand-
mother to leave the room and let the
patient sleep, if possible. K\ ei Jessie was
not permitted to stay, though Madtly clung
to htr as to a deal' friend. In a few whis-
pereil words Jessie had told her name, say-
ing she came from Aikenside, and that her
brother (iuy was there too, in the carriage.
' He heard how sick you were at Devon-
shire, this morning, and drove right home
for me to come to see you. I told him of
you that day in the office, and that's why
he broiiglit me, I guess. You'll like Guy, I
know — he's so good.'

Hick and weary as she was, and unnble m

yet to comprehend the entire meaning of all

she heard, Maddy was conscious of a thrill

of pleasure in knowing that Guy Remington

from Aikenside was interested in her, and

j had brought her sister to see her. Winding

I her arms around ifessie's neck, she kiaseti

j the soft, warm cheek, and said, 'You'll

j come again, I hope.'

' Yes, every day, if mamma will let me. I
don't mind it a bit, if yoti are poor. '

' Come, come, ' and Dr. Holbrook, who
I had all the whi e been standing near, took
I .lessie by the arm and led her out to where
Guy was waiting for her.

CHAITKR VI.

CO N V A L K.SC K N C K.

Had it not been for the presence of Dr.
Hollirook, who, accepting <iuy's invitation
to tea. rode back with liim to Aikenside,
Mrs. Agnes would have tlown into a passion
when told tliat .lessie ha<l lieen exposed to
fever, of which s' c had a great dread.

* There's no telling what one will catch
among the very poor, 'she said to Dr. Hol-
breok, as she clas])e(l and unclasped the
heavy gold bracelets on her white, round
arm.

' I'll be answerable for any disease Jessie
caught at Mr. Markham 's,' the doctor re-
plied.

' At Mr. W^ho's? What did you call him?'
Agnes asked quickly, the Vnight colour on
her cheek fading as the doctor replied :

' Markham — an old man who lives in
Honedale. You never knew him, of course.'
' Certainly not — how could I ? ' Agnes
replied, as she took her seat at the table. But
her white fingers trended as .she handled the
china and silver, and for once she was glad
when the doctor took his leave, and she was
alone with Jessie.

' What was the girl's name? ' she asked ;
' the one you went to see ? '

' Maddy, mother— Maddy Clyde. She's
so pretty. I'm going to see her again. May
I? '

Agnes did not reply directly, but con-
tinued to (juestion the child with regard to
the cottage which Jessie thought so funny,
slanting way back, she said, so tl at the
roof on one side almost touched the ground.
Tiie wiiu'ow-panes, too. were so very tiny,
and the room where Maddy lay sick was
small and low.

' Yes, ye.s, I know, Agnes said at 1 it,
1 11 patiently, for she was tired of hearing of

MADKLINE.

the cottftge whose humble extiTiur anil in-
tctiur hIic know ho much bettor than Joaitio
hermdf.

But tliis wan iii»t to be divulged ; for
■urely tlir hauj,'lity A;<n(is Jvoniiu^'ton, who,
in AikenHitlo wah looked upon with invy,
could have nothin>{ in oonnnoii with the red
cottage or its inmates. So when .lesHie
aakeflagain if she could not \ iHit Muddy
on the morrow, she answered decidedly,
' No, daughter, I do not wish you to asBOci-
ato with Huch people ; ' and when Jessie in-
sisted on knowing why she must not associ-
ate with HUch people as Maddy Clyde, the
auHwe; was, ' because you are a Reming-
ton ; ' and as this of itself were an unanswer-
able objection, Agues sent her child from
lior, lefusing to talk longer on a subject so
disagreeable to her and ho suggestive of the
past. It was in vain that Jessie, and even
(Juy !»imself, tried to revoke the decision.
Jessie should not be permitted to come in
contact with that kiml of people, she said,
or incur the risk of catching that dreadful
kind of fever.

So day after day, while life and health
were slowly throbbing through her veins,
MaiUly waited and longed for the little girl
whose one visit to her sick-room seemed so
much like a dream. From her gran<lfather
she had heard the good news of (Juy Rem-
ington's generosity, and that, quite as much
as Dr. Holbrook's medicines, helped to bring
the colour back to her cheeks, and the
brightness to her eyes.

iiMie had been asleep the first time the
doctor came after the occasion of Jessie's
visit, and as sleep, he said, would do her
more good than any tiling he might prescribe,
he did not waken her ; but for a long
time, as it seemed to Grandma Mark-
ham, who stood a very little in awe of the
Boston doctor, he watched her as she slept,
now clasping the blue-veined wrist as he felt
for the puGe, and now wiping from her
forehead the drops of sweat, or pushing
back her soft, damp hair. It would be
three days before he could see her again; for
a sick father in Cambridge needed his atten-
tion, and after numerous directions as to the
administering of certain powders and pills,
he left her, feeling that the next three days
would be long ones to him. Dr. Holbrook
did not stop to analyze the nature of his in-
terest in Maddy Clyde — an interest so differ-
ent from any he had ever felt for his patients ;
and even if he had sought to solve the riddle
he would have said tiiat knowing how he
had wronged her was the sole cause of his
thinkinir far more of hor and of her
case than of all tlie oti\er patients
on his list. Dr. Holbrook was a handsome

man, a thorough scholar, and a most skilful
physician; but he was no Indies' man, and
ilia language and nuunuTN won- oftctitiinLs
abrupt, i!ven when both were prompted by
the utmost kindiiesH of heart. In IiIm oij^rjnii-
zation, too, tliert was not a quick pfrci'|«tion
of what woidil be exactly appropriate, ami
when, on his return from Cambridge, Iiq
was about starting to visit Ma<ldy agaiit, lio
puzzled his brains until tlicy ached, with
wondering what he could do to give her a
pleasant surprise, and show that hu v/as not
so formidable a personage as her past experi-
ence might lead her to think.

'If I could only take iier something, ' h«
said, glancing ruefully around his ottice.
' Now, if she were Jessie, nuts and raisin*
might answer — but she must not eat such
trash as that ; ' and he set himself to tliink
again, just as Ouy Remington drove up,
bearing in his hand a most ex»|uisite bouquet,
wh)8e fragrance filled the oflice at on'e,
and whose beauty elicited an Pxclam;vtio;i o(
delight even from the matter-of-fact Dr.
Holiirook.

' I thought you might he going down tO'
Honedale as I knew you returned last night,
■so I ))rought these flowers for your pntient,
with my compliments ; or if you prefer I
will give them to you, and you can present
them as if Cijuiing from yourself.'

'As if I would ilo that,' the doctor answer-
ed, taking the bouquet in his hand the better
to examine and admire it. * Did you arrange
it, or your gardener ? ' he asked, and when
CJuy replied that the merit of arrangement
if merit there were, belonged to himself, he
bec'an to deprecate his own awkwardness
and want of tact. ' Here I have been cud-
geling my head this half hour trying to think
what I could take her as a peace-offering,
and could think of nothing, while you— well,
you and I are different entirely. You know
just what is proper— just what to say, and
when to say it — while I am a perfect bore,
and without doubt shall make some ludic-
rous blunder lU delivering the tlo.vers. To-
day will be the first time really that we
meet, as she was sleeping when t was there
last, while on all other occasions she has paid
no attention whatever to me. '

For a moment Guy regarded his friend at-
tentively, noticing that extra care had been
taken with his toilet, tliat the collar was
fr.'sh from the laundry, and the new cravat
ti 'd in a most iinexccptionabio manner, in-
stead of being twisted in a hard knot, with
the ends looking as if they had been
chewed.

' Doc, 'he said, when his survey was com-
pleted, ' how old are you — twenty-six oi
twenty-seven?'

MADKLINK.

'JnHtyimr age;— wliy?' and tho doctor
looU* (i up w itli nn nxprcHnion so wholly iri-
iioct'iit oi < iiiVH rri! iiiriiiiii)^, tlmt tho lat-
ter, iiiHtoiiil (it tislliii^ vvhv, >'»'|ilH'd :

'Oh ! nothing; only I wan wou(U>ring if
yo I woiilil do to \iv my father. Av<ncM, I
verdy l>eli«ivu, jh more thiin halt in love
with you ; hut, (Ui thi' whol<>, I Hhould not
liki) to be your hou ; ho I i^in-nH you'd htittor
takt' »'(»inf ono younger aay JeBsie. You
art' only righu-en y«Mir« luMHunior.'

I'll)' doi'tor Htari'd ut liiui nniii/cd, and
when hu hiid liiiii^hiul, Haid, with thu utniu»tt
candor; 'What ha« that to dowith.Madti-
line? i tliought we wijro talking of her '

' Innocont as the ni'wiDrn hulio,' waH
UuyM niontal (loninicnt, as h«! congralulatid
hinisult on Imm largtM and more varied uxpcr-
enoo.

And truly Dr. Holhiook waH as Hiniple-
hearted 118 a ehild, and never dreamed of
(iu>'« meaning, ortliatany emotion huvc a

Iierteclly proper one had a Iriilgment in hi^
»reartt us iu' drove d(»wn to Honi;d,ile, guard-
ing eiiretidly <<uy'M lioiupiet, and wishing he
knew juHt what ho ought to hhv when he
pro-iontod it.

Maddy ha<l gained rapidly during the last
three days. <Jood nursing and the doctor's
medicines were working miracles, and on the
morning when the doctor, with (iuy's bou-
quet, was riding rapidly toward Honedale,
she was feeling so mucli better that in view of
his counng she asked if she oould not be
permitted to receive him in the rockinu'-
cliair, instead of lying there in bed ; and
when this plan was vetoed as utterly impos-
sible, she asked anxiously :

' And nmst 1 see him in this night-gown !
Can't I have on my pink «ingham wrapper ?'

Hitherto Madily iiad l)een too sick to care
at all about her per8f)nai appearance, but it
was different now ; ami thouglits of meeting
again the handsome, stylish-looking man,
wliom she fully believed to be Dr. Hoi-
brook, made her rather nervous. Dim re-
membrances she had of some one gliding in
and about the room, and when the pain and
noise in her head was at its highest, a hand
large and cool had been laid upon her
teinplps, quieting the tiirobbing, and making
tiie blood course less madly through the
swollen veins. They had told her how
kind, how attentive he had been, and to
herself she had said : 'He's sorry about
tiiat certificate. He wishes to show ni'
that lie did not wish to be unkind. Yes, I
forgive him ; for I really was very stupid
that afternoo.;.'

And so, iu a u os* "orgiving frame of mind,

Nfaddy Nubmittcd to the night-dresM which
grandma brouglit in plactt of the uingbaui

ill, with

\vi

wcl

rapper, and which b(H>aine hur
Its daintily-criinpi.<l rufllen alxtiit the neck
and wriHtB, whieli had grow n ho Kinall that
Maildy Bighod to see how loime they were an
her grandmother buttoned togethei the
wristoamU.

' 1 have been very aiok,' she naid. * Are
my cheeks an thin us my arms ?

'I'iiey were nut, tliough tiiey hail lo«t
snme of thi'ir symineti ieal rnimdni.'HS. .Still
there was much ol ehihlish beauty in the
young, eager lace, and the hair had lost
comparatively none of its glossy In i ditne.sB,

'That's him.' grandma sjiid, a> the sound
of a iiorne's g illup was heard, aii'l in a mo-
ment the doctor reined up before the gate.

From Mr-. Markham, who met him in tho
door, he ItMiiieil how much better MaiMy
was ; and also how, as giaudma expresst^i
it, ' She had been reckomiig on tlds vixit,
makinu' herself all a sweat about it.'

Suddenly the doctor felt all his old dread
(if Maildy C'lydf! returning. Wliy should
she worry herself into a sweat ? What was
there in that visit dilVereiit from any other?
Mottling, he said to himself, nothing ; and
yet he, too, had been more anxious alioiit it
than any he had ever paid. Depo-^iting his
hat and gloves U))on the table,
he followed .Mrs. Markham up the
stall's, vaj,'uely (.'onsciitus of wishing
she would stay out of the room, and very
eonsc on- of feeling glad when just at Mail-
dy's door and opposite a little window, she
espied the hens busily <;iigaged in devouring
the yeast cakes, witli wliich she hail taken
so nuii'h (tains, and whicii she had plai.'ed in
the hot sun to dry. Kinding that they paid
no hei.'d to her loud 'shoo, shoos,' she started
herself to drive them away, telling the doc-
tor to go right in by himself.

The iierspiration was standing under
Maddy's hair by this time, and when the
doctor stepped across the tlirishold, and she
knew he really was coming near her, it
oozed out upon her forehead in big. round
drops, while her cheeks glowed with a fever-
ish heat. Thinking he shouhl get along
better if he treated her just as he would
Jessie, the doctor confronted her at once.and
asked :

' How is my little patient to-day ?'

A faint scream broke from Maddy's lips,
and she involuntarily rr.ised her hands to
thrust the strangtM- away. This blaek-eyed,
black-haired, thick-set man was not Dr.
Holbrook ; he was taller, and more slight,
while she liad not been deceived in the dark,
brown eyes, which, even while they seemed
to be mocking her, had worn a strange fasci-

MADELINE.

■%

nation for the maiden of*fourteeii and a half.
The doctor fancied her delirious again, and
this reassured him at once. Dropping the
bouquet upon the bed, lie clasped one of her
hands in his, and without the slightest idea
that she comprehend him, said soothingly :

' Poor child, are you afraid me — the doc-
tor— Dr. Holbrook !'

Maddy did not try to withdraw her iiand,
but raising her eyes, swimming in tears, to
his face, she stammered out :

'What does it mean, and where is he —
the one wtfo — asked me — those dreadful
questions ? I thought that was Dr. Hol-
brook. '

Here was a dilemma — something for which
the doctor was not prepared, and with a
feeling that he would not betray Guy, he
said :

'^'o ; tliat was some one else — a friend of
mine — but I was there in tlie back office.
Don't you remember me ? Plyase don't grow
excited. Compose yourMelf, and I will ex-
plain all by-and-by. This is wrong. 'Twill
never do,' and talking thus rapidly lie wiped
away the sweat, about which grandma li.ul
told him.

Maddy was disappointed, and it took her
some time to rally sutticiently to convince
the doctor that she was delirious, as he
termed it ; but composing herself at last,
she answered all his questions, and then,
as he saw her eyes wandering toward the
bonquet, he suddenly reniend)eicd tliat it
was not yet presented, and placing it in her
hands he said :

' You like Howers, I know, and these are
for you. I '

' Oil ! thank you, thank you, doctor : I
am so glad. I love them so much, and yon
are so kind. What made you think to bring
them? I've wanted flowers s) badly ; but
I could not have them, because I was sick
and did not work in the garden. It was so
good in you ;' and in hei' deliglit Maildy's
tears droppc^l upon the fail- blossoms.

For a nionicnt the doctor was sorely
tempted to keep the credit t us enthusiasti-
cally given ; but he was too truthful for
that, and so, watching her as her eyes glis-
tened with i)leased excitement, he said :

' 1 am glad you like them, Miss Clyde,
and Mt> Komington will be glad too. He
sent them to you from his conservatory.'

'Not Mr. Reniii'gton frcjm Aiki'iiside —
not .lessie's l)rotiier :' and Maddy's ey<;s
now fairly danced as tliev sought the doc-
tor's face.

' Vers. ./i»ssie"s brother. He came here
with her (*nce. He is interested in you, and
brought these down this morning to my
office. '

' It was Jessie, I guess, who sent them,
Maddy suggested, but the doctor persisted
that it was Guy.

' He wished me to present them with liis
compliments. He thought they migiit
please you.'

' Oh ! they do, they do !' Maddy replied.
' They almost make me well. Tell him ho\\
much I thank him, and like him, too.
thougii I never saw him. '

The doctor opened his lips to tell her she
had seen him, but changed his mind befon
the words were uttered. She might not
think so well of Guy, he thought, and there
was I o harm in withholding the truth.

So Maddy had no su.spicion that the face
she had thought of so much belonged to
Guy Remington. She had never seen him,
of course ; but she hoped she should some
time, so as to thank him for his geuervsity
to her grandfather and his kindness to her-
self. Then, as she remembered the message
she had sent him, she began to think that it
sounded too familiar, and said to the doc-
tor :

'If you please, don't tell Mr, Rem-
ington that I said I liked him — only
that I thank him. He would think \z
(jueer for a poor girl like me to send s.uh
words to him. He is very rich, and hai:i'-
some, and splendid, isn't he? '

'Yes, Guy's rich and hand.'ome, an 1
every hody likes ' 'in. We were in colk,:,c
together.'

' You were ! ' Maddy exclaimed. ' Then
you know him well, and Jessie, and you
have been to Aikeiiside often ? There's no-
thing in the Morld I want so much as to p'
to Aikenside. Tliey say it is so beautifu:.'
' Perhaps I'll tAe you up there S( 'iie
day when you are strong enough to ric'-', '
th<» doctor answered, thinking of his li..
buggy at home, and wonderin; he had n. u
used it more, instead of always riding on
horseback.

Dr. HoUn'ook looked much older tlian he
was, and to Maddy he seemed (|uite fatherly,
so that the idea of riding with him, ar- Ma
from tiie honour it might be to her, struLic
her niucii as riding with Farmer (ireen would
have (lone. The doctor, too imagined that
his jjroposition was prompted solely from
ilisinterested motives, but he found himself
wondering how lont' it would be before
Mad<ly would be able to ride a little dis-
taiue. just over the hi'l and back. He wa.s
tiring her, h^ knew, by talking to her so
nnich : but somehow it was delightful there
in that sick room, wuth the summer sunshine
stealing through the windoM' and falling
upon the brown head resting on the pillows.
Once he fixed the pillows, arranging theoi

MAPEIJNE.

•s I nicely that grandma, who had come in
r mi lier hens and yeast, declared ' he was as
li uidy as a woman,' and nfter receiving a
f '^v general directions with regurd to the
f tiire. 'guessed, it he wan't in a hniry,
le'd leave liini with Maddv a spell, as there
\Vv;re a few chores siie must do. '

The doctor knew that at least a dozen
;ieople were waiting for him ; but still he
^vas in no hurry, he said, and so for half an
hour longer he sat there talking of (Iny, and
lessie, and Aikenside, and wondering he had
never before observed how very becoming a
Wiute wrapper was to sick yirls like Maddy
Oiyde. Had he been asked tlie question, he
'■ould not have told whether his other pa-
tients wore buff, or brown, or tan colour ;
l)Ut he knew all about Maddy 's dress, and
Thought the dainty frill around her slender
thro'at the prettiest thing he had ever seen.
At last he really iuustgo,and bidding Maddy
^'ood-bye, started on his daily round of
visits.

The Aikenside carriage was standing at
Mrs. Conner's gate when he returned, and
Jessie came running out to meet him, follow-
vd by Guy, while Agnes, in most becoming
attire, sat by the window, looking as uncon-
i.t-rned at his arrival as if it were not the
\ery event for which she had been impa-
tiently waiting. Jessie was a great pet
with the doctor, and, lifting her lightly in
his arms, he ki.ssed her forehead where the
uolden cuils were clustering, and said to her:
' I have seen Maddy'Clyde. She asked tor
you, and why do you not come to see her, as
you promised ?'

' Mother won't let me,' Jessie answered.
' She says they are uo fit associates for a
Heminifton. '

There was a sudden flash of contempt on
the doctor's face, and a gleam ot wrath in
Agnes' eyes as she motioned Jessie to be
silent, and theu gracefully received the doc-
tor, who by this time was in the room. As
if determined to monopolize the conversa-
tion, and keep it from turning on the Mark-
iiams, Agnes rattled on tor nearly fifteen
minutes, scarcely allowing ^iuy a chance for
uttering a word. But CJuy l>ided his time,
uid seized the first favourable opportunity to
inquire after Madeline.

She was improving rapidly, the dcctor
•laid, adding, ' You ought to have seen her
delight w4ien I gave her the bouquet. She
wished me to thank you for her.'

' Indeed,' and Agnes Vu-idled haughtily ; 'I
lid not know that <iuy was in the habit of
Si-n ling bouquets to such as this Clyde girl.
1 really must report him to Miss Atheratone. '

Guy's seat was very near to Agnes, and,

while a cloud overspread his fine features, he
said to her in an aside :

' I'lease say in your report that the worst
thing about this Clyde girl is that she
aspires to be a teacher, and possibly a gover-
ness. '

There was an emphasis on the last word
whicii silenced Agnes and set her to beating
her French boot on the carpet ; while Guy,
turning back to the doctor, replied to his re-
mark :

' She was pleased, then ?'
' Yes ; she must be vastly fond of flowers,
though I sometimes fancied tiiat the fact of
being ncoed by yc)u atfordeil almost as much
satisfaction as the bouquet itself. She evi-
dently regards you as a superior being, and
Aikenside a second l'aradi.se, and asked
innumerable questions about you and Jessie,
too. '

' Did she honour me with an inquiry ?'
Agnes asked, her tone indicative of sarcasm,
though she was greatly interested as well as
relieved by the reply.

' Y'es ; she said she had heard that Jessie's
mother was a beautiful woman, and asked if
you were not born in England. '

'She's mixed up with Lucy. Guy, you
must go down and jnlighten her,' Agnes
said. lauLihing niiU'iily and appea-ing more
at ease than she had before sir Je Maddy
Clyde had been the subject of conversation.
Cuy did not go down to Tlonedale — but
fruit and flowers, and a bottle of rare old
wine, lou .d their way to the old red cottage,
always brought by Guy's man, Duncan, and
always acc(jmpanied witli Mr. Remington's
compliments. Once, hidden among the rose-
buds, was a childish note from Jessie, some
of it printed and some in the uneven hand of
a child just eonin>encing to write.
It was as follows :

• Dear Maddy :

' I think you have such a pretty name,and
so docs Guy, and so does the doctor, too. I
want to come see yon, but mamma won't let
me. I think of you ever so much, and so
does Guy, I gue.^s, for he sends you lots of
things. Guy is a nice brother, and is most
as old as mamma. Ain't that funny ? Y'ou
know my first ma is dead. vShe was Guy's
mother, and my papa was ever .«o c^Id. The
doctor tells us about you when he comes to
Aikenside. I wish he'd come oftener, for I
love him a bushel — don't you ?
"Yours, respect?fully,
•'.iK'^i.sTK Agnks Remington.

' P. S. — I am going to put this in just for
fun, right among the buds, where you must
look for it.'

MADELINE.

This note Maddy read and re-read until
she knew it by heart, especially the part re-
latin r? to Guy. Hitlierto she had not par-
ticularly like her name, greatly preferrinf^f
that it she jld have been Eliza Ann, or Sarah
Jane ; but the knowing that CI ny Remington
fancied it made a vast difference, and did
much toward reconciling her. She did not
even notice the clause, ' and the doctor too. '
His attentions and likings she took as a mat-
ter of coarse, so quietly and so constantly
had they been given. The d;iy was very
long now wiiich did not bring him to the cot-
tage ; but slie missed him much as she would
have missed her brother, if she had had one,
though her pulse always quickened and her
cheeks glowed when she heard him at the
gate. The motive- power did not lie deeper
than a great friendliness for one who liad
been instrumental in saving her life. They
had talked over the matter of her examina-
tion more than once, the doctor blaming
himself more than was necessary for his
ignorance as to what was required of a
teacher ; but when she asked who was his
proxy, he always answered evasively :

' A friend from Boston. '

And this he did to shield Guy, who he
knew was enshrined in the little maiden's
heart as a paragon of all txcellence

CHAPTER VII.

THE DRIVE.

Latterly the doctor had taken to driving
in his buggy, and when Maddy was strong
euougli lie took her with him one day, and
with his own hands adjusted the shawl
which grandma wrapped around her, and
tie<l the white sun-bonnet which shaded the
pwcet, pale face, where the roses were just
beginning to bloom again. The doctor was
v<!iy liappy that morning, and so too was
Maildy, talking to him upon the theme of
which she never tiled — Guy Remington,
Jessie, and Aikenside. Was it as beautiful
a place as she had heard it was, and didn't
he think is would be delightful to live
there?

' I suppose Mr. Guy will be bringing a
wifp there some day when he finds one,' and
leaning back in the buggy Maddy heaved a
I'ttle sigh, notat thoughts of Guy Reming-
ton's wife, but because she began to feel
tind, and thus gave vent to her weariness.

The doctor, however, did not so construe it.
He hea'-d thf sigh, and for the f^rst time when
listening to her as she talked of Guy, a keen
throb of pain shot th.rough his heart, a

something as near akin to jealousy as it
was possible for him then to feel, lint all
unused as ho was to the workings of love he
did not at that moment dream of such an
emotion in connection w'th Madeline Clyde.
He only knew that something aflected him
unpleasantly, prompting him to tell Maddy
Clyde about Lucy Atherstone, who, in all
probability, would one day come to Aiken-
side as its mistress.

'Yes, Guy will undoubtedly mavi-y," he
began, as just as over the top of the hill
they were ascending horses' heads were visi-
ble, and the Aikenside carriage appeared in
view. ' There he is now, ' he exclaimed, ad-
ding quickly, 'Ko, I am mistaken,
there's only a lady inside. It must be
Agnes. '

It was Agnes driving out alone, for the
sole purpose of passing a place which had a
singular attraction for her, the old, red cot-
tage in Honedale. She recognized the doc-
tor, and guessed whom he had with him.
Putting up her glass, for which she had no
more need than Jessie, she scrutinized the
little figure bundled up in shawls, while she
smiled her sweetest smi, ■ upon the doctor,
and shook back her wealth of curls with the
air and manner of a young, coquettish girl.

' Oh, what a handsome lady ! Who is she?'
Maddy asked, turning to look after the
carriage now swiftly descending the hill.

'That is Jessie's niother, Mrs. Agnes
Remington,' the doctor replied. 'She'll
feel flattered with your compliment.'

' I did not mean to flatter. I said what I
thought. She is handsome, beautiful, and
so young, too. Was that a gold bracelet
which flashed so on her arm ?'

The doctor presumed it was, though he
had not noticed. Gold bracelets were not
new to him as they were to Maddy, who
continued :

' I wonder if I'll ever wear a bracelet
like that?'

' Would you like to?' the doctor asked,
glancing at the small white wrist, around
whi h the dark calico sleeve was closely
buttoned, and thinking how miu-li prettier
and modest-looking it was than Almu's" half
bare arms, where the ornaments were flash-
ing.

'Y-e-s,' came hesitatingly from Maddy,
who had a strong passion for jewel, cry. ' 1
guess I would, though grandpa classes all
such things with the pomps and vanities
which I must renounce when I get to be
good. '

'And when will that be?' the doctor
asked.

Again Maddy sighed, as she replied, ' I
(annot tell. I thought so much about it

I 'I

MADELINE.

vs iii'e I was sick, that is, wlieu I couM
t link ; Imt now I'ln Itettei', it goes away
i.oiii me some. I kiuiw it is wrong, but J
cannot help it. I've seen only a l)it of pomp
and vanity, but I must say that I like wliat I
have seen, and I wish to see more it's
very wicked, I know,' she kept on. as she
met the queer expression ot tlie doctor's
face ; 'and I knov^ you think me so bad.
•You are good — a Christian. 1 suppose.'

There was a strange ligiit in the doctor's
eye as he answered, half sadly, 'no. Maddy,
I am not what you call a C-hristian I have
not renounced the pomps and vanities yet.*

'Oh, I'm sorry,' and Maddy's eyes ex-
pressed all tlie sorrow she professed to feel.
' You ought to be, now you arc so old.'

The doctor coloured crimson, and stopping
his horse under the dim shadow of a maple
in a little hollow, he said :

' I'm not so very old, Maddy ; only twelve
years older than yourself ; and Agnes's hus-
band was more than twenty-five years her
senior. '

The doctor die know why he dragged that
last in, when it had nothing whatever to do
with tlieir conversation ; but as the most
trivial thing often leads to great results, so
from the pang caused by Maddy's thinking
him so o1(l, was born the first real conscions-
nesa he had ever had that the little girl be-
side liini was very dear, and that the twelve
years" did'ereiice betwcfii tliem might prove
a most impassable gulf <. With this feeling,
it was exceedingly painful for iiim to hear
Maddv's sudden exclaniatiou :

'Oh, oh! over twenty-Hve years--that's
dre.-^ilful ! She must Ije glad he's dead. I
conld never marry a man more than live
years older than I ain.'

' N vt if you loved him, and he loved yoii
very, very dearly ?' the doctor asked, his
voice low and tender in its tone.

Wliolly unsuspicious of the wild storm
boating in his heart, Maddy untied her
white sun-bonnet, and taking it in iier lap,
smootheil hack her soft hair, saying with a
long breath . ' Oh ! I'm so hot ;' and then,
as if ju.-st remembering ids question, slie
replied: ' I shouldn't love him- I couldn't.
Oramlma is five years younger than L'raiidpa,
motiier was live years younger than father,
Mrs. (Ti-eeii i> five years younger than Mr.
(ireeii, and oh !ever s^ many. You are warm,
too ; ain't you ?" and she turned ln.'r innocent
eyes full upon the doctor, who was wiping
from liis lips the great drops of water, in-
duced not so much by heat as by the ap-
parent hopf^losness of the love he knew was
growing in ids iicart for Maddy Clyde. Re-
curring again to Agnes, Maddy said ; 'I
wonder why she married that old man.

It is worse t lan if you were to marry .Jessie. '
' Money and position were tlic attractions,
I imagine,' the doctor said. "Agnes was
poor, and esteemed it a great honour to be
made Mis. Remington.'

' I'oor, was she? ' Maddy rejoined. 'Then
maybe Mr. Guy will some day many a poor
girl.'

Again the doctor thought to tell her of
Lucy Atherstonc, but he did not, and as he
saw that Maddy was growing tired and
needed to be at home, he turned his horse in
the direction of the cottage.

' Perhaps you'll sometimes change your
mind about peoples© much older, and if you
do you'll remember oui ^\k this morning, ' he
said, as he drove up at last before the gate.
Oil, yes ! Maddy would never forget that
morning or the nice ride they'd had. She
hart enjoyed it so much, and she thanked
him many times for his kindness, as she
stood waiting for hi n to drive away, feeling
no tremor whatever when at parting he took
and held her hand, 8rao^>thing it gently, and
telling her it was growing fat and plump
again. He was a very nice doctor, much
better than she had imagined, she thought,
tis she went slowly to the house and entered
the next kitchen, where her graiuhnother
sat shelling peas for dinner, and her grand-
father in his arm chair was whispering over
his weekly paper.

' Did you meet a grand lady in a carriage?'
grandma asked, as Mad<ly sat down beside
her.

' Yes ; and Dr. Holbrook said it was Mrs-
Remington, from Aikciitiide, Mr. (iuy's
step-niithcr, and that slie was more than
twenty-live years younger tlian her husl)and
— isn't it dreadful ? I tliougiit -so ; but tiie
doctor didn't seem to, ' and in a perfectly
I artless manner Maddy repeated much of the
■conversation which had passed between the
I doctor and herself, appealing to her gi'andma
! to know if she had not taken the right sitle
j of the argument.

' Yes, child, you did, ' and grandma's hands

, lingered among tlie light green peas in her

pan, as if she were thinking of an entirely

fiu'figii subject. 'I Knows notliing about this

.Mrs. Remington, only that slie stared a good

1 deal at the house as she went by, even look-

j iiig at us through a glass, ami lifting her

I spotted veil after she got by. She may have

j betMi as liappy as a (jueen witli her man, l)nt

I as a general thing these unc(iual matuiies

I don't work, and had better not be thought

j on. S'posin' you should think you was in

! love with somebody, and in a few years,

; when you get older, be sick of him. It

might do him a sight of harm. That's what

' spoilt your poor uncle Joseph, who's been

MA DELINK.

:'«;<

in the hospital at Worcester goin' on nine
years. '

' It was !' and Madily's face was all afjlow
with tlie intorti.st she always evinced whenever
mention was made of the one great living
sorrow of her grandmotlu-r'a life — tlie
shattered intellect and isolation from the
world of her youngest hrotlier, who, as she
said, had for nearly nine years been an in-
mate of a mad-house.

' There is no great story to tell, only he was
many years younger than I. He's only
forty-one now, and was several years older
tl II the trirl he wanted. Joseph was smart
and handsome, and a lawyer,and folks said a
sight too good for the girl, whose folks were
ju3t nothing, hut she had a pretty face, and
her long curls bewitolied him. She couldn't
have been much older than you when lie
rirst saw lier, and she was only sixteen when
they got engaged, .losipirs life was bound
up in her; he worshipped the very a r she
breat led, and when slie mittened him, it
almost toi.)k Ins life. He was too old for her,
she said, and then )'ight on top of tliat we
h 'ard after a little she married some big bug,
I never knew who, plenty old enough to be
her fiitlier. 'I'luit settled it with .losepli ;
he went into a kind of melancholy, grew
worse and worse, till we put him in the
hospital, usin' his little property to pay the
bill until it was all gone, and )t)\v he's on
charity, you know, exceptin' the little we
do. That's what 'tis about your uncle
Joseph, and I warn all young girls not to
think too much of nobody. They are bound
to L'et sick of 'em, and it makes dreadful work. '

(irandnia had an object in telling this to
Maddy, for slie was not blind to the nature
of the <loctor s interest in the child, and
though it gratified her pride, she telt that it
must not l)e, both for his sake and Maddy 's,
so she told thf sad story of uncle Joseph*
as a warning to Maddy, who could scarcely be
said to need it. Still it made an impression
(jn her, and all that afternoon, she was think-
ing of the unfortunate man, whom she had
seen but once, and tlui" in his prison
home, where she had been with her grand-
father the only time she had ever ridden in
the cars. He had taken her in liis arms
then, she remoniliered, and called her his
little Sarah. I'crhitps th.it w«s tlie name of
his treacherous lioti'othed. And s!ie asked
her fraiidiHother if it were not so.

' Yes, Sarah Morris was her name, and
her face was handsome as a doll, ' grandma
replied ; and, wondering if si'e was so beauti-
ful as .Jessie, or Jessie's mother, Maddy
went hai;k to her reveries of the poor maniac
in the asylum, who Sarah Morris had
wronged so cruelly.

CHAPTER VIII.

SUAUOWINO.S OK WHAT WAS TO BK.

It was very pleasant at Aikenside that
afternoon, and the cool breeze blowing from
the miniature fisl.-pond in one corner of the
grounds, came stealing into the handsome
parlours, where Af^nes Remington, in be-
coming toilet, reclined languidly upon the
S'jfa, Ijending her graceful head to suit the
height of Jessie, who was twining some
flowers among her curls, and occasionally
appealing to Guy to know ' if it was not
pretty. '

In his favourite seat in the pleasant bay-
window, opening into the gaiden, Guy wai
sitting, apparently reading a b>ok, though
his eyes did not move very ra;)idly down
the pag«, for his thoughts were on some
other subject. When his pretty step-mother
Hrst came to Aikenside, three mouths be-
fore, he had J;)een half sorry, for he knew
just liovv his (piietwould be disturbed, but as
the weeks went by, in I iie became accustom-
ed to Jessie's childi.>-h prattle and frolicsome
ways, while even Agnes herself was not a
bad picture for his handsome home, he began
to feel how he should miss them when they
were gone, Je.ssie particularly, who made so
m.uch sunshine wherever she went, and who
was very dear to the heart of her half-
brother. He knew, too, that Agnes would
rather stay there, for her income did not
warrant as luxurious a home as he could
give her, and by remaining at Aikenside
during the warmer season she could afford
to pass the winter in Boston, where her per-
sonal attractions secured her quite as much
attention as was good for her. Had she
been more agreeable to him he would not
have hesitated to offer her a home as long as
she chose to remain, but, as it was, he felt
that Lucy Atherstone would be much hap-
pier alone with him. Lucy, however, was
not coming yet, and until she did come
Agnes perhaps might stay. It certainly
would be better for Jessie, who could have
a teacher in the house, and it was upon
these matters that he was reflecting.

As if divining his thoughts Agnes said to
him rather abruptly :

'<iuy, Ellen Laurie writes me that they
are all going to Saratoga for a time, and
then to Newport, aud she wishes I would
join them. Do you think I can afford it ?'

'Oh, yes, that's splendid, and I'll stay
here while you are gone ; I like Aikenside
80 inu'ili better than Boston, Mamma can
afford it, can't she, Guy ?' Jessie exclaimed,
dropping her flowers and springing upon
her brother's knee.

way-

and ;

were

Indee

vain,

flay,

remoi

MADKLJXK.

Ion

BK.

de that,

ing from
21- of the

audsome
in be-
ipon the

suit tlic
ng some
asionally
was not

sant bay-
Guy wa^

thoiigli
down
some
p-mothir
uths be-
le knew
h1, but as
ceustom-
folicsomc
^as not a
he l)cgan
lien they
) made so
and who
ler half-
es would
: did not
he could
Ukensido
Id afford
J her per-
as much
Had she
ould not
.3 long as
3, he felt
Lich hap-
ver, was
lid come
certainly
uld have
i^as upon
J.

s said to

hat they
me. and
I would
rd it V
I'll stay
ikenside
lima can
claimed,
tig upon

Sniootliing her bright liair and pinching
her soft cheek, Guy replied :

' That means, I suppose, that I can afford
it, don't it? but I. too, was thinkii g just
now about your staying here, where
you really do improve.'

Tiien turning to Agnes he made some in-
quiries as to the plans proposed by the
Lauries, ascertaining that Agnes's plan was
that he should invite her to go with him to
Saratoga, or Newport, or both, and that
Jessie meantime should remain at Aiken-
side, just as she wished to do.

(iiiy could not find much pleasure in
escorting Agnes to a fashionable watering-
place, particularly as he was expected to
pay the bills; but he sometimes did un-
selfish things, and as he had not been very
gracious to her on the occasion of her last
visit to Aikciiside, he decided to martyr
himself and go to Saratoga. But who
would care fur Jessie? She must not be left
wholly with the servants. A governess of
some kind must be provided, and he was
about speaking of this to Agnes, when the
doctor was announced, and the conversation
tuinod into another channel. Agnes Rem-
ington would not have confessed how much
she was interested in Dr. Holbrook. Indeed,
only that morning, in reply to a joking re-
mark made to her by Guy, she had petulantly
exclaimed :

' The idea of my caring for him, except as
a friend and physician. Why, he must be
yo^mger than I am, or at most about my age.
A mere boy, as it were. '

And yet, in making her toilet that after-
noon, she had arranged every part of her
dress with direct reference to the 'mere boy, '
her heart beating faster every time she re-
membered the white sun-bonnet and the
Scotch plaid sliawl she had seen beside him
when driving that morning. Little Maddy
Clyde would hardly have credited the story
had she been told that the beautiful lady
from Aikenside was positively jealous of
Dr. Holbrook's attentions to herself ; yet it
was so, and the jealousy was all the more
bitter when she remembered who Madeline
was, and how startled that aged couple at
the red cottage would be, if they knew who
she was. But they did not ; she was sure of
tliat ; and so she had ventured to pass their
door, her heart throbbing with a strange
sensation as the old way-marks came in view,
way-marks which she remembered so well, I
and around which so many sad memories
were clustering. Agnes was not all bad.
Indeed, she was scarcely worse than most
vain, selfish, fashionable women; and all that
day, since her return from riding, haunting,
remorseful thoughts of the long ago had been

clinging to her, making her more anxious to
leave the neighbourhood for a time at least,
and in scenes of gayety forget, if possible,
that such things as broken vows or broken
hearts existed.

The arrival of the doctor dissipated her
sadness in a measure, ami after greeting him
with her usual expressions of welcome, she
said, half playfully, half spitefully: 'By
the way, doctor, who was that old lady, all
bent up doulde in shawls and things, whom
you were taking out for an airint;?'

Guy looked up ([uickly, wondering where
Agnes could have seen the doctor, who, con-
scious of a sudden pang, answered naturally:

' That old lady, bent double and bundled
in shawls, was young Maddv Clyde, to whom
I thought a short ride miglit do good.'

' Oh, yes ; that patient about whom Jessie
has gone mad. I am glad to have seen her.'

There were unmistakable signs of irony in
her voice now, and turning from her to Guy,
the doctor continued :

' The old man was telling me to-day of
your kindness in saving his house from being
sold. It was like you, Guy ; and I wish 1,
too, had the means to be generous, for they
are so very poor. '

' I'll tell you,' said Jessie, who had stoh-n
to the doctor's side, and lain hu- fat, bare
arm upon his shoulder, as if he had been
(4uy. ' You might give Maddy the doctor's
bill. I remember how mamma cried, and
said she never could pay papa's bill when it
was sent in. '

'Jessie!' said Agues and Guy, simul-
taneously, while the doctor laughingly pulled
one of her long, black curls.

•Yes, I could do that. 1 have thought of
it, but they might not accept it, as they are
proud as well as poor. '

' Mr. Markham has no one to care for but
his wife and this Madeline, has he ? ' Agnes
asked ; and the doctor replied :

' I did not suppose so until a few days
since, when I learned from a Mr. Green that
Mrs. Markham 's youngest and only i)rother
has been an inmate of a lunatic asylum for
years ; and that though they cannot pay hia
expenses, they do what they can toward
providing him with comforts.'

' What is a lunatic asylum, mother ?
What does he mean ? ' Je-isie asked ; but it
was the doctor, not Agnes, who explained
to the child what a lunatic asylum was.

' Is insanity hereditary in this family? '
Guy asked.

Agnes's cheek was very white, though her
face was turned away, as the doctor answer-
ed, ' I do not know ; I did not ask the
cause. I only heard the fact that such a
man as Joseph Mortimer existed. '

MADELINE:.

I • 1*^'

silence in the
the doctor of
were speaking

For a moment there was
room, and then Guy told
what Agnes and himself
when he arrived.

' I suppose it's no use asking you to join 1
us for a week or so I ' |

' There was not, ' the doctor said. 'His,
patients needed him and he must stay at ^
home. '

' Doctor, how would this Maddy Clyde do
to stay here with Jessie while we are gone, ;
partly as companion and partly as teacher? '
wasCiny's next question, which awoke Mrs.
Agnes at once from her reverie.

'()iiy,'she exclaimed, 'are you crazy?
That child Jessie'sgoverness! No,indeed!8he
shall liave a teaciier from Boston — one whose
manners and style aro unexceptionable.'

Guy had a will of his own, and few could
provoke it into action as effectually as Agues,
who, in tluis opposing him, was working
directly against herself. Paying her no at-
tention, except to bow in token that he
lieard, Guy asked Jessie her opinion.

' Oh, it will be splendid ! Can she come
to-mono w ? I sha'n't care how long you are
gone if I can have Maddy herSf and doctor
will come up every day, will you not ?' and
the soft eyes looked up pleadingly into the
doctor's face.

* It is not settled yet that Maddy comes, '
the doctor replied ; adding, as an ausv. er to
Guy's question : 'If Agnes were willing, I
do not think you could do better than secure
Miss Clyde's services. Two children will
thus be happy, for Maddy, as I hav(! told
you, thinks Aikenside must be a little lower
than Paradise. I shall be happy to open
negotiations, if you say so. '

' I'll ride down and let you know to-mor-
row, ' Guy said. * These domestic matters,
where there is a difference of opinion, are
better discussed alone,' and he turned good-
humouredly toward Agnes, who knew it was
useless to oppose him then.

But she did oppose him that night, after
the doctor had gone, taking at first the high
ground that sooner than have a country girl
like Maddy Clyde as associated daily with her
daughter, whether as teacher or companion,
she would give up Saratoga and stay at
home. Guy could not explain wl y it was
tliat opposition from Agnes always aroused
all his powers of antagonism. Yet so it was,
and now he was as fully determined that
Maddy Clyde should come to Aikenside as
Agnes was ihat she should not. He knew,
too, how to attain his end without further
aitercation.

' Very well,' was his quiet reply, 'you can
remain at home if you choose, of course. I
had intended taking you myself, whenever

you wished to go ; and not only that, but 1
was about to ask how much was needed for
the necessary additions to your wardrobe,
but if you prefer remaining here to giving up
a most unfounded prejudice against a girl
who never harmed you, and whom Jessie al-
ready loves, you can do so ;' and Guy walk-
ed from the room, leaving Agnes first to cry,
then to pout, then to think it all over, and
finally to Uecide that going to Saratoga and
Newport under the protection of Guy was
better than carrying out a whim, which,
after all, was nothing but a whim.

Accordingly, next morning, as Guy wad
in his library reading his papers, she went
to him, and folding her white hands upon
his shoulder, said very prettily :

* I was real cross last night, and let my
foolish pride get the ascendancy. But I
have reconsidered the matter, and am will-
ing for this Miss Clyde to come, provided
you still think it best,'

Guy's mustache hid the mischievous smile
lurking about his mouth, and he received the
concession as graciously as if he did not
know perfectly the motive which impelled
it. As she had commenced being amiable,
she seemed determined to continue it, and
offered herself to write a note soliciting
Maddy'a services.

' As I am Jessie's mother, it will be per-
fectly proper for me to hire and manage
her,' she said, and as Guy acquiesced in this
suggestion, she sat down at the writing-
desk, and commenced a very pleasantly -
worded note, in which Miss Clyde was in-
formed that she liad been recommended as a
suitable person with whom to leave Jessie
during the summer and part of the autumn,
and that she, Jessie's mother, wrote to ask
if for the sum of one dollar per week she was
willing to coine to Aikenside as governess,
or waiting-maid.'

•Or what !' Guy asked, as she read to him
wliat she had written. ' Maddy Clyde will
not be waiting-maid in this house, neither
will she conie for one dollar per week, as
you propose. I hire her myself. I have
taken a fancy to the girl. Write another
note ; substitute companion for waiting-
maid, and affer her three dollars per week,
instead of one.'

As long as Guy paid the bill, Agnes could
not demur to the price, although, remember-
ing a time when she had taught a district
school for one dollar per week and boarded
'round besides, she thought three dollars far
too much. But Guy had commanded, and
she generally obeyed him, so she wrote an-
other note, which he approved, and, swab ng
it up, sent it by a servant to Madeline.

(Uit(|

MADELINE.

hat, but 1
ueeded fot
wardrobe,

giving up
linst a gill

Jessie al-

uy walk-
rst to cry,
over, and
a toga and

<juy was
111, which,

Guy was
ihe went
mds upon

let my
But I
am will-
provided

ous smile
eived the
did not
imi>ellcd
amiable,
! it, and
soliciting

H be per-
manage
id in tliis
writing-
easantly-
was in-
ided as a
e Jessie
autumn,
e to ask
she was
iverness,

i to him
yde will

neither
i-eek, as

I have
another
vaiting-
r week,

is could
lember-
district
loarded
lars far
id, and
ote an-
swal'iig
e.

CHAPTER IX.

T H K 1) K c r 3 I o y .

The reception of Agues' note produced
luite a commotion at tin- red (;<)ttai,'c. where
-arious opinions were expreaseil as to the
prime mover of the plan ; grandpa thinhing
t!iat as Mrs. Agnes wrote the note and was
'iiost interestiMl in it, she of course had sng-
posted it; grandma insisting tiiat it was
lessie's doings, while Maddy, when slie said
iiiything, agrcctl with her grandmother,
cliuugh away down in her heart was a lialf
litlief that Mr. Guy himself had first thought
if liaving her at Aikonside, wliere she
would rather go than to any other spot in the
wide world ; to Aikensidc, witii its beautiful
lawn almost large enoiigli to be called a park,
with its shadeil path.* and winding walks,
its flowers and vines, its fountains
and statuary, its lish-pond and grove,
its airy rooms, its wide hall, its wind-
ing-stairs, with bannisters of rose-wood,
its cupola at the top, from which so
many miles of hill and meadow land could
1)6 discerned, its bay-windows and long
piazzas, its sweet-faced, dark-liaired Jessie,
and its manly, noble (Jny. Only the image
of Agnes, flashing in silk and diamonds, was
a flaw in the picture. From thon;.'hts of her
Maddy had insensibly shrank, until she met
her in the carriage, and tlien received the
note asking her services. These events
w4'ought in htr a change, and dread of Mrs.
Agnes passed away. She would like her,
and she should be so happy at Aikenside,
for of course she was going, and she began
to wish the doctor would come, so as to tell
her bow long before she would be strong
enough to enter upon her duties as teacher to
little Jessie.

At first Grandpa Markham hesitated. It
might do Maddy a deal of liurt to go to
Aikenside, he said ; her iiumble home would
look mean lo her after all that finery, while
the temptations to vanity and ambition
would be greater there than at home ; but
Maddy put all his objections aside, and long
before the doctor cameshe had written toMrs.
Agnes that she would go. The doctor could
not understand why it was that in Maddy's
home he did not think as well of her going to
Aikenside as he had done the evening
previous. She looked so bright, so
pure, so artless, sitting by her grand-
father's knee, that it seemed a pity
to transplant her to another soil, while,
hidden in his heart, was a fear of what might
be the effect of daily intercourse with Guy.
Still he said it was the beat thing for her to
do, and laughingly remarked that it was far

better than teaching the district school ; ami
then he asked if slie would ride again that
day, but to this Mrs. Markham objected.
It was too soon, she said, Maddy had liard-
ly recov(!red from yesterday "s fatigue — sug-
gestine that as tiio doctor was desirous of
doing good to his convalescent patients, lie
should take poor ohl d jaf Mary Barnes, who
complained tliat he staid so long with the
child at '(iran'ther Markham's ' as to have
but a moment to spare for her.

Instantly the eyes of Mrs. Markham and
the doctor met, tlie latter feeling very un-
comfortabh', while the former was confirm-
ed in the suspicion raised by what Maddy
told her the day before.

It was the doctor who carried Maddy's
answer to Agnes, the doctor who made all
the succeeding arrangements, deciding that
Maddy would not be wholly strong until the
very day fixed upon by Agnes for her de-
parture for Saratoga. For this Guy was
sorry. It would have been an easy matter
for iiim to have ridden down to the cottage
and seen the girl in wiioin he was beginning
to feel so much interested that in his last
letter to Lucy ho had mentioned her aa
a Knit to become his sister's governess ; but
he did not care to see her there. It seemed
to him that the surroundings of the slanting-
roofed house did not beloni.' to her, and he
wouhi rather meet her in his own more 1u.ku-
rious home. Hut tlie doctor'?! word w as law,
and so, on the first day of August he follow-
ed Agnes and iier three huge travelling trunks
to the carriage, and was driven from the
house to which Maddy was coming tlat
afternoon.

CHAPTER X.

AT AIKENSIDK.

It was a long, tiresome ride for grandpa,
from Honedale to Aikenside, and he accept-
ed thankfully the doctors offer to take
Maddy there himself. With this arrange-
ment Maddy was well pleased, as it would
thus afford her the opportunity she had so
much desired, of talking with the doctor
about his bill, and asking him to wait until
she had earned enough to pay it.

To the aged couple, parting for the first
time with their darliuLt, the i!ay was very
sad ; but they would not intrude theirgrief
tipon the young girl looking so eagerly for-
ward to the new life opening l)efore her ;
only grandpa's voice faltered a little when,
in the morning prayer, he commended hia
child to God, asking that she might be kept
from temptation, and that the new sights

MADELINE.

'. : t

-*!'-'

.:*i'

and scones to which she was going might
not beget in hnr a love of the world's vani-
ties, or a diaguat for her old home ; but that
she might come back to it tiie eame loving,
happy cliild as she waa then, and never be
aahameil of tlie parents to whom she was so
dear. There waa an answcriiij; aob from
the chair wliere Maddy knelt, and after the
devotiona \yere ended, ahe wound her arm
around hef grandfather's neck, and parting
his silvery locks, said to him earnestly :

'Grandpa, do you think I could ever be
ashamed of you and grandma?'

' I hope not, darling ; it would break our
hearts ; but finery and thinj^s is mighty apt
to set folks up, and after you've walked a
swell on them velvet carpets, you'll no
doubt think your feet make a big noise on
our bare kitchen floor.'

'That may be, l)ut T aha'n't be ashamed of
you. No, not if 1 were Mrs. (Juy Reuilng-
ton herself. ' And Maddy empliasizeil lier
words with a kiss, as she thought how nice
it would be, provided she were a widow, to
be Mrs. Guy Remington, and have her
grandparents live at Aikenside with her.

'But, pshaw ! I'll never be Mrs. Any-
body ; and if I am, I'll have to have a liiis-
tjand, which would be such a bother !' was
her next mental oominent, as, leaving lier
grandfather, sliewe;it to help her ^randuiother
with the breakfast dishes, wondering when
slie would wipe those blue cups again, and
liow she should prol)ablv feel when she did.
Quickly the morning ])aRsed, and just as
the clock struck two the doctor's l)Uggy ap-
pealed over the hill. Up to this/ moment
Maddy had only been happy in anticipation;
but when, with her shawl and bonnet on, ^he
stood waiting while tlie doctor fastened her
little truuK, and when she saw a tear on the
wrinkled faces of both her grandparents, her
fortitude gave way; and mid a storm of sobs
she said her good-byes and received her
grandfather's blessing.

It was very pleasant that afternoon, for
the summer breeze was blowing cool across
the fields, where the labourers were busy ;
and with the elasticity of youth, Maddy 's
tears stopped flowing, but not until the dear
old home had disappeared, and she was some
distance on the road to Aikenside.

' I wonder how I shall like Mrs. Rem-
ington and Mr. Guy ?' was the first remark
she made.

'You'll not see them immodiately. They
lef-^^ this morning for Saratoga, ' the dootor
replied.

' Left ! Mr. Guy gone ?' Maddy repeated,
in a disixppointed tone.

' Are you very sorry ?' the doctor asKed,
and Maddy replied :

'I did want to see him one • ; you know 1
never have. '

It would be such a surprise to find thai
Guy M'as no other than the terrible inspec-
tor, that he would not undeceive lier, the
doctor thought : and so he relapsed into a
thoughtful mood, from which Maddy roused
himjiy broaching tlie siibje'-.t of the unpaid
bill, asking it he'd please not trouble grand
pa, but wait until sne cwild pay it.

' Perhaps it's wrong asking it when j'ou
were so good, but if you will onlv tiike nie
for payment, 'and Maddy 's soft brown eyes
were lifted to hi.s face.

'Yes,Maddy, I'll take "me " for payment,"
the doctor said, smiling, half seriously, as
his eyes rested fondly upon her.

Maddy did not understand him, but began
to calculate out how long it would take to
earn the money. She'd heard people say
that the doctor cliarifed a dollar a visit tn
Honedale, and he'd been so many, many
times, that it would take a threat many weeks
to pay him ; besides, tliere was tlie debt U)
Mr. (»uy. She wanted to help pay that, but
did not see how she could, unless ' • w.Tited
too. Did the doctor think he W(Hiiii ?
It seemed terrible to the doctor that one so
young as Maddy should be hara.ssed with
the payment of debts, and he felt an intense
desire fur the right to shield her from all
such care, but he must not speak of it tiion.
She was too young, and he would rather sh-
should remain a little longer ;!n artless e' i'.',
confiding all her troubles to liiiii as if he had
been her brother.

' There's Aikenside,' lie said at last, and it
was not long befoi'e they passed through the
gate, guarded by the great bronze lions, and
struck into the gravelled road leading to the
house.

' It's grander, finer, than I ever dreamed.
Oh ! if I could some time have just such a
home ! and, doctor, look ! Wiiat does make
that water go up in the air so ? Is it what
they call a fountain ?'

In her excitement Maddy had risen, and
with one hand resting on the doctor's
shoulder, was looking round her eagerly.
Guy Remington would have laughed, and
been gratified, too, could he have heard tlie
enthusiastic praises heaped upon his home
by the little school-girl as she drove up to
his door. But Guy was away in the dp,:-ty
cars, and only Jessie stood on tlie piazza to
welcome her teacher. Tliere were warm
words of welcome, kisses and hugs ; and
then Jessie led her friend to the chaml)er she
was to occupy.

' Mother wanted you to sleep on the other
side of the hou.se, but brother Guy said no,
you should have a pleasant room ; and when

MADKLINK.

(iiiy says a thing, it's HO. It's nice in lure,
,'iii(i close to int". Sue, I'lri in licro, "auvl .k'saic
•.jponed a door leading directly into 'ler own
sleepmg-rooni. ' lit iij's one tiunk.' she con-
tinued, as the servant bruuglit ii)i and set
down, a little conteniptnously, the .-mail
liair-ci<jtu bi>x containing Maddy's wardrolie.
■ lleies one ; whe.e's the rest?" and she wus
Hying alter Tom, when Maddy stopped her,
saying :

• I have but one ; -that's all. '

'Only that little, teenty thing? How-
funny? \Vhy, niuninia carried tlnee most
as big as my l)ed to Saratoga. Vou can't have
many dresses. What are you g<jing to wear
t<i dinner?'

• I've Ijeen to dinner." And Ma<'dy looked
up in some surprise.

' You have ! We never have it till five,
when (!ny is at home; but now they are
gone, Mrs. Noah says we will have it at one,
as folks ouglit to do. To-day I coaxed her
to wait till you came, and the table is all set
out so nicely for two. Can you carve, and
do you like grccn turtle soup ?'

Maddy was bewildered, but managed to
reply that she could not carve, that
she never saw any green turtle sou]), and
that she supposed she should wear to dinner
the dress she had on.

' Why, we always change, even Mrs.
Noah,' Jessie exc aimed, bending over the
open trunk, and examining its contents.

Two calicoes, a blue muslin, a gingliam,
and a delaine, beside the one she had on —
that was the sum total of Maddy's w ardrobe,
and Jessie glanced at it a little ruefully as
!*lT'ily carefully shook out the nicely-folded
dresses and laid them up(jn the bed. Here
Mrs. Noah was heard calling Jessie, who
ran away, leaving Maddy alone for a mo-
ment.

Maddy had seen the look Jessie gave the
dresses, and for the first time there dawned
upon her mind the possibility tliat her plain
apparel, and ignorance of the ways of
Aikenside. might be to her the cause of
much mortification.

' And grandma said they were so nice, too,
and did them up so carefully,' she .^aid, her
lip beginning to quiver, and hi r eyes filling
with tears, as thoughts of home came rush-
ing over her. •

She could not force them back, and laying
her head upon the top of the despised hair
trunk, she sobbed aloud. Guy Remington's
private lOom was in the hall, and as tiie doc-
tor knew a book was to have been left there
for him, he took the liberty of getting it ;
passing Maddy's door he heard the low
Bound of weeping, and looking in, saw her

where she sat or rather knelt upon the

lloor.

' Homesick 80 soon ?' ho said, advancing
to her si(ie, and then, amid a torrent of
tears, the whole came out.

Maddy never cnuld do as they did there,
ami everybody wnuhl huigii at lu-r so for an
awkwiinl tiling ; she never knew that folks
ate dinner at five instead of twelve — she
should surelj starve to death ; she couldn't
larvc - she could not eat mud-turtle soup,
and she did not know whii'h di'css to wear
for dinner — would the doctor tell her? There
they were, :Mid she pointed to the bed, only
hvc. and slie knew Jessie thought it so
mean.

Such was the substance of Maddy'.'i pas-
sionate ontpouring of her griefs to the high-
ly-perpl(!xed doctor, who, after quieting lior
somewhat, ascertained that the greatest pre-
sent trouble was the deciding what dn sa
was suitable to the occasion. The doctor
had never made dress his study, but as it
happened he liked blue, and so suggested it,
as tlie one most likely to be becoming.

'That!' and Maddy look confounded.
' Why, grandma never lets me wear that,
except Siunhiy ; that's my very best dresa. '

' Poor child ; I'ni not sure it was right for
you to come here where the life is so differ-
ent from the quiet, unpretentious one you
have led,' the doctor thought, but he merely
said, ' it's my impression they wear their
best drcs-!('S here all the time.'

' But what shall 1 do when that's worn
out I 0!i, dear, dear, 1 wish 1 had not
come 1 ' and another impetuous fit of weep-

in the

greatly

ist of which .'^'

essie

ing ensued

came back, greatly di-turbed on Maddy's

aic mil*-, and askiiiL', eagerly, what was the

matter.

Veiy adroitly the docter managed to draw
Jessie aside, while as well as he was able he
gave her a few hints with regard to her in-
tirt.purse with Maddy, and .Jessie, who
seemed intuiti\ely to understantl him, went
back to tlie weeping girl, soothing iier much
as a litt'e mother would have soothed her
cliild. Tiiey would have such nice times,
when Maddy got used to their ways, which
wciiild not take long, and nobody would
laugli at her, she said, when Maddy ex-
prosed her fears on tliat point. ' You are
too ))retty even if you do make mistakes ! '
and then she went into ecstacies over the
blue muslin, which was becoming to Mad-
dy and greatly enhanced her girlish beauty.
The tear-stniiis were all w n>hed away, Jessie
using very freely her mother's tau-r/i-colof/nr,
and making ?»Iaddy's cheeks very red with
rubbing, the nut-brown hair was brushed
until it shone like satin, a little narrow

MADKLINK.

and

llLT

mid

hIic
fine

was.

any

liand of lilnrk velvet ribbon wan pinned
about Miiddy's ni't^U, and then mIic wax
ready for tbat terrible (jnleal, her first din-
ner at AikenHide. The doctor \va.s uoing to
»tay. and this revived lier niuncwhat,

' Vou must come to the housekeeper's
cooni and see her first.' Jessie said, and
with a Iteatin^' heart und iirain bewihiercd
l)y the elegant furniture wliiih met her at
every turn, Maddy followed to where the
dreaded Mrn. Noaii, in rustling black
and a thread lace collar, sat sewint',
greatly enjoying the leisure she had in
master's absence.

Mrs. Noah know who Maddy was.
renuinibered that the old man had said
would not disgrace a drawing-room as
as ttuit at Aikenside. She had discovered,
too, that Mrs. Agnes was opposed to hei'
conung, and that oidy (iuy".^ deternuned
will had bi'ought her there , and this, if
nothing el.'**', had di.=tposcd her to feel kindly
toward the little governess, ."^lu' had sni')-
po.sed lier rather j)retty, but was not pi'e-
i|i pared to find her what she

Maddy's was a singular type
beauty -a beauty untarnished by
sellish, uncharitable, oi' suspicious feeling.
Clear and truthful as a mirror, her brown
eyei looked into Mrs. Xoali's while her low
eourte.s)-, so full of defeienci', found its way
straitrh. to that motherly heart.

'J ani glad to see ,) )U, Miss Clyde,' she
i-aid ; 'ver\ ylad. '

.Madily's lip quivered a little and 1; r
x'oice shook as she replied :

' Plea.«e call nie .Sladdy. They do at
home, and I sh;"u"f be (piiteso — so '

She could ii t «ay "homesick,' lest she
should break out again into a fit of crying,
but Mrs. Noah understood her. and remciii-
bcring her own experience wlu-n first she
-went from home, she involuntarily stooped
to kiss the pure, white forehead of tlie girl,
who henceforth was sure of one champion,
at least at Aikenside,

The dinner was a success, so far as Maddy
was concerned. Not a single mistake did
she make, though her cheeks burned pain-
fully as she felt the eyes of the polite wait-
er fixed so often upon her face, and fancied
he might be laughing at her. But he was
not, and thanks to the kind-hearted Ouy,
he thought of her only with respect, as one
who was his superior and must be treated
accordingly. Knowing how different every-
thing was at Aikenside from that to which
she had been accustomed, Ouy, with the
thoughtfulness natural to him, had taken
the precaution of speaking to each of the
.servants concerning Miss Clyde, Jessie's
teacher. As he could not be there himself

when she first cnnie, it would uevolvo upoi
them tr.ore or less to made it pleasant f< i
her by kind, civil attentions, he said, hint
ing at the dire displeasure sure to fall on
any one who should be gui'ty of a misdi
nieanor in that direcition. To I'aul, tin
coachman, he had lieeii ))articular in Im
charges, tellir.g him who Maddy was, and
arguing that from the insolence once givei
to the grandfather the offender was bounil
to be more polite to tke grandchild. The
t arriage was \o iie at liei 'a and .Jessie's com
inand, and I'aul was never to refuse a
reasonable rcipiest to drive the young ladies
when .'Uid where tlu-y m ished to go, while a
jMi tty iittit^ black )>ony, recently broken to
llif saddle for Agnes, was to be at Mis>
Clyde's service, if she chose to have it. As
(lily's slightest wish was alwioj-s obeyed,
.Maildy's cliani;es for happiness were not
.■•niall, notwithstanding that slie felt so deso-
late and lonely when the doctor left her,and
watclieil iiini with a swelling iieart until he
was lost to view in the dee[>eiiing twilight.

Ki.'eling that she must be homesick, Mrs.
Noah suggested that she try the fine piano
in the little room.

' Maybe you can't play, but you can drum
" I'ay.s of Absence," as most irirls do,' and
oponing the jiiano she bade Maddy 'thump
as long as she liked.'

Music was a delight to Maddy, who
coveted nothing so much as a knowledgi^ of
it, and sittinu dov.n upon the stool, she
touched the soft-toned instrument, ascertain-
ing by her ear several sweet chords, and
greatly astonishing Jessie, wiio wondered at
her skill. Twice each week, a teacher canit'
up from Devonshire to give lessons to J' s ie,
but as yet she could only play one scale ami
a few simple bars. These she attempterl to
teach to Maddy, who caught at them so
quickly and executed them so Mell that
.Jessie was delighted, Maddy ought to
take lessons, she said, and some time during
the next day she took to Mrs. Noah a U'tter
which she had written to Guy. After going
into ecstasies over Maddy, saying she was
the nicest kind of a girl, that she prayed in
the morning as well as at night, and looked
so sweet in blue, she asked if she couldn't
take music lessons too, advancing many rea-
sons why she should, one of which was that
she could play now a great deal better than
lierself.

It was several days before an answer came
to this letter, and when it did it brought
(iuy's consent for Maddy to take lessons,
together with a note for Mr. Simons, re-
questing him to consider Miss Clyde his
pupil on the same terms as Jessie.

Though greatly pleased with Aikenside,

MADEMXK.

1 yruatly attacliud to .rcsHJe, Madily had

:i my houi-H of luiioliiio:is vvlioii liur Ijcart

•.•,VH nack ill till" Iiii'iiltic (.'ottagc whoro slic

';'u\v tlu'y wore iiiissiiij; licr ho iiinoli, but

low a new world wan Hiiildnidy oponed Iw-

•iirt! her, and th« lioniesickncss all disn] -

j»'ared. ft had been arraM;,'ed with Mrs.

Voali. hy A;,'iii'M, tliat .Jessie should only

• tudy for two hoiira each day, coiiHiMtiiontly
Middy lia<l nearly all tlie time to litTSfU',
i 111 slu) improved it well makiiiL^ so nipid
/rogreHs tiiat Simons looked on amiizcd, dco-
ai'iny her case to lie without a parallel, while
iessie was left far behind. Indeed, after a
hort time Maddy nii>,dit havtJ been her

' 'aelier, and was of inueh .service to her in

• .'ictisini,' iier le'^sons,

Meanwhile, the dortor came often to
\ikenside, praising Maddy'a progress in
inusic, and though lio did not know a single
note, compelli'ig hiins(df to listen while with
ckildish satisfaction slie plaetl iiiin her last
lesson. She was very h.ijjpy now at Aikeii-
side, where all were so kind to her, and iialf
wished that tli« family would always remain
as it was then, that Agnes aiid(i;iy would
not come home, for with their coming she
felt there would be a elringe. It was nearly
time now to expec-t them, Indeed, (iuy
iiad written on one Sa tun lay tliat they
-hould probably be home the next, and dur-
ing the ensuing week .Vikeiiside presented
that most uueond'ortable phase of a house
lM;ing cleaned. Kverythin.; must be in or ler
tor ill'. <iiiy, Nfrs. Noih said, takim.' more
pains witli his rooms thaii with the ivmain-
ing portion of the building. Guy was her
idol ; nothing was too good for him, few
things (juitc gof)d enough, and she said sw
miicii in ills praise tliat Maiidy bi'gau to
shrink from meeting him. What would he
think of her ? Perhaps he niiirht not notice
iier ill the least, and tiiat wuiild be terrible,
liut, no, a man as kind as he had shown
Irniself to her, would at least pay her some
attention, an! so at last she beifan to antici-
pate his comiii!^ home, wondering what their
first meeting would be like, wliat she should
say to him, and what he would think of her.

CHAPTER XI.

GUY AT HOME.

Saturday came at last, a balmy Septem-
ber day, when all nature seemed conspiring
to welcome the travellers for whom so ex-
tensive p'eparations had been made at
Aikenside. They wer^. expected at about
«ix in the afternoon, aad just before that

hour the doctor rode up to b« in rendineHS to

meet them. Fn the dining-room tiie table
was s«^t as Madily had never seen it set be-
fore, making, with its silver, its china, and
eut-glasH, a glittering display. There wa.^
<luy's seat as carver, with Agnes at the uni.
while Maddy felt sure that the two jdates
between Ai'ins ;imiI( Iuy were inteinii'd for
.lessie ami liersi !f, the doctor occupying the
other side. Jessie would sit next to her
mother, which would KiV • her next to (Jiiy,
wiiere he could see every movement siie
made. Would Iw tliink iier awkwanl^ or
would he, as s!ie hoped, bo so much
absorbed with the tloetor as not to notice
her? Siipjios" she should drop her fotk, or
upset o!ic of those ipieerdool. ing goblets on
the sideboard, which looked more like bowls
than anything else. It would be tf^'ribU',

I and Maddy "s checks tingled at the very
thought of such a 'atastroplie. Wcrcf they

I really gobh-ts, those funny coloured things,
and if they were not, what were they?
Siiinmoning all her courage, she asked the
doctor, her iirimu eoimsellor, ami learneij

' that they were the ringer-glasses, of which
she had read, but which slio had never seen
before.

■ Oil, must I use them ? ' she .asked, in so
evident liistress that the doctor could not
forbear a laugh as he toKl her it was not of
the slightest conseiiuence whether she used
them or not, .advi.«iiig her to watch Mrs.
Agnes, who was ^/^/ fnil in a'l such matters.
Six o'clock came, but no travellers. Then
an hour went by. and there came a tele-
gram that tiu; cars had run off the track,
and (Jny would not ))robably arrive until
late in the nigiit, if indeed he did till uiorn-
ing. (h'catly tlisappointed, the doctor alter
dinner took his leave, telling the girls they
had iictter not sit up. ('onseipiently.at a late
hour they both retired, sleeping so soundly
as not to hear tiie noise outside the lunise ;
the bangi ig of dooits, the setting down of
ttunks, the tramp of feet, Mrs. Noah's
words of welcome, one pleasant voice which
res|>oniled, and aiiotiior more imjiatient one
which sounded as if its owner were tired and
cross.

Agnes and < iuy had come. As a whole,
Agnes' ser.son at Saratoga h.ad been ratiur
disagreeable, (iuy, it is true, had been ex-
ceedingly kind. She had been flattered by
brainless fops. She had heard herself called
•that beautiful Mrs. Remington,' and 'that
charming young widow, ' but no serious at-
tentions had been paid, no millioimire had
asked to be her second husband. If t! t-re
had, she would have said yes, for Agnes was
not averse to changing her stivte of widow-
hood. She liked the doctor, but if he did

MA DELINK.

I' 4

{ I

1' '

iiut propoH(>, aiitl Horno one else did, ith«
hIiouM iiciicpt that otiier ono, of coiirHO.
'I'liiH wiiH lutr iiitcntion wIumi bIic litt Aik(^ii-
Hidc, and whitii hIiu catno liack it wan witli
tlio duteriiiinatioii to riii«e tlie bIcj^o at once,
and ooniptd th« doctor to Hiiirondiir. Shu
kiiuw liu was not wnalthy aR nhti oouhl wiHh,
l)iit hJH fanitly waH good, and aa Mho posit-
ively liki'd liini, Mho was propaivd to waivi-
the inattor ol money. In this Htati- of tnind
it in not H.ir)>risinK that on Hit- morning of
her rttiirn home mIk; sliould listen with a
troultled mind to .Jessie's rather oxKi,'L;eiat-
ed aceoniitoF the niimlier of times tlie d(j(:tor
liad been there, and the nice things ho had
Haid to li(-r and Maddy.

' He lias visiteil us over bo luueli, staying
ever so l(jng. 1 kno.v Maddy likes liim ; I
do, anyway, ' .Jessie Maiil, never dreaming of
tiie passion she was exciting, jealousy of
Maddy, hatreil of Nfaddy, and a desire to
be revenged on a girl whom Dr. Holbrook
viHitcd 'ever so nimii.'

What was siie tiiat he should care for her ?
A mere nothing — a eliild, whouj (iuyhad
iKikon up. rity tliere was a Lucy Atiier
stouo in the way of his making her mistress
of Aikcnside. It would be a pretty ro-
mance, (luy Hcniington and (Jrandpa .Nlark-
hain's trrandciiild. Agnes was nervous and
tired, and tins helped to inor«ise her auger
toward tho innocent girl. She would take
immediate measures, she thought, to put the
upstart down, ami tlic siglit of Flora laying
the clotii for breakfast anugcsted to her tiie
first step in teaciiing Maddy her place.

'Flora,' she said, *I see you are arrang-
ing tlie table for four. Have we company?'

' 'Vhy, no, ma'am; tiiere's .Mr, <luy,
yourself, Miss .f«Hsie, and Miss Clyiif, 'was
Flora's reply, wliiie A^^nes continued hauglit-
ily, ' Remove .Miss Clyde's plate. No ono
allows their gorerness to eat with them.'

'But, ma'am,' and Flora he9itate<l, 'she's
very pretty and ladylike, and young; she
has always eateu with Miss Jessie and Dr.
H ilbrook when he was here. He treats her
as if she was as good as anybody.'

Ill her ea'.(ern(!ss to s-erve Maddy and save
her from i.isult. Flora was growing bold,
but si»e only liurt tho cause by mentioning
the doctoi'. Agues was determined now,
and she replied :

' It was ((Nite right when w-e were gone,
but it is dili'erent now, and Mr. RemingtJon,
I am sure, will not sulfer it.'

' M.iy I ask him,' Flora persisted, her
hand still on the plate.

'No,' Agnes would attend to that, and
also see Miss Clyde. All Flora had to do
was to remove the plate, wktch she finallj

did, muttering to herst'ff, 'Such «ira I Init
I know .Mr. (iny won't H'.ind it.'

.Meantime, .Maddy li.'ul put on her pretti
est delaine, tied her little dainty w'nte apron
Mrs. Noah's gift, and with the feeling that
she wan looking unusually well, started for
tho parlour to meet her employer, Mrs
Agnes. .Jessie had gone in quest f)f lu i
Idother, and thus Agnes was alone when
Maddy Clyde Jirst presented herself be
fore" .She had not expeetcid to fmd Madd\
MO pretty, and for a moment the hot blood
ciimsoned liir eluuk. while her heart
thrnbbed wildly beneath the rich morning-
dress. Doctor ilolbi'ook lunl cause for Ix'ing
attracted by that fresh, bngkt face, she
tliOUght. .'in<l so ."'lie steeled hei'self against
till! better imiwilsea of her natare, impulses
which plradcd that for the sake of the past
she should be kind to Maddy Clyde.

' Ah. g«jod mori:ing. ^'on are .fessie's
governess, I presume, 'she said, bowing dis-
tantly, and pretending not to notice the
hand which .Maddy involuut.irily extended
tnwartl her. '.Jessie speaks well of yon, and
1 iini very ghul you suit her. You had a
pleasant time, 1 trust' '

Her voiiie w;s so colli and her manner co
distant, that Maddy's eyes for an instant
filled with tears, but she answered civilly
that she lia I been very ha|)py, and every-
body was very kind. It was JianUr work to
])ut down Maddy ('lyde thaw Aj^lies had ex-
pected, and after a little fuiMu-r coiiveisation
there ensued a silence, which neither was
inclined to break. At last, summoning all
her courage, Agn"'' bc^'an :

' FiXe^ise »ie, 'Tins Clyde, but your own
good soiis<^, of wiucii I am sure you have an
abindaiH e. mufat tell you that now Mr. Jtem-
ington and my.^elf are at home, your inter-
course with our family must be rather lim-
ited — that is — aheir — thiit is, neitiier Mr.
Remington nor myself are accustomed to
having our governess very much with us. I
suppose you have ha<l the range of the par -
lours, sitting there when you liked, and all
this was perfectly proper. Mind. \ am find-
ing no fault with you. It is all ([uite riyht,'
she eontinned, as she .saw the strange look
of terror and surprise visible on Maddy's face,
'The p.ast is riyiit, but m future it will be a
littli! dill'erent. 1 am willing to accord to a
governess all the privileges possible. They
are human as wcil as myself, but society
makes a ditlerence. Don't you know it
does ? '

' Yes — no — I don't know. Oh, pray tell
me wiiat you mean, what I am to do ! '
Maddy gasped, her face white as ashes, and
her eyes wearing as yet only a sacred, un-
certain look.

MADKLINK.

1)11'

Tlicy

1 u

With litth", griict'ful tosses of tlic hoad,
liicli Hct in motion cvei y one uf tliu hrovvn
i'Ih, Mi'h. A^mic^ n plied :

oil nre not,

cxiiiHe,

to g(

to Mi

llrniington. It is my matter, itnd douH not
uncern iiim. N\ liiit I wiHli \h thin : Vou
,ir« to (.oni..' to tlu- |);iil(mr oidy when in-
vited, and not to intnido upon \im at nny
tJmu, puiticidiirly when cf)iii|iany is here,
■luoh ft«— well, Hii>!i a« I'r. Holldoik, if
you ploivH(!. As yoii eiinnot he with

.lesHJe all tiie while, you wdl, wlieu your
duties iiH fioviTMUHM iiro over, hit in your own
r )'im, or the scliool room, or walk in the
'laik yard, just us the lii;^her *»■ r\ant do —
^uch iiM Mrs. Xofth and the KcanistreMS,
Sarah. Oicasioually we shall have you iu
ti' dine w itli us, Imt usually you will tivke
your lueal.s witli .Mrs. Noah and Sarah. My
foUowiii;.' these iliieetious ', ou wdl 1 think,
^'ive entire satisfaction."

WIkmi Mrs. A^'U s had tiidshed,
Maddy liei,'an to understand her, and
into her white faee t!.c hut Mood poured in-
di^'uautly. Wholly ine.vperiericed. she had
never dieamed that a jj;overne.ss was iu)t
wortliy to sit at the sauie tahh; witii her
employer, that she must never enter tiie
parlours uidtidderi, or intrude iiersolf in any
•way, and her eli.iks burned at the dej^rada-
tion, ami for an iu.-^taut she felt like defying
the proud woman to her faee. ihit the angry
words treudding on her ton<,ue were re-
pressed as she rememlu'red her grandfatiu'r's
teachings ; and Avith a how as Mrs. Agnes
could iuive nuide, and a look on her face
which could uottNisdy he forgotten, she left
the room, and in a kind of stunned hewdder-
ment sought the garden, where she could,
unseen, give way to iier feelings.

Once alone, the torrent burst forth, and
burying hor face in the soft grass, she wept
bitterly, never hearing the step coining near,
and not at first heeding the \ oice ^diich ask-
ed what was the matter, (luy Remington,
too, had come ou into the garden, and acci-
dentally wan<lered that way, stumbled ujjon
the little Hgur(t crying in the gra>s. He
knew it was Maddy, and greatly surprised to
find her thus, asked what was the matter.
Then, as siie did not hear him, he laid his
hand gently upon her shoulder, compelling
her to look up. In all her imaginings of
(Juy, she had never associated him with the
man who had so puzzled and confused her,
and now she di<l not for a time suspect the
truth. She oidy thought the stranger a
guest at Aikenside ; some one come with
Guy ; and her deurradation seemed greater
than before. She was not surprised when he
called !ier by name ; of course he remember-
ed her, just as she did him ; but she did

wonder a littl*- wiiat Mm. AjpiPB would iay,
could she know how kindly he spoke to her
aH he lifted her from the graHt and led hor
to a rustic Heat ut no great distance from
them.

»ow,

me why you are crying so':

lot

he i<aiil, oriishing from Iter apron the s|i
of ilirt which had nettled upon it. 'Are
you home-siek ? ' he eontiniied, and then
Maildy luii'st oiiteryiiig harder than before.

She forgot tiiat he was a straii;;er, htrgot
everything except that lie sympatlu/.ed with
I'er.

'Oh, sir,' she nobbed, ' I was so happy
here till they came home, Mrs. Remington
and .\!r. Ouy. 1 never tiicught it was aiK,-
grace to be u goverm.ss ; lu'ver licard it was
so considered, or that 1 was not goo«l enough
to sit with them and eat wir.h them till she
told me so. Oil, tlear, dear! and choked
witii tears, Maddy stopped a moment to take
breath.

Siie did not look up at the young man be-
side her, and it was well she did not, for the
dai k expression of his invv would have
frightened her. Half guessing the truth,
and impatient to hear more, lie said to her ;

' do on !' b(j sternly, that she started, and
replied :

'I know you ar(! aiiyry with me and I
ought not to have told you.'

' I am not angry -not at you, at least-

t at you, at least — go
id .Maddy eoiitinm'd :

on,' was Ouy's reply, am

'She tohl me that now they had come
home it would be ditlerent, that only when
invitetl must 1 iiome to the p.arlour, or any-
where, but must stay i:i the servants' part,
and eat with Mrs. Noah and Sarah. Id
just as soon do that. 1 am no better than
they, only, only— the way she told me maile
me feel so mean, as if J was not anybody,
when I am.' and here Maddy's pride began
to rise. ' I'm just as good as she, if grand-
pa is poor, and I won't stay here to be
treated like a nigger by her and Mr. (aiy.
I liked him so inueli too, liecause he was
kind to grandpa and to me when I was sick.
Yes, I did like him much.'

'And how is it now?' Guy asked, wonder-
ing who in til' world she thought he was.
' How is it now ?'

• I suppose it's wicked to feel such thinga
on Sunday, but, somehow, what she said
keeps making mo so bad that 1 know I hate
her, and I guess I hate Mr. (Juy !'

This was :Maddy'8 answer, spoken deliber-
ately, while she looked up at the young man,
who with a comical expression about his
mouth, answered her :

'lam Mr. Guy.'

'You, you ! Oh, I can't bear it ! 1 shall

M
m

I'.v

MADELINE.

■'fi

die !' and Maildy sprang up as (]uickly as if
feeling an electric shock.

But (iuy's arm was interposed to stop her,
and lield hor back, while he asked where she
was going.

' Anywlicre, out of sight, where you can
never see me again,' Maddy sobbed vehe-
mently. ' It is bad enough to have you
think me a fool, .is j'ou did once ; but now,
oh ! what do you think of me ?'

'Nothing bad, I assure you,' Guy said,
still holding her wrist to keep her there. 'I
supposed you knew who I was, but as you
did not, I forgive you for hating me socordi-
ally. If you thought I sanctioned what Mrs
Remington has said to you, you had cause to
flislike me, but Miss Clyde, I do not, and
this IS the fii'st intimation I have had that
you were to be treated other than as a lady.
I am master of Aikenside, not Mrs, Agnes,
who shall be made to understand it.'

' (ih, please don't 'juarrel about me. Let
me go home, and then all will be well,' Mad-
dy cried, feeling at tluit moment more aver.se
to leaving Aikenside than she could have
thought it possiliie.

■ We shall not (juarrel, but I shall have my
way ; meanwhile go to your room, and
stay there until toMthat I have sent for you.'

Tiiey went to the house together, but
S(>parated in tlie hall ; Maddy going to her
room, while Guy sought Mrs. Agnes. The
moment she saw his face she knew a storm
was coming, but was not prepared for the
biting r,?roasin and bitter reproaches heaped
upon her by one who, when roused, was a
perfect luirncane

' Perhaps you have forgotten that you
were o;ice a schoolteacher yourser, ' he
said, ' and before that time mercy Knows
what you were — a hired girl, periiaps ;
your present airs would seem to warrant as
much !'

Guy was in a sad passion by this time, and
faiUvl to note the efl'eut his last words had on
Agnes who turned livid witli rft'^'e and ter-
ror ; but smothering down lui \\ rath, she
said, beseechingly :

' Pray, ^luy, do not be so angry ? I
know i am foolish about some things, and
proud people who " come up" always are, I
guess ; I know that marrying your father
made mc ■> ' at I am, but everybody does
not know Mid it is not necessary they

should. 1 .hm't remember exactly what I
did say to this Clyde girl, but I thought it
would be pleasanter for you.pleasanter for us
all, not to h;ive her always round :it seems she
has presided at the table when Dr. Holl)rook
was here to tea, and even you can't think
that quite right.'

' I don't know why,' and at mention of

Dr. Holbrook Guy's temper burst out agai
* Agnes, you can't deceive me ; I know ti
secret of your abominable treatment c
Maddy Clyde is jealous^'. '

*Gny — jealousy ! I jealous of that child
and Agnes' voice was expressive of the ut
most consternation.

* Yes, jealous of that child ; you think
that because the doctor has been kind to her.
perhaps he wants her sometime for his wife.
I hope he does ; I mean to help it on ; I'll
tell him to marry her, and if he don't, I'll
almost marry her myself !' and Guy paced uj;
and down the parlour, chafing and foaming
like a young lion.

Agnes was conquered, and quite as much
bewildered as Maddy had been, she heard
only in part how Maddy Clyde was hence-
forth to be treated

' Yes, yes, ' she gasped at last, as Guy
talked on, ' stop now, for mercy's sake, and
I'll do anything, only not this morning, my
head aches so I cannot go to the breakfast
table: I must be excu.sed,' and hohting her
temples, which were throbbing with pain.
induceJ by strong exi.ntement, Agnes hurried
to her own room and threw herself upon the
bed, angry, mortified, and subdued.

Tlie brealsfast bell had rung twice while
Guy was holding that interview with Agnes,
and at last Mrs. Noah came up herself to
learn the cause of the delay ; standing in the
hall she heard a part of wliat was transpiring
in the parlour. Mrs. Noah was proud and
jealous of her master's dignity, and once or
twice the thought had crossed her mind that
perhaps when he came home, Maddy would
be treated more as some governesses were
treated by their employers, but to have
Agnes take up the matter was quite a
different thing, and Mrs. Nor.h .smiled with
grim satisfaction a.'^ i-^he lieavi' <!uy issuing
i>;(lers as to how .Miss C ;. :•.■ was to (-'»
tiated. Stiinili;!!.'- li.'ie.'C to let Agnes pas,>-,
stie waited a iimhi. nt-. a'nl tiien, as if she
had just ooiiK up, pit.oihil herself before
Guy, aski g if he were ready for breakfast*

' Yes, call Miss Clyde ; tell her I sent for
her, ' was Guy's answer, and Mrs. Noah re-
paired to Maddy's room, finding her still
sobbing bitterly.

' I cannot go down, ' she said ; ' my face is
all stains, and it's so dreadful happening on
Sunday, too. What would grandpa say ?'

'You can wash ofl" the stains. C<mie,'
Mrs. Noah said, pouring water into tiie bowl,
and bidding Mad<ly hurrv, 'as Mr. Guy was
waiting breakfast for her. '

'But I am not to eat with them,' Maddy
began, when Mrs. Nt.ah .stopped her by ex
plaining that Guy ruled that house, and Agues
had been completely routed

MADELINE.

This did not quiet Maddy paiLicularly,
11(1 her heart beat painfully as she desci'inlcd
to the parlour, where (;iuy was walking up
and down.

' Come, Miss Clyde, Jessie is nearly
lamished.'lu; said, pleasantly, as Maddy ap-
peared, and without the slii^itost icferunce to
\viiat had passed, he drew Maddy 's anii witli-
iii his own, and giviiiit a liaud to .Ics-.ie, who
iiad just come in, he v. > iit to the breakfast
room, where Maddy was told to preside, as
Mrs, Remington had a headache

Guy watched her closely without seeming
to do so, mentally decidintr that she was
neither vulgar nor awkward. On the con-
trary, he tliought her very pretty, ami very
graceful, for one so unaccustoinetl to soL'icty.
Notliing was said of Agues, who kept lier
room the entire day, and did not join the
family until evening, when Ouy sac upon
the piazza with Jessie in his lap, wiiile Maddy
was not very far away. At Hrst there was
much co'istr.iint between Agnes and Maddy,
but with Guy to manage, it soon wore away,
and Agnes felt herself exceedingly amiable
when she reflected how gracious siie had
been to the young girl.

But Maddy could not so soon forget. All
through the day the conviction had lieeii
settling upon her that she could not stay at
Aikenside, and on the following morning,
just after breakfast was over, she suuMnouetl
courage to ask Mr. (luy if she might talk
with him. Leading the way to his library,
he bade her sit down, while he took t!if chair
opposite, and then waited for her to
commence,

Maddy was afraid of Guy. He did not
seem like Dr. Holbrook. He was haugiitier
in liis manner, while his rather elaborate
style of dress, and polished manners, ^ave
him, in her estimation, a kind of supt ' !>nity
over all the men slie had ever met. Besides
that, she remembered how his dark eyes had
flashed when she told liim wliat she did the
previous day, and also tliat she had said to
his face that she iiated him. .Sne could not
bear to leave a bad impression on hisminil,
so the first words she said to him were :

' Mr. Kemington, I oan'tstay here after all
that has happened. It would not be pleasant
for me or Mrs. Remington, so I am gonig
home, but I want you to furget what I said
about hating you yesterday. I don't hate
you. I like you, and I wish you to liku me.'

She did not look at him, for her eyelids
were cast down, and ?ier lashes were M'et
with the tears she could .scarcely keep Irom
shedding. Guy had never known much
about girls of Maddy 's age, .^nd there
was something extremely fascinating '.. the
artless simplicity of this half-child, half-

woman, sitting there before him, and asking
him so demurely to like her. She was very
pretty, he thought, and would make a beau-
tiful woman Then, as he remembered his
avowoil intention of urgiug the doetur to
make tier his wife some day, the idea Hashed
upon him tiiat it v.'ould be very g'lieruus,
very magiianimoua in im to educate her ex-
pressly toi- the doctor, anil thouL'li he iiardly
seemed to wait at all ere replying to Maddy,
he had in the brief interval tormetl a skeleton
plan, and seen it in all its bearings and tri-
umphal result.

' I am much obliged to you for liking me, '
he said, a little mischievouslv. You surely
have not much reason to do so when you
recall the incidents of our first interview.
Maddy — Miss Clyde, I mean — I have come
to the conclusion that 1 knew less than you
did, ami !• beg your pardon for annoying you
so terribly. '

Then (Uiy explained to her briefly how it
all iiad happened, blammg himself far more
than he did the doctor, who, he said, had
repented bitterly.

' Had you died. Miss Clyde, when you
were sick, I believe he would have felt it
his duty to die also. He was greatly inter-
I ested in you — more, indeed, than in any
pitieut I ever knew him to have,' and (Juy'a
ev's ;.hiiice<l curiously at Madtly to witness
i tiif e'lecL Ins worls might have upon her.
But Maddy uieicly answered :

' Yes, I think he was anxious for me to
get well. He was very kind, and f like him
very much. '

Mentally chiding himself for trying to Hud
in Maddy "s head an idea which evidently
never was tlierc, (Uiy liegan to speak of her
pr(i]iot;iti<jn to leave, saying he wuuld not
suffer it, Jessie needed her and she must
stay. Slie was unt to mind the disagreeable
tilings Mrs. Remiir^toii had said. She was
tired and nervous, and so g ne way tj some
very prepostenius iiotioius, which she had
piiked up somewhere. She would treat
Maddy better hereafter, and she Baist stay.
It Wi*. pleasanter for Jessie to iiave a com-
])anioi! so near her own age. Then, as he
saw signs of yielding in M.iddy's face, he
continueil :

' How would you like to turn scholar for
a short time eacli day, I being your teacher?
Time often iiaiigs heavily on my iiands. and
I fancy tlie novelty of the tiling would suit
me. Ihave bocks, j will appoint your
lessons and the hour for recitation.'

(jluy"s face was ficarlet by t!ie time he
finished speaking, for suddenly heri'membcred
to have heard or read of a similar instance
whi ;h resulted iii tlie marriage of the teacher
and pupil ; br-side^ tliat,it Wduld 8iil)j«'ct him

MADELINE.

tu so much remark, when it was known tliat
Jio was teaching a pretty, attractive girl hke
JMatUly Clyde, and he sincerely hoped she
would tlccline. But Maddy had no such in-
tention. Always in earnest herselt, she
supposed every one else meant what they
said, and without ever suspecting the pecu-
liar po.sition in which such a ))roceeding
would place both herself and (luy, her heart
Icapeil up at the idea of knowing what was
in the books she liad never dared hope she
mit'lit study. With her beautiful eyes full
of tears, which .lione like diamonds, as she
lilted them to ( uy's face, and said :

' Oh, 1 thank you so much. You could
not make mehaj,pier. and I'll try so hard to
learn. They don't teach such tlungs at the
district scliool as you asked me about that
♦lay , and when there was a high school at
Honedale I could not go, for it was three
dolhirs a <|uarter, and grand})a had no three
dollars for m«. Uncle Joseph needed help,
and so I staid at home. Its dreadful to b,*
poor, but, periiaps, I shall sometime be com-
petent to teach in a seminary, and won't that
be grand? When can 1 begin? "

Ouy had never met with so nuich frank-
ness and simplicity in any one, unless it
were in Lucy Atlnri+tone, of whom Maddy
reminded him a little, except that she was
more practical, more — he hardly knew what
— only there was a (lilference, and a thought
crossed his mind that if Maddy had had all
Lucy's advantage and was as old, she woulil
be w hat the Kn^dish call clever. There was
no disparagement to Lucy in his thoughts,
only a compliment to Maddy, who was wait-
ing for him to answer her question ; he had
f'Mcred his servic s ; she had accepted ; and
with the mental comment, ' 1 dread Doc's
chatl' the most, so I'll explaiii to him that i
am educating her for the future Mrs. Hol-
brook,' he replied :

' As soon as I anu rested from my journey,
or sooner, if you like ; and now tell me,
please, who is tnis Uncle Joseph of whom
you 3poke ?'

He reiriembered what the doctor had saia
of a crazy uncle, but wishing to hear Maddy "s
version of it, put to her the quesiion he did,

' Cncle Jostjph is graiulma's youngest
brother, 'Maddy answered, 'and he has been
in the Lunatic Asylum for years. As long
as ins little property lasted, his bills were
paid, but now they keep him from charity,
only grandpa helps all he can, and buyo
s )ine little nii!e things which he wants so
badly, and sometimes cries for, they say. I
picked berries all last suiamer, and sold them
to buy hiiu a thin coat and pants. We should
have more to spend than we dv, if it were
not for Uncle Joseph,' and Maddy's face

wore a thoughtful expression as she recall i.
all the shifts and turns she'd seen made at
home that the poor maniac might be moiu
condortabic.

'What made him crazy?' (iuy asked,
and after a moment's hesitancy Maddy re-
plied :

' I lion 't believe grandma would mind my
telling you, though she don't talk about it
much. I only knew it a little while ago. He
was disappointed once. He loved a girl very
much, and she made him think that she loved
him. She was many years younger than
Uncle .foscph — about my age at first, and
when she grew up she said was sick of him.
because he was so much older. He wouldn't
have felt so badly, if she had not gone
straight oirand married a rich man who w.is
a great deal older ever than Uncle Joseph ;
t lat was the hardest part, and he went
crazy at once. It has been so long that he
never can be helped, and sometimes grandma
talks of bringing him home, as he is perfect-
ly harmless. 1 suppose it's wicked, but 1
most hnpa she won't, for it would be terrible
to live with a crazy man,' and a chill crept
over .Maddy, as if there had fallen upon her
a foreshadowing of what might be. 'Mr.
Remington,' she continued, suddenly, ' if
you teach me, 1 can't of course expect three
dollars a week. It would not be right.'

'Perfectly right, 'he answered. 'Your
lessons to Jessie will be worth just as much as
ever, so give yourself no trouble on that
score. '

He was the best man that ever lived,
Mad( y thought, and so she told the doctor
that afternoon when, as he rode up to Aiken-
side, sho met him ou the lawn before he
reached the house.

It did striki^ the doctor a little comically
that one of (Juy's liabits should offer to turn
school-teacher, but Maddy was so glad that
he was glad too, and doubly glad that across
the sea there was a Lucy Atherstone. How
he wished that she was there now as Mrs.
(}uj', and he must tell Guy so that very day.
Seated in Guy's library, the opportunity soon
occurred, for Giy approached the subject
himself by saving :

' Guess, H.al, whaj crazy project I have
just embarked in. '

' I know M itiiout guessing ; Maddy told
me, 'and the doctor's eyebrows were elevated
a little as he crossed his feet upon the win-
dow -sill and moved his chair so as to have a
betti 1 view of Maddy and Jessie romping in
tlie grass.

' And so you don't approve ?' was Guy't
next remark, to which the doctor replied :

' Why, yes ; its a grand thing for her,
providing you know enough to teach her ;

MADELINE.

asked,
iddy If

have

but, Guy, this is a confounded gossiping
neighbourhood, and folks will talk, I'm afraid. '
' Talk about what ?' and duy bridled upas
his independent spirit V)egan to rise. ' What
harm is there ir in- doing a generous act to
a poor girl Iik<. Maddy Clyde ? Isn't she
graceful as a kitten, though ?' and Guy
nodded toward the spot where she was play-
ing.

It annoyed the doctor to have Guy praise
Maddy, but he would not show it, and an-
swered canily :

' It's all right in you, but just because the
poor girl is Maddy Clyde, folks will talk.
She is too handsome for Madam Grundy to let
alone. If Lucy were only here, it would be
d'fferent. W'iiy, in the name of wonder, are
you *,wo net married, if you are ever going
to be ?'

' Jealcas, as I live !' and Guy's hand came
down playfully on the doctor's shoulder. * I
did not suppose you had got so far as that.
You are afraid of the effect it may have on
me teaching a sweet-faced little girl how to
conjugal a mo ; and to cover up your own
interest, you bring Lucy forward as an argu-
ment. Eh, Hal, have I not pro'^ed your
secret ?'

The doct r was in no mood for joking, and
only smiled gloomily, while Guy continued :
' Honestly, doctor, I am doing it for you.
I imagine you fancy her, as well you may.
Shell make a splendid woman, but siie needs
education, of bourse, and I am gjing to dve
it to her. Yon ouglit to tliank me, instead
of looking so like a thunder-cloud,' and Guy
laughed merrily.

The doctoi' was asiiamed of his mood, and
coulil not tell .vhat spirit prompted him to
answer :

' I an) obliged to you, Guy ; but as far as
I am concerned, you may spare yourself the
trouble. If my wife needs education, I can
ilo it mysolf. '

' juy was puz'',led. Could it be that after
all he was deceived, antl the doctor did not
care for Maddy ? It might be, and he
hastened to change the conversation to an-
ot.ier topic than Maddy Cl.yde. The doctor
staid to dinner, and as Guy watched him
closely, he made up his mind that he did not
care for Maddy Clyde.

Guy fe't himself very good, very generous, j
very condescending, and very forgiving, the |
eanicn- portion of the afternoon ; but later I
in the day he began to view Ciuy Rem- I
ingtoii in the light of a martyr, said |
martyrdom consisting in the scornful toss of j
the head with which Agnes had listened to j
liis ])lan, and the open opposition of Mrs. j
Xoah. j

' ^V;ls he beside himself, or what ?' the

latter asked. ' She liked Maddy Clyde her-
self, but it wasn't for him to demean himself
by turning her schoolmaster. Folks would
talk awfully, and she couldn't blame 'em ;
besides, what would Lucy Atherstoue say to
his bein' in a room alone with a girl as pretty
as Maddy ? It was a duty he owed her at
any rate to tell her all about it, and if she soitl
'twas right, why, go it.'

Tliis was the drift of Mrs. Noah's remarks,
and as Guy depended much on her judgment,
he decided to write to Lucy and ask her if
she had the slightest o 'jcctions to his teach-
ing Maddy Clyde. Accordingly he wrote
that very night, telling her frankly all he
knew concerning .vladdy, and narrating the
circumstances under which he first met her,
being careful also to repeat what he knew
would have weight with an English girl like
Lu(!y, to wit : that though poor, Maddy 's
father and Grandfather Clyde had been
gentlemen, the one a clergyman, the other a
sea-captain. Then he told of her desire for
learning, and his plan to teach her hiniP'df—
of what tlie doctor and Mrs Noah said ^.oout
it, and his final determination to consult her.
Then he described Maddy herself, and told
how pure, how innocent, how artless and
beautiful she was, and asked if Lucy feared
auglit from his association with her.

' Jf you do,' he wrote, 'you have but to say
so, and though I am committtid, I will extri-
cate myself in some way, rather than wound
you in the slightest degree.'

It would be .some time ere an answer to
this letter could be received, and until .such
time Guy could not honourably bear Madily s
lessons as he had agreed to do. But Maddy
was not suspiciou.5, and acc(,'[ited his trivial
excuses, waited patiently, while he too waited
for the letter, wondering what it would con-
tain.

CHAPTER XIL

LUCY S LKTTEK.

At last the answer came, ami "t was Mad-
dy who brou^jht it to Aikenside. She had
been home that daj', ^nd on h„r return had
ridden by the off"je as liny had rc(juested
her to do. She saw the letter 'oore a foreign
post-mark, and that it was in the delicat ■
haiidw iting of some lady, but the .sigiit did
not affect her in the least. Maddy 's heart
was far too heavy that dav to care fc a
trifle, and placing tiic letter carefully in her
basket siie kept -n to Aikenside.

The letter was just like Lucy and (•nv,
while reading it, felt how gooti she \\a.

MADELINE.

'Ill

f [)f course, he might teach Maddy Clyde all

i le M'ished to teach her, and it made Lucy

ii love him better to know that he waB willin;.;

to do such things. She wished she was
■ there to help him ; they would open a school

for all the poor, but slie did not know when
• her mother would let her come. That pain

f- in her side was not any better, and her coii^jli

i t had come earlier this season than last. The

i |[ physician liad advised a winter in Nilple^,

;; I and they were going before very long. It

would be pleasant there, no doubt, only shf
should be farther away from her (iuy, but
she would think of hnn, oh ! so often, teach-
ing that dear little Maddy Clyde, and slu
jI should pray for him, too, just as she alway>

[ did. Then followed a few more lines sacred

to the lover's eye, lines which told how pure
was the love wliich hu eet Lucy Atherstonc
bore for Guy Remington, who, as he read,
felt his heart beat with a throb of pain, for
Lucy spoke to him now for the first time of
wliat might possibly be in store for them.

' I've dreamed about it nights,' she said,
* I've thought about it days, and tried so
hard to be reconciled ; to feel that if God
will have it so, I am willing to die before
you have ever called me your wife, or I
iiave ever called you husband. Heaven is
better than eartli, 1 know, and I am sure of
going there, I think ; but, oh ! dear Guy, a
life with you looks so very sweet, that I
sometimes shrink from the dark grave,
wliich would hide me forever from you.
(iuy, you once said you never prayed, and
it made me feel so badly, but you will, when
yuu get this, won't you ? You will ask God
tci make me well, and maybe he will
li ar yi.n. Do, CJuy, please pray for your
ijuy, far avay over the sea.'

( hiy could not resist that touching appeal,
;iiiil though his lii).s were all unused to
|ii,iyer, he boMsd his head upon his hands
iiUil asked tliat she might live, beseeching
tiic Fathvr to scud upon him any calamity
s.ive t!ii8 one — L'lcy nmst not d'e. Gnyfelt
better fcf havij'g prayed. It was something
to tell Lucy, something that would please
her, and though his heart yet was very sad,
a jiart of the load was lifted, and iie couhl
tiiiiik of Lucy now, without the bitter pain
in r first letter had co»t him. Was there
■ iiutiiing tiiat would save her, nobody who
caild cure her? Her disease was not heredi-
tary ; surely it might be made to yield.
Had Knglish physicians no skdl ? would not
an American do better? Tt was possible,
and if Lucy's mother would let her come
wheie doctors were skilful, she might get
well ; but she was determined that no hus-
band should be burdened with an ailing wife,
aiiii so, if the mountain would not come to

Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mou:
tain; and Guy fairly leaped from liis chair at>
lie exclaimed, 'I haveit — there's Hoc ! — he'.^
the most skilled man I ever knew ; I'll ser.d
him to England ; send him to the Athei
stone's ; he .shall go to Naples with them aj
their family physician ; he can cure Lucy ;
I'll speak to him tiie very next time In
comes here ;' and witli autther buiden lift-
ed from his soul, <iuy began to wondoi
where Maddy was, and wh_\ the day haii
Ijeen so long.

He knew she had returned, for Flora li;,i'
said she brought the letter, and he was ab. r,
going out, in hopes of finding horand.!eb.-..i.
wiieii he heard her in the hall, as she an.s\ver-
some question of Mrs. Noah's; stepiriig t.,
the door, he asked her to come in, if .-he
chose, appoint the lessons talked about sl.
long. Ordinarily, Maddy 's eyes would ha \ ,.
flashed with delight, for she had anticijii-iltu
so much from these lessons; now, howesi. r,
there was a sad look upon her face, and Aic
could scarcely keep from crying as she came
at Guy's bidding, and sat upon the sofa, near
his arm chair. Somehow it reisted Guy to
look at Maddy Clyde, who, having recovered
from her illness, seemed the very embcdi-
ment of perfect health, a health wiiich
glowed and sparkled all over her biight
face ; showing itself as well in the luxuri-
ance of her glossy hair as in the brilliancy of
her complexion, and the flash of her lustrous
eyes. How Guy wished thatLudjy^ could share
in what seemed almost a superfluity of lurlth ■
and why shouhln't she ? Dr. Holbrook luul
cured Maddy ; Dr. Holbrook could ei.re
Lucy ; and so for the present disiuisoii;^
Lucy from his mind, he turned to Maddy^
and said the time had come when he ei aid
give those promised lessons, and asked if slu;
would commence to-morrow, after she waa
through with Jessie, and what she would
prefer to take up first.

'Oh, Mr. Remington, ' and Maddy began
to cry, ' I am afraid I cannot stay I tin v
need me at home, or may need me. Grandjia
said so, and I don't want to go, though I
know it's wicked not to ; oh, dear, deai' I "

Here Maddy broke down entirely, soLbing
8 J convulsively that Guy became alarmed,
and wondered what he ought tn do to (|uiet
her. As she sat the bowed head was just
within his reach, and he very naturally laid
his hand upon it, and, as if it had been
Jessie's, smoothed the silken hair, while he
asked why she must go home? Had any-
thing occurred to make her presence more
necessary that it was at Aikenside ?

Controlling her voice as well as she was
able, Maddy told him that the physicians at
the asylum had written that as Uncle

MADELINE.

.i.<seph would in all human probability never
c perfectly sane, and a change of sci ne
would do him g,ood, it might be well for Mr.
Markham to take him to Honcdale awhile ;
that having been spoken with upon the sub-
ject, he seemed as anxious aa a little child,
men crying when the night came round and
lie was not at home, as. he expreaed it.
• They have kept him so long,' Maddy said,
' thatgr.mdpa thought it his duty to relieve
t!iem, though he can't well afford it ; and so
lie's coming next week, and grandma will
need some one to help, and I must go. I
know it's \\Tong, but I do not want to go,
try as I will. '

It was a gloomy prospect to exchange
Aikenside for theliumblehome where poverty
liad its abode, and it was not very strange
tliat Maddy should shrink from it at first.
She did not stop to ask what was her duty,
or think how mucli happiness her pr«sence
might ii'we her grandparents, or how much
she might cheer and amuse the imbecile, her
unole. She was but human, and so when
(}uy began to devise waj's of preventing her
going, she listened, while the pain at her
heart grew less as her faith in Guy grew
stronger. He would drive down with her
to-morrow, he said, and see what could be
done. Meanwhile she must dry her eyes and
go to Jessie, who was calling her.

As (tuy had half expected, the doctor came
round that evening, and inviting him into
his private room, Ciuy proceeded at once to
unfoM his scliente, asking him first :

' How much he probalily received a year
for his services as jiliysician.'

Tlie iloctor could not tell at once, but
after a little tl'.ought made an estimate, and
then inquired why (Juy had asked the ques-
tion.

' Bee ause I have a project on foot. Lucy
Atherstoiie is dying with what they call con-
sumittion. T don't Vjelieve those old f();4i'-s
understand i,cr disease, and if 3'ou will go
over to England and underta'Ke her cure, I'll
give you just double what you'll get by re-
maimni: liere. They are going to Napl-s
for the winter, ..ad, undoubtcitly, will
spend some time in Rome. It will be just
the thing for you. Lucy and her motlier
will !)e glad of your services when they
know I bent you. Lucy likes you now.
Will you go? You can trust Maddy to mc
I'll take good care that she is worthy of you
when j'ou come back.'

At the mention of Maddy 's name, the
doctor's brow darkened. He was sure that
(Juy meant kindly, but it grated on his feel-
ings to be thus joked about what he knew
was a atern reality. Guy's project appeared
to him at first a moat insane one, but as he

continued to enlarge upon it, and the advan-
tage it would be to the doctor to travel in tlie
old world, a feeling of enthusiasm waa kin-
dled in his own breast ; a desire to visit
Naples and Rome, and the places he had
dreamed of aa a boy, but never hoped to
see : and (iuy's plan liegan to look more
feasible, and possibly he might have yiohled
but for one thought, and that a thought of
Maddy Clyde. He would not leave her
alone with (Juy, even though (Juy was true
to Lucy as steel. He would stay ; he would
watch ; and in time lie would win the young
girl, waiting now for him in the lial below
to tell him, amid bluslies of shame and tears
of retrret, how she had intended to pay him
with her very first wages, but now tiiat
Uncle .loseph was coming home, he must
wait a little longer.

' Will you be so good ?' and unmindful of
Guy's presence Maddy laid her hand confid-
ingly up m his arm, while her soft eyes
looked beseechingly into his aa she ex-
plained.

Thinking they would rather be alone,
Guy left them tot^ether in the lighted hall,
and then, sitting down on the sofa, and mak-
ing Maddy .sit beside him, the doctor be-
gan :

' Maddy, you know I mean what I say.
at least to you, and when 1 tell
you that I never think of tliat billexcept when
you speak of it, you will believe me. I know
your grandfather's circumstances, ,and 1
know, too, that 1 did much to induce your
sickness, consequently if 1 maik> out one at
all, it would be a verv small (uie. '

He ilid not get any further, for Maddy
hastily interrupted him, and while her eyes
Hashed with pride, exclaimed :

' I will not he a charity ])atient ! I say I
will not I I'd be a hired gij'l before I'd do it I'

It ti'oubled the <loctor to see Maddy so
distni'lii'd about dollars and cents— to know
that i)Overty was pressing its iron hantlupon
her young heait ; and only because she was
so young did he refrain from ou'ering her
then anil there a resting-place from the ills
of life in ins sheltering hne. But she was
not prepared, and he should onlj defeat his
object by his rashness, so he restrained him-
.seif, though he did pass his arm partly around
her waist as he said to her ;

' I tell you, Maddy, 'onestly, that when I
want that bill liiju' 'ited I'll ask you. I cer-
tainly will, and will let you pay it, too.
Does that satisfy you ?'

' Yes,' Maddy said, and after a little the
doctor continued :

' By tlie way, Maddy, I have some idea of
going to Europe for a few months, or a year,
perhaps. You know it does a physician good

MADELINK.

■ -t

1 '

■il

(ft'

to study while in Paris. What do you think
of it? Shall 1 go!"

The doctor had In-'coiue (luite necessary to
Maddy'a happiness. It was to him she con-
tided all her little troubles, and to lose iiim
would be a terrible loss; and so ehe answered
that if it would l^e much better for hiin she
supposed he ought to go, though she should
miss him sadly and be very lonely without
him.

' Would yoH, Maddy' Are you in earnest?
^V'oul^l you be the lonelier for my being
. gone ?' the doctor asked, eagerly. ^Vith her
usual truthfulness, Maddy replied, ' Of
course 1 would ;' and when, after the con-
ference was ended, the doctor stood for a
moment talking with Guy, ere bidding him
g'jod-night, he said, ' I tliink I shall not
accoptyouiJOuropeun proposition. Somebody
else must cure Lucy.'

Tiie next day, as (iuy had proposed, he
rode down to ilonedale, taking Maddy with
him, and (jil'oring so many reasons why she
sh luld U'tt Ije called home, that the old people
Ve^MU to relent, particularly as they saw how
Maddy's heart was set on the lessons (Uiy
was going to give her. She miglit never
have a like opportunity, the yuu.ig man
said, and as a good e<lucation would put
her in the way of helping them when
thoy were older and needed her more, it was
their duty to leave her with him. He knew
they objected to her receiving three dollars
a week, but lie sliould pay it just the same,
and if they cho.se they might, with a part of
it, hire a little girl to do the work which
Maddy would do were she at home. All
this sounded very well, especially as it was
backed by Madily's eyes, full of tears, and
fixed pleadingly upon her grancWather. -The
sight of them, more than Uuy's arguments,
influenced the ol<l man, who decided that if
grandma were willing, Maddy should stay,
unless absolutely needed at the cottage.
Then the tears burst forth, and winding her
arms around lier grandfather's neck, Maddy
sobbed out her thanks, asking if it were sel-
fish and wicked and naughty in her to pre-
fer an education.

' Not if that's your only reason,' grandpa
replied, ' It's riiiht to want learning, quite
right ; but if my child is biased by the fine
things at Aikensidi.', and hates to come back
to her poor home, because 'tis poor, I sliould
say it was -rv natural, but not exactly
riglit. '

Maddy was very happy after it was set-
tled, and chatted gayly with her grand-
mother whilf Guy went out with her grand-
father, wlio wished to speak with him
alone.

' Young man,' he said, ' you have taken a

deep nterest in me and mine ^inee I first
came to know yuu, and I thank you for it.
I've nutlyng to gi\e in return except my
prayers, und those you liave every day ; you
and that doctor. 1 pray for you two just as
I do for Madd}'. .Sonicliow you three come
in together. You're uncommon good to
Maddy. 'Tain't every one like you who
would olTer and insist on learning her. 1
don't know wliat you do it for. \ ou seem
honest. You can't, of course, ever dream of
making her your wife, and, if I thought —
yes, if I supposed, ' —here grandpa's voice
tremb'ed, and his face became livid with
horror at the idea — ' if I supposed that in
your heart there was the shadow of an in-
tention to deceive my child, to ruin my
Maddy, I'd tiirottle you here on the spot,
old as I am, and bitter as I should repent
the rashness.'

Guy attempted to speak, but grandpa
motioned him to be silent, while he went
on :

' I do not suspect you, and that's whj' I
trust her with you. My old eyes are dim,
but I can see enough to know that Mad<ly
is beautiful. Her mother was so before her,
and the Clj'des were a handsome race. My
Alice was elevated, folks thought, by marry-
ing Captain Clyde, but I don't think so. Slie
was pure and good as the angels, and Maddy
is much like her, only she has the ambition
of the Clydes ; h s their taste for everything
a little above her. She wouldn't make
nobody blush if she was mistress of Aiken-
side. '

Grandpa felt relieved when he said all
this to Guy, who listened, politely smiling at
the idea of deceiving Maddy, and fully con-
curring with grandpa in all he said of her
rare beauty and natural gracefulness. On
their return to the house grandpa showed
Guy the bed -room intended for Uncle Josh,
and Guy, as he glanced at the furniture,
tliouglit within himself how lie would send
down from Aikenside some of the unused
articles piled awaj- on the garret when he re-
furnished his house.

CHAPTER XIII.

GCS.SIP

In the course of time Uncle Joseph camo,
as was arranged, and on the day following
Maddy and Guy weift down to see him find-
ing him a tall, powerfully-built man, retain-
ing many vestiges of manly beauty,and fully
warranting all Mrs. Markham had said in
his praise. He seemed perfectly gentle and
harmless, though when Guy was announced
as Mr. Remington, Maddy noticed that in

MADELINE.

fr
LOU

•e I first
n\ for it.
XL'tpt my
ilay ; you
wo just as
rhree come

good to

you 'Alio
her. ]
seem
r dream of
thought —
la's voice
vid with

that ill
)f an in-

ruin my
the spot,
d repent

grandpa
he went

's whj' I
are dim,
t Maddy
lefore her,
ac^e. My
by marry -
ik so. iSlie
id Maddy

ambition
very thing

t make
if Aiken-

said all
miling at
uDy con-
of her
ss. On
showed
cle Josh,
uruiture,
uld send
unused
eu he re-

canie,
oUcwing
lim find-
retain -
md fully
said in
ntle and
nounced
that ia

lis keen black eyes there was for an instant
fi ry gleam, but it quickly passed away, as
1 1 : muttered :

' Much too young ; he was older than I, :
an'l I am over forty. It's all right.

And the Hery eyes ^le.v soft and almost
slt'epy in its expression, as the poor lunatic
turned next to Maddy, telling her how
pretty she was, asking her if she were en-
ga>;ed, and bidding her be careful that her
tiancee was not more than a dozen years older
than herself.

Uncle Joseph seemed to fancy her from
the very first, following her from room to
room, touching her fair soft cheeks, .xniooth-
iue her silken h;iir, telling her Sarah's used
to curl, asking if she knew where Sarah was,
and finally crying for her as a child critrs for
its motl»er, when at last she went away.
Much of this Maddy repeated to Jessie, as in
the twilir;ht i.liey sat together in the parlour
at Aikeuhidi' ; and Jessie was not the only
listener, for. with her face resting on her
hand, and aer head bent eagerly forward,
Agnes sat, so as not to lose a word of what
Maddy was saying of Uncle .Joseph. The
intelligence that he was coming to the red
cottage hud been foUowt.d bv a series of head

_ 'lit

ac'nes, so severe and protracted that Dr.
Holbrook had pronouncted her really sick,
and had been unusually attentive. Very
aiwionsiy she had waited for the result of
Maddy 's visit to the poor lunatic, and her
face was wliite as marble as she heard him
described, while a faint sigh escaped her
when Maddy told what he had said of
Sarah.

Agnes was changed somewhat of late.
Site had grown more thoughtful and quiet,
while her manner toward Maddy was not
so haughty as formerly. Guy thought her
improved, and thus was not so delighted as
he would otherwise have been, when one
day, about two weeks after Uncle Joseph's
arrival at Honedale, she startled him by say-
ing she thought it nearly time for her to
return to Boston, if she meant to spend the
winter tliere, and asked what she should do
with Jessie.

Guy was not quite willing for Agnes to
leave him there alone, but when he saw that
she was deteimined he consented to her go-
ing, with the understanding that Jessie was
W»remain — a plan -which Agnes diil not op-
pose, as a child sc large as Jessie might
stand in the way of her being as gay as she
meant to be in Boston. Jessie, too, when
consulted, said she would far rather remain
at Aikenside ; and so one November morn-
ing, Agnes kissed her little daughter, and
bidding good-bye to Maddy and the ser-
vants, left a neighbourhood which, since

Uncle Joseph was so near, had become so
intolerable that not even the hope of wir.»
ning the doctor could avail to keep her in
it.

Guy ac ompanied her to the city, wonder-
ing wliy, wlien lie useil to like it so much, it
now seemetl dull and tirosome, or why the
society he had formerly onjoye<l failed to
bring back the olden ])lensuie he had ex-
perienced when a rc'-ident of B(istuii.
Guy was very popular there, and much
esteemed by his friends of both sexes, and
great were the ettbrts made to en-
tertain and keep him as long as possil)Ie.
But he could not be prevailed upon to stay
there long, and after seeing Agues settled in
one of the most fashionable boarding-houses
he started for Aikenside.

It was dark when ho reached home, and as
the evening had closed in with a heavy rain,
the house presented a rather cheerless ap-
pearance, particjlarly as, in conseiiiiciicc of
Mrs. Noah's not exjiecting him tliat diiy. no
tires had been kindled in the parlours, or in
any room except the library. There a briglit
coal lire was blazing in the giate, and
thitiier (iiiy lepairtd, tindinji there, as i.e
expected, Jessie and her teachei. Net lik-
ing to intrude on Mr. Guy, of whom she
still stood somewhat he awe, Maddy soon
arose to leave, but Guy bade her stay ; he
should be lonely without her, he said ; and
so, bringing her work, she sat down to sew,
while Jessie looked over a book of prints,
and Guy upon the lounge studied the face
which, it seemed to him, grew each d;iy
more and more beautiful. Then he talked
with her of books, and the lessons which
were to be resumed on the morrow, watch-
ing her as her bright face sparkled and
glowed with excitement. Then he ques-
tioned her of her father's family, feeling a
strange sense of satisfaction in knowing
that the Clydes were not a race of whose
blood any one need be ashamed ; and Maddy
was more like them, he was sure, than like
the Markhams, and (iuy shivered a little as
he recalled the peculiar dialect of Mr. and
Mrs. Markham, and Remembered that they
were Maddy 's grandparents. Not that ic
was anything to him. Only as an inmate of
his family he felt interested in her, more so
perhaps than young men were apt to be in-
terested in their sister's governess.
} Had Guy then been asked the question,
he would, in all probability, have acknow-
ledged that in his heart there was a feeling
of superiority to Maddy Clyde ; that she
was not quite the equal of Aikenside 's heir,
nor yet of Lucy Atherstone. It was natu-
ral ; he had been educated to feel the diflfer-
ence, but any haughty arrogance of which

yli

•] I

MA DELI NP:.

lie iiii^'Iit have been guilty was kept down
l>y liit< extreme good aen«e, ami p'ciieroiis,
iiuiiulsivc iKvtiire. He liked Muddy ; lie
liked to lotik ;il lier as, in the ln'idiiMii^'
iiiuison iiiniiio wliich he really and .Itssic
n iiiiiiall\ !iad given her, siie sat before
tiini, witii tlie tjrtylight falling on htr l)eauti-
f ;1 hair, and making shadows on her annny
tare.

liny was luxurious in his tastes, and it
^t euied lo liim tiiat Maddy was just the pic-
ture to set otr tiiat I'ooni, or, in fact, all the
ro(^m^ ar Aikenside. She would disgrace
none of tliem, and lie found himself wishing
that Providence had made her something to
liini- sister or cousin, or anything that
would make her one of the Remington line.

It ilid not take long for the people in the
iieigli!)ourho(nl to hear that Guy Reming-
ton had turned school-master, and had in
iiis lil)rary for two hours or more each day
.iessie's little girl-governesa about whose
heauty there was so mueli said ; people won-
dering, as people will, where it wimld end,
and it it could be pi ssible that the haughty
(juy had forgotten liia English iiancee. and
was educating a wife.

The doctor, to whom these remarks were
sometimes made, silently gnashed his teeth,
then said savagely that 'if Guy chose to
teach Maddy Clyde, he did not see whose
b'.siiiess it was," and then rode ov.r to
Aikenside to see the teacher and pupil, half
hoping that Guy would soon tire of hi.s pro-
ject and give it up. But (Juy grew more ,
and more pleased with his employment, un- I
til, at last, from giving Maddy two hours of
his time, he gave her four, esteeming them
the p'easaiitcst of the whole twenty-four, '
Guy was proud of Maddy's improvement,
ami often praised her to the iToctor, who also
marvelled at the rapid development of her
mind and the progress she made, gi'asping a
knotty point almost before it was explained, !
and retaining with wonderful tenacity what :
she liad learned.

It mattei'ed nothing to Guy that the
nci:,'hhours gossiped ; there were none
familiar enough to tttl him what was said,
except the doctor or Mrs. Xoah : and so he
heard few of the remarks made so frequent-
ly. As in Honedale, so in Sommerville
Maddy was a favourite, and those who in-
terested themselves most in the matternever
said anything worse of her and Mr. (iuy
than that he might perhaps 1 e educating
his own wife, and insinuating that it would
be a great ' catch ' for grandf.tther Mark-
han's child. But Maddy never dreamed of
such a thing, and kept on her pleasant way,
reciting every day to Guy, and going every
Wednesday to the red cottage, whither,

after his first visit to Uncle Joseph, Gn\
never caccompanied her. Jessie, on the con
tri\ry, went often to Honedale, where t! ■
lunatic always greeted licr coming, stea'n' g
11)1 cl' sfly to her, and whispering softly
' My Daisy has come a^'ain. '

He had called her Sarah at first, and tiien
changecl the name to' Daisy, 'which hf|>orsisi
edin cal inglier, wateliingtrom his window ft i
lier coming, and crying whenever M;idd,\
appeared without her. At first Agnes, in
her letters. forl>ade Jessie's going so often to
see a lunatic ; but when Jessie described the
poor, crazy man's delight at sight of her,
telling how quiet and happy he seeimd if he
could hut lay his hand on her head, or touch
her hair, she withdrew her restrictions, and.
as if moved to an unwonted burst of tender-
ness, wrote to her daUjrhter, ' Comfort that
crazy man all you can ; he needs it so much.

A few weeks after this there < ame anotlier
letter from Agnes, but this time it was to
Guy, and its contents darkened his hand-
some face with anger and vexation. Inci-
dentally Agnes had heard the gossip, and
written it to (jiuy, adding, in conclusion:
* Of course I know it is not true, tor even if
there were no Lucy Atherstone, you, of all
men, would not stoop to Maddy Clyde. 1
do not presume to advise, but I will say
this, that now she is growing a young lady,
people will keep on talking so long as you
keep her there in the house ; and it's hardly
fair toward Lucy.'

Latterly (iuy had fancied that the doctor
did not like the educating process, while
even Mrs. Noah managed to keep Maddy
out of his ^« ay as soon as the lesscms were
ended. What did they mean ? What were
they afraid of, and why did they presume to
interfere witii him ? He would know, at
all events ; and .«ummonin£r Mrs. Noah to
his presence, he reail her that part of Agues'
letter pertaining to Maddy, and asked what
it meant.

' It means this, that folks are in a con-
stant worry, for fear you '11 fall in love with
Maddy Clyde.'

' I fall in love with that child ! * Guy re-
peated, laughing •'.t the idea, and forgetting
that he had often accused the doctor of doing
that very thing.

' Yes, you, ' returned Mrs. Noah, 'and
'taint strange they do ; Maddy is not a child ;
she's nearer sixteen than fifteen, is almost a
young lady ; and if you'll excuse my bold-
ness, I must say I ain't any too well pleased
with the goin'fe on myself ; not that I don't
like the girl, for I do, and I don't blame her
an atom. She's as innocent as a new-boru
babe, and I hope she'll always stay so ; but
you, Mr. Guy, you — now tell me honest —

MA DK LINK.

eph, (iii\
1 the ton
^'here t! •
{, stoalr g
ig softly

and tlien

'indow ti I
r Miidd.N
\unuB, in
() often to
ciibed the
of her,
Hntd if ht'
, or touc-li
ions, and.
of tender -
ifort tliat
so nuuli.
le another
t waa t»i
lis hand-
n. Inci-
)ssii), and
nclnsion :
or even if
(Ton, of all
Clv<le. I
will say
ung lady,
y !'8 yon
;'s hardly

doctor
while

» Maddy
ins were
> hat were
resume to
<now, at
Noah to
of Agnes'
ked what

a con-
love with

Guy rc-
brgetting
r of doing

ih, ' and
it a oil i Id ;
almost a
ny bold-
11 pleased

I don't
jlame her
new-boru
y 80 ; but

honest —

<lo you think as much of Lncv Atlioi stone as iuid 1

ii'i ii mislaid, and which she needed it

loarinu' 'lewsu' s lessons

."uused to. I'lldrt.' you tixiU up school- ii
.e.ichin" ': '
(Juy ditl nut like to bo inter. ded with, fol-iin- his arms he leai:ed

d, nu.t

Ceitaiiily, i-omo iti,' (iuy aaid ; and

ag-iiiist the manti-l,

urallv

ifW

into

'.li-,-.piiitcd. 111' at tirfit wat.liuiy lit r as she hunted fur the missing

)ia siui.

dvA

U'llu

tliat , bonl

would hot huvo iK'oitIc mt-ddliiig TluTe was no pn-tenco about .Vladdv

M ith him, that lie th

oil;

it ..f 1

Atl

111 .>r i.ury iVCiH'r-
-toneall the t.me. and lie di i not knuA- w liat
iiMre iu! (Mjiild do ; tliut it, waa a juty it a
iirin could not enjoy lumscl in his own way,
orovided tiiat way were liai miIc'js ; tliat he'd
iii's'cr, in all his life, sDunt .so l.aj)i>y a winter

as the lust ; tiiat

Here .Mrs. .\'oah interrupted him with,
'That's it, the very it; you want nothing
I) ttor than to have tli;it ;^iil sit close to you
when she recites, as she dot .s; ami once \\ ucn
she was workin" out some of thein pluswcs.
iiiinuses. and things, her slate rested on your
knees, it diil, 1 saw it with my own eyes :
and tlien, let me a.sk, when .I»'n^ ie is 'Irunimin'
Oil the piano, why ilun't ymi liend over liur,
and turn the leaver, ami count the tinij a>
you do when Madily j)lay.-5 ; and how does it
happen that lately, .fessie is «eiit out ol the
way when you hear Maddy's lessons '/ She has
no suspicions, but 1 know she ain't sent oil' for
iiothin' : I know you'd rather lie aloue with
Vladdy Clyde than to have anybody present,
isn't it so'?'

(4uy began to wince. There was much
tiuth in what Mrs. Noah had said, fie did
devise vari(jiis methods of getting' rid of
Jessie when Madily was in his liliraiy, but
it had never looked to liim in just the light
it did as when pre.sente.l i)y Mrs. Xoali, and
he iloggedly asked what NIr.s. Noah would
have him do.

'First and foremost, then, I'd have you
tell Maddy yourself that \ ou ire engaged to
Lucy Athonstoue; second, I'll have you write
to Lucy all about it, and if you honestly can,
tell her tha you only care to; Madilv as a

friend; tiiird. I'd have you semi the girl -'

' Not away from Aikeuside I I never willl'
and ( Juy sprang to his feet.

The mine had exploiled, and for an instant
the young man reeled, as he caught a glimpse
of his real self. Still, he would not believe
it, or confess to himself how strong a place
in his affection was held by the beautiful
girl, now no longer a child. It was almost
a year since that April afternuon when he
first saw Maddy Clyde, and froai a timid,
bashful, child, of fourteen and a half, she had
grown to the ratiier tall ami self-jH)s.sessed
maiden of fifteen .ami a half, almo t sixteen,
or, as Mrs. Noah .said, 'almost a woman ;'
and as if to verify the latter fact, she herself
appeared at that very moment, asking per-
mission to come in and find a book, which

Civile, r.othiiig was done for effect, anil yet

in e\-erv movement she showftl marks of

great iiii|)rovement, Uith in manner and

style. Of one hundred people who might

glance at her, ninety-nine would look a

second time, asking who she was. Naturally

gi'aeeful and utterly forgetful of herself, she

always appeared to good advantage, and

never to hotter than now, when two pairs of

eyes were watching her, an, stantling on

tiptoe, or kneeling upon the flt)or to look

under the secretary, she hunted for the

book. Not the remotest suspicion had

Matldy of what was occupying the thoughts

I of her companions, though, as she left the

I room and ^.d.aiiced brightly up at(Juj% it

, struck her tliat his face m,"s dark and n.oody,

and a pa.inful sensation flitteil through her

mind that in some way she had intruded.

I ' Well,' was Mrs. \i -ihs lir.-t comment, as

I the door closet 1 on .Matldy ; hut as < iuy made

no response to that, she continued : '.^he is

pretty. That you won't doubt.'

' \'es, moi'e than pretty. She'll make a
most beautiful rt'onian.'

(iuy seemed to talk more to himself than
to Mrs. Noah, while his foot kicked the
fender, and he mentally compared Lucy and
Maddy with each other, aiui tried to tnink
that it was not the result of this comparison,
but rather Mrs. Noah's next remark, which
affected him unpleasantly.

' Of course slie'll make a splendid woman,'
Mrs. Noah said. ' Everybofly notices her
now for her beauty, and that's why you've
no business to keep her heie where you see
her every day. It's a wrong to her, lettin'
yourself alone.'

(iuy looked up inquiringly, and Mrs. Noah
continued :

' I've been a arirl myself, and I know that
Maddy can't be treated as you treat her with-
out its having an effect. I've no idea that
it's entered her head yet, Imt it will, and
then good-bye to her happiness.'

' For iiity's sake, what do you mean ? Do
explain, and i.ot talk to me in riddles.
Wh.'it have I done to Maddy, or what am I
going to do ? "

(iuy spoke savagely, and his Ijoots were
in great danger of being burned as he kicked
vigorously acainst the fender. Coming
nearer to him, and lowering her voice, Mrs.
Noah replieil ;

" Vou are i'Minc; to teach her to lovi^ vou.

MADELINK.

)

(<iiy Pemington, just aa sure as my name is I
NoJkh.'

' And ifl that anything bo very bad, I'd ,
like to Uiif»w? Moat gins do not find love
riiBtaMtefiil,' and (Juy walked hastily to the
wiixlow, where he ntooil for a moment gaz- ,
iiipout iipnii tiie soft April »now, which was ,
faliiiic!, ami feeliny anything hut Hatiaticd
either with the weather or hiinnolf ; then
walking hin-k, and taking a seat l>ef(> " the
tire, he K.iid : ' I inulrrRtand you mow. I
Vou woiiltl Have Maddy ( Myde from sorrow,
ami yon arc right. You know more of girls !
than I do. She might in time get to — to —
think of me as she ought not. I never !
inoked upon it in tlii.s light before. I've '
been so happy with her ;'(Juy's voice faltered ;
a little, ijut he recovered himself and went
on: • I will tell her about Lucy to-night,
but I can't send her away. Neither will !
she be liappy to go back, for th()Ujj;h tlw best
of people, they are not like Matldv, .md you
know it.'

Mrs, Noah did know it, and pleased that
her boy. as she ciUlcd (iuy, had shown some
signs of penitence and amendment, she said
«hc did not think it necessary to send Mad-
ily home ; tlic dxl not advise it either. Slie
liked the ;iirl, and wiiat she advi.sed w as tlii.s,
tli:vt(!iiy should send Maddy and Jessie Ixitli
to boarding-school. Allies, she knew, would
be willing, and it wa.s the liest thing he
could do. Maddy would thus learn what
was c.\i)ccted of a teacher, and as soon ;us
she graduated, she could procr.re some eligi-
ble situation, or if Lucy was there, and de-
sired it, she could come and stay forever for
all she cared.

' And during the vacations, where must
she go !' Guy asked.

' CJo where she pleases, of course. As
Jessie is so fond of her, and they are so
much like sisters, it will not be improper for
her to come here, as I say, provided Agnes
is here. Her presence of course, would
make a dill'erence, ' Mrs. Noah replied ; while
Guy continued :

' I know you are rijfht ; that is, I do no*
wish to do Maddy a harm by placing temp-
tation in her way, neither will I have any-
body meddling with my business. I tell
you I won't. I don't mean you, for you
have a right to say what no on<^ else has.'
and he glanced half angrily at Mrs. Noah.
• Pity if 1 can't take an interest in a girl,
bejanse I once v/ronged her, without every
old woman in Christendom thinking she
must needs fall in love with me, and so be
ruined for life. Maddy Clyde has too good
sense for that, or will have when I tell her
about Lncv.'

aaiii

' And you will do so !' Mrs. Noah
coaxingly.

'Of ccjurae I will, and write to Lucy, t<M
telling her how much you talked, and how I
Oire no more for Maddy than I do for Jessie

'And will that be true!' Mrs. Noai
asked.

(Juy could not look her fully in the fact
then, rto he kicked the giate until the con
cussion sent the red-hot coah^ out up«>n tiie
carpet, as h(( k jilietl :

'True? Ves, cvmv word of it.'

Mrs. Noah noted all tins, and thought :

' I ought to have taken im in hand long
ago ; ' then she came u|> to him .ind said
kindly, soothingly, ' We shall all nu.>-s
Maddy ; I as much as any one, but I do
tliink it best for her to go to school ; and so,
after tea, I'll manage to keep .Jessie with me.
and send Maddy to vou, while you tell hei
about Lucy anu the nlan.'

Cny n()iid<;il a little j"rking kind of a nod.
in tokvn of !iis assent, and then, witli that
perversity which prompiswouien particularly
to press a subject after enough lias been said
upon it, Mrs. Noah, as she turned to leavi
the room, gave vent to the following :

' Vou know. (!uy, as well as I, that,
pretty as she Ih, Madily is really beneath
you, ami no kind of a match, even if you
wan't as ^ood as married, which you be ;
and the t'ood lady left the room in time to
escape seeing the sparks lly up the chimney,
as <<uy now made a most vigorous use of
the jioker, and so diil not iinish thescorching
process commenced on the end of his boot.

Mrs. Xoali's last remark awakened in Guy
a singular train ot thought. Mudiiywashis
inferior as the world saw m.itters, and,
settling himself in the chair, he tried to
fancy what the same world would say if he
should make Maddy his wife. Of course he
had no such intentions, he was just imagin-
ing something which never could possibly
happen, because in the first place he wouldn't
marry Maddy Clyde if he could, and he
couldn't if he would ! Still, it was not an
unpleasant occupation fancying what his
friends, and especially Agnes, would say if
he did, and so he sat dreaming about it until
the bell rang for supper, when with a nervous
start he woke from the reverie, and wishing
the whole was over, started for the supper
room.

CHAPTER XIV.

MAT>DY AND LUCY.

Supper was over, and Guy had returned
to his library. He had not stopped, as he
usually did, to romp with Jessie or talk to

aaiii

Mivuily ClytU', hut hud i-oiiie diroctly luuU,
iln)|)|nii>{ thi! lu'iivy flirt!! ins .111(1 piling; IVihIi
ona) iiixMi tilt' lire. Mrs, Noiih li;i<l iiLjIitctl
til" liiiiipH ami Ihcii gone after MuMy ix-
piaiiiiiif{ to .liMsii' that she must stiiywith
her whilu Maihlv wont to Mr. <iii_\. whi
wanted to talic with hor.

• Is lie angry with iim, Mrs. Noah I' Maihly
asked, and ri'inenilxM'in^ his iii(io<ly looUs
when she went in cpiest ot the hook. Hlw'hdt
her heart ini.-sHive her as to what iiii>;iit hi;
the result of an interview with <lMy.

Mrs. Noali, however, rejis^^iired her, and
Maddy stole for a iiioiiient to her own rotiin
to see how she was loi'kiiiy Tiio criiiisoii
dress, witli its t.ott ed','e of lu'e ahoiit the
hluiuler throat, heeunie hei' well, ami smooth-
iiif^thc f.ilds of her mu.slin apron, wliost!
jaunty shouldtr-pietes ;,'avi' hi'r a veiy
j,drlish appearanei', shi' wiiit (hiwii to where
<iuy was waiting h)r her. He In urd her
coining, and involuntarily drew neaiiM' to
him the chair, tinned her faec fully toward
him, waiting for iiini to spe.ikiiig.

' Maddy,' he began, 'are you happy here
at Aikenside ?'

'Oh, \e.s, very, very happy, 'and Maddy 's
soft eyes shone with tlie iiappiness .she tried
to expies.s.

It was at lea,st a minute before he spoke
again, and when he did, he told her ho had
eoneluded to send her and .Jessie to school,
for a year or two at least ; not that he wa.s
tired of teaching her, Imt it wiMild he better
for her, he thought, to mingle with other
girls, and Isini tlie ways of the wi.rld.
Aikenside would still be iier home, where
her vacation would be spent with .lessic if
biie cIh.»s(', and then he bj)oke of New York
as the place he had in view, and asked her
what she thought of it.

Maddy was too much stunned to think
of anything at first. Tli.at the good she
had coveted most should be placed with-
in her grasp, and by Guy Kemington,
too, was almost too mucli to credit. SUio was
happy at Aikenside, but she had never ex-
pected her life there would continue very
long, and had often wished that when it
ended she might devise some means of
entering a seminary, as other young ladij's
did. But she had never dreamed of being
.sent to school by OJuy, nor could she con-
ceive of Ills motive. He h;irdly knew him-
self, only he liked her, and wished to do
something for lieK

'Oh. Mr. Remington, you are so good to
me ; wh.it makes you ?' she cried ; and then
she told him how mnch she wished to be a
teacher, so as to help take care of her grand-
parents and her poor Uncle .loscph. It
seemed almost cruel for that young creature

to be burdened with the care of those three
half helpless people, and tJiiy shuddered
just as he UHii.dly did ulnn he associated
Maddy with them, but when he listened
w liile .she told him of all the ca-.tles alio had
built, ami in ('very one of wlueh there was a
place for ' oiir tolk.s, ' as shetirnied them, it
was more ii, the form of a bh ssing than a
e, VI ess that ids hand rested on her shining
hair.

' Vou are a good girl, Maddy,' ho said,
'and I am glad now that I liave concluded
to semi you where you can lie better fitted
for tip' otli ■(■ you mean to fill than you eonld
be here, but I shall miss you s.adly. t like
li^tli' girls, an.l though you can hardly be
classed with them now, you seem to be much
like .fe:-sie, mid I take plea.-^ure in doing for

you as 1 would for her. .Maddy, '

• Juv stopjied, uncertain what to say ne.\t,
while Maildy's eyes again looked up inquir-
ingly.

He was going liow to tell 'the little girl
nnn.'h like .fessie ' of Lucy Ather.-tone, and
the words would not come at first.

' Maildy,' he said, again blushing guiltily,
' I have said I liked you, and so I iiopc will
' some one else. I have written of you to
' her. '

Up to this point Maddy had a vague idea
that he meant the doetoi, but the ' her 'dis
pelled that thought, ainl a most iiie.xjiliiabh!
feeling of num])ness crept over her as she
asked, faintly :

' Written to whom I'

(liiv did not !r>>k at M.iddy. He only
kn<'W thai hor head moved out from beneath
his hand as he replied :

''I'oMi-.s Atherstone-MisR Luej* Athcr-
stont. liave you never heard of her ?'

Maddy never had, and with the same numb-
ness she could not iiiiderst ami, she listi aed
while (Juy told hor who Lucy Atherstone
was, and why slie was not at that moment
ih'j mistress of Aikenside. There was no
reason whv (luy should lie excited, but he
wr.s, and he talked very rapidly, never once
glancing .-it Maildy until he had finished
speaking, ."^lie was looking at him intently,
w ondeiini.' if he eonld hear, as she did the
beating of her heart. Had her life depend-
ed upon it, she could not at first have
spoken, for the numbness which like bands
of steel, seemrd to press all the feeling out
of it. She did not know why it was that
hearing of Lucy Atherstone should afhcther
so. .Surely she ought to be glad for Guy,
that he possessed the love of so sweet a
creature as ho described her to bi-. He wa&
glad, she knew, he talked so energetically—
so much as if it were a pleasure to talk ; and
she was glad, t')0, only it had taken her so

MA DEL IN I'.

by siirpriHc toknow thf.t Mr. rJiiy was on-
Kiip'il, ami that hokk* titiic Aikmisitlc wouli'
vcmI1\ liiivt' a iniHtruHH. yiic did not (|iiitc
iiiuli'iHtaiid ( iiiVH laat wordii, altlioii^'li hIi(>
y^iiH looking at him, and he ar^koil her twice
it hIic woiiM like- to H(^«' I-iicy'M pictiirt' l)c-
f(jr(! sho t'oiniiichciidcd v\ iiat he nitant.

' ^'l'M, ' canii' laintly from tho piirtcd lips,
nltout whii'li there was a Hli|,'ht quiver as she
put up lier liand to take tiie case (!iiy drew
from liis bosom.

Turninj,' it to tlio lij^ht alio gazetl silently
upon tlie Hwoot young face, whieli seemed to
return her gaze witli a look as earntst and
curious aK her own.

' What do you think of her -of my IjUey '!
Is alie not pretty?' <!uy asked. Iiending
ilown so that his dark hair swept against
Maddy's, wliile Ids warm breath touch<'<l her
)»urniiig cheeks.

' WeK, she s l)eautiful, oh ! so Ix'autiful,
and iuvppy, too. I wish I iuul h(!en like hei' I

I wish ' and Maddy burst into a most

uncontrollable Ht of \\ce]iing. her tears tirop-
ping like rain upon the inanimate featuns
of Lucy Atlier.stone.

(luy looked at her amii/ed, his own heart
tiiroliliiim with a keen pang of something
umlelinalile aw he listened to her sldiiny
weeping. What did it mean ? h" wondtii'ed.
Could it be tliat tlie evil again-it wldcli he
Mas providing had really come n|ion her?
\\'as Maddy more interested in him tliiin he
supposed? lie lioped not, tliougli with a
man's vanity he felt a sliglit thrill of satis-
faction in thinking that it nnglit be so. (Jay
knew tJhis feeling was not wortiiy of liim.
and he struggled to cast it oil', while he
asked Maddy why she cried,

Child as slie was, the real cause of her
tears never entered her brain, and she jin-
sw ered.

' I can't tell why, unless 1 was thinking
how different Miss Atherstone is from me.
She is rich an<l handsome. I am poor and
homely, and '

' No, Maddy, you are not ;' and Guy inter-
rupted her.

Gently lifting up her head, he smoothed
bajk her hair ; and kee])ing a hand on each
side of her face, said pleasantly :

' You are not homely. J tiiink you are
quite as pretty aa Lucy ; I do, really.' he
continued, as her eyes kindled at the com-
pliment. ' I am going to wri»i^ to her to-
night, and siiall tell her more about you. 1
want you to like each other veiy much when
she comes, so that you may live witli lis.
Aikenaide would not be Aikenside without
you, ^Laddy.'

In all his wooings of Lucy Atherstone,
(ruy's voice had never been tenderer in its

ton« than when he Bald thi« to Maddy,
wliose lip (piivered again, and who invcdiiii
tarily laid her iieiid upon the arm of hi^.
chair as she cried a secoml time, not noisily,
but quietly, softly, as if this crying did hii
good, For several minutes they sa» tluir
tliiiH, the nature of their thoughts known
only to each other, for neitiier spoke, nntd
Maddy, half ashamed of her cmotionH, liftei!
up her head, and said ,

' f do not know what made me cry, only I
have been so happy here (hat 1 gtiess I
thought it might go on foicvor. I am afraid
Miss Atherstone will not fancy m»', and I
know i shall not fiel as free here, after she
comes, as I lio now, 'i'lieii your being bo
gond ill sending me to school, helped me to
cry more, and so I was very foolisii. Don't
tell Miss Atherstone that 1 crie.l. Tell her,
though, liow beautiful she is, liow glad I am
that she loves you, and is going to I e your
wife.' .Maddy's voice was \ery steady in its
! tone. She evident'y meant what she saiil,
and it made (!iiy very uncomfortable, and as
Maildy was in some way associated with hi,-
diseomfoit, he di<l not oppose her when she
arose to leave him.

Mad .Maddy been more a wrunan, and les.s
a child, sill' V oiild have seen that it was well
for her to know of Lucy Atherstone before
her feelings f(jr ( iiiy IJeiiiington had assum-
ed ;i detinile form. As it was. she never
dieanicd how near she was to loving Aiken-
side's young master ; and while talking with
Jessie of the fraud times they should have
at school, she marvelled at that little spot of
pain, which was burning at her heart, or
wliy she should wish that Guy wouM not
speak of her in his letter to Lucy Atherstone,

But Guy did speak of her, frankly
confessing the interest in her, telling just
how people were beginning to talk, and ask-
ing Lucy if she cared, declaring that,
if she did, he would not see Maddy Clyde
any mere than was necessary. In a little
less than four weeks there came <an answer
from Lucy, who, with health somewhat im-
proved, had returned from Kngland, and
wrote to Guy from Switzerland, where she
expected to spend the summer, half hoping
Guy might join her there, thoutdi she could
not urge it, as her mother still insisted that
she was not able to take upon herself the
duties of a wife. Then she spoke of Maddy
Clyde, saying ' She was not at all jealous of
her dear (Uiy. Of course ignorant, meddling
people, of whom she feai'ed there were a
great many in America, would gossip, but he
was not to mind them.' Then she said that
if Maddy were willing, she would so much
like her picture, as she had a curiosity to
know just how she looked, and if Maddy

MADKI.INK.

Miui.ly.
) involiiii

III ot lli^
t iHiirtil\,
fi ilid lu'i

Hll» tlu'H'

In known
i)k<-, until
)iin, liftftl

'V, only I

I ^lUHM 1

11)11 afriiiii
nc, iukI 1

after hIic
' In'iiig BO
ped me tn
li. Don't

'IVll her.
gliid I am
;() 1 e your
■ady in its
; sli<> Haiti,
)lo, and as
d with hi^

wiien hIk*

, and IfSf.
t was Wfll
>i\v bi'fort'
id assum-
si If never
iij^ Aiken-
king with
ould have
tlr spot of
heart, or
wouM not
th era tone,
frankly
elliiig just
, and ask-
ing that,
Idy Clyde
1 a little
an answer
owhat inl-
and, and
here she
If hoping
she rould
iated that
rsclf the
)f Maddy
jealous of
meddling
re were a
ip, but ho
said that
so much
iriosity to
f Maddv

ilettriud, ' would she write a few lititm, so m

:ut to Hi'i'Mi BO nr.ii'li :i stranger '! '
' Uirliiig little i.Mi'y, I do love her very
irly,' was <iiiy's eiiiiiiiiont, as lie tinislieil
rriding ln'i' lulter, feeling for the inonioiit an
i: M'.T iiii»tli''r were a kiinl of criid ogi-ess,
hi! it nil pr'Vi-ntiiig liiiii tioiii Idiiii.' happ\'.
T:ie I, ;m lie lenn'inhereil Luc 's liupe tli;it he
might join h r, and thought how inuny timeM
!i • hail ii'o.oH il tlie .lea to no |)Uipo«e„ he
-il'd. Inilt |»"t .. mtly :

' I've ))ei'ii to iMiu'lainl for nothing timoM
iiioiigli. When tli;it mother of hers says I
liny have her d.uigliler, I'll go again, hut
fi it livtor.'. it doii'i pay, '

An I erinliin;.' t'u' letter into hi« pooket,lie
vvi3.it out upon ill" pia//.a. \\li("e w^re as-
sumblc I M.nldy, ilesnie, and Mrs. Agnes,
the lal'.er of wiioiii had come to Aikeiiside
the day hefore.

At .'ir^t rtlie had objected to the boarding-
school arrangeiiiont, .-aying Jessie was t'n*
young ; but («ny, as usual, hid overruled her
objections, as well as those ot ( ir.cidpa Mark-
ham, and it was now a settled tiiin;.' that
Maddy and Jessie both sliouhl gi <> N.w
York. Mrs. Agnes waa to accompaiy them
if she cho.sc. and have a general .super

>!a'..

vision of her I'liihl. 'I'liis was
anil it had prev.iiled with the

(Ja\'s I
fa.r!iio;wi'ole
wom in,wlio,tired (jf Mi.slon, wn,s well pleased
withtlu'pi'o.siuctot alife in N'^'W ^'urk. (luy's
intci'isl in .Maihly wa-'. wlnlly inexpliealile to
her, unh'.ss she e\pl. lined it on tin- iniueiple
that in the U mi igtun nature tliere was a
loudness fur ^o\ (;iiif'-^ses, as had been ex-
-•inplilied inii 'idwnhist jry That ( liiy woulil
; vcr many M "idy .-^iii' doubted, but the mere
posj'bility of it ui id.' her sot her te. tli (irmly
togi.'ther as ilii- tiioiiglit how einliarra^siug it
\\()a!d be to a .'ivnoivl'- Ige as the mistress of
Aikeiiside tiie little girl whom she had
sought to liaaisli from lior table. Sine- her
letuin she had iiad no opportunity of judg-
ing for herself how matters stood, and v\ as
ennseipiently much relieved when, as (liiy
joineil them, he iiogaii at once to speak of
Lucy, telling of the letter, and her re(iuest
for .Maddy s picture.

'My pictnre? You cannot mean that !'
Maddy exclaimed, her eyes op^Miing wide
with wonder ; l)ut (iuy did mean it, ami be-
gan to plaa a drive on the morrow to Devon-
.ihire, where there was at that time a toler-
ably fair artist. This, it must be remem-
Dcred, was in the day of arnbrotypes, and
before the iutroiluction of photographs.

The next day the four went down to Dev-
onshire, calling first upon the doctor, whose
face brightened when he heard why they
had come. During the weeks that had
passed, the doctor had not been blind to all

that wa« pasHingat Aikenside, and th- fuar
Miat<Iuy was more interested in Maddy than
he ought to be had grown almost t(( a et-i-
taintv. Now, however. h«' wiih not so sure.
Indeed, the fa.t that < Iuy iiad told her of
I.uvy .\theistone would iiwlieate th.it his sun-
pieions were groundless, and ho entered
In.artily into tlie pietnre plan, laying,
laughiiiLdy, that it lu^ supitosed MissLiicv
WMiiM like his face lu M ,it Imnsi'lf, and bi(f
ding(iiiv he sure to a-dv her. The doctor's
gay sjiirits heljicd to raise tliose of .M.iddy,
and as that httle burning spot in li^r livart
was fiist wearing aw.ay, slu' was in jiist Hie
mood for a most admirable likene.-'s. In-
deed, the artist's deli;,'lit at his achieveinent
was iinliounded, as he declanMl it the very
liest jiietiire he had ever taken. It was
beautiful, oven A<.'iies aekiiowledv'ed to her-
self, while .lessie went into raptures, and
Maddy bliisheil to hear her own praises,
(iiiy .saiil nothing, except to ask that Maddy
should sit again ; t c liist was good, but a
secoijil ini'jlit lie lietter. So Maddy sat
again, sneet'eding ipiite as well as at lirst.
Iju^ as the artists piefeieiici' was for the for-
mer, it was left to be (inislied up, with the
understanding that (Jiiy woiihl <'all for it,
.\-itlie 1,1,1 lie.-, passed down tlu^ stairs, (iuy
liii;,'ere'i hehinil, and when sure tiioy were
out of heating, said, in a low voice :

' \'ou m;iy as well tinish both ; they are
too g<iod to lie lost. '

The artist ltov\e(i.
half-guilty blush,
the street, where
iiig for him. Three

and (iuy, with a

hurried down into

Agnes was wait-

lriiir.s later, (Juy, in

Mrs. Uoiinor's parlour, was exhibiting tliu
tinislnnl picture, wiiieh, in its h;inds(jnie cas-
ing, was more beautiful than ever, and more
natural, if possible.

'I think I might have one,' Jessie said,
half-pontingiy ; tlien, as she remembered the
second sitting, she begged of Guy to get it
for her.

Hnt he did not seem inclined to comply
with her re(]iiest, and kept putting her otj,
until, despairing of success, Jessie, when
alone witii the doctor, tried her powers of
persuasion on him, until, in self-defence, he
crossed the .street, and entering the d:igiier-
rean galh-ry, asked for the remaining picture
of .Mi.ss Clyde, .saying he wished it for little
Miss Remington.

'Mr. Remington took them both,' the
artist replied, commencing a dissertation on
the style and beauty of the young girl, all of
which was lost upon the doctor, who, in a
kind of maze, quitted the room, and return-
ing to Jessie, said to her carelessly, ' He
hasn't it. You know they rub out those
they do not use. So you'll h&^e to do with-

MADELINE.

R.i-

i .

out it ; and, Jessie, I wouldn't tell Guy I
tried to get it for you. '

Jessip woiidered wJiy she must not tell
Cuy, but the fact that the doctor requested
her uot to do so was suiHcient. Consequent-
ly, ^jiuy little guessed that the doctor kn'iw
what it was he cariiod so carefully in his
coat pocket, looking at it often when alone
in his oAvn room, and admiring its soft, girl-
isli Ijeiuity, and trying to convince hiuisc'i
that (lis sole object in getting it was to give
it to tlie ductor after Matkly was gone ! It
would be sucli a surprise, and the doctor
would hj so glad, that (Juy finally made
himself nolieve that he had done a most gen-
erc.is tliinu !

' I am ^;oiMg to send Lucy your picture to-
day, and as she asked tliat you should write
her a few lines, suppose you do it now,' Guy
paid to Maddy next niori.ing, as they were
leaving the breakfiist table.

It 'vus a sore trial to Maddy to write to
Lucy Atiierstone, but she offered no remons-
trance, and so, accompanying the picture
was a little note, tilieil n>ostly with praise of
Mr. Guy, and which would be very gratify-
ing to the unsuspecting Lucy.

Now that it was fully d'.'cided for Jessie to
go to New York with Maddy, her lessons
were suspended, and Aikenside for tlie tiui.^
being was turned into a vast dress-making
and millinery establisliment.

With his usual generosity, Guy had given
Agnes pern»ission to draw upon his purse for
whatever was needed, either for herself or
Jessie, with the definite understanding that
Maddy should have an equal share of dress
and attention.

' It will not be necessary, ' he said, ' for
you to enlighten tiie citizens of New York
with regard to Maddy's position. She goes
there as Jessie's equal, and as such her
wardrobe must be suitable, '

No one could live long with Maddy Cl3'de
without becoming interested in her, and in
»pite of herself Aitnes' dislike was wearing
away, particularly as of late she had seen
no signs of s]H>cial attention on the doctor's
part. He haA recovered from his weakness,
she thouglit, and she was very gracious to-
MAvd Maddy, who, naturally forgiving, be-
gan to like her better than she had ever
deemed it ])ossil)le tor her to like so proud
,an,d haughty a woman,

Down at the cottage in Honedale there
were many consultations held and many fears
expressed by the aged couple as to what
■would be the result of all Guy was doing for
their child. Woman-like, Grandma Mark-
ham felt a flutter of pride in thinking that
Maddy was going to school in a big city like
New York, It gave her something to talk

about with her less fortunate neighbours, wh
wondered, and gor^siped, and envied, but,
could not bring themselves to fed unkindly
toward the girl Maddy, who had grown up
in their midst, and who as yet was wholly
unohangfd by prospenty. (irandpa Mark-
ham, on the contrary, thou^'li pleased that
Maddy should have every opportunity for
acquiring the education she so much desired,
was fearful of the result — fearful lest there
might come a time wl.,'n his darling would
shrink from tiie relations to whom she wa.s
as sunshine to the flowers. He knew that
the dilierence between Aikenside and the
cottage must strike her unpleasantly every
time she came home, and he did not blame
her for her ahvayo apparent readiness to i:i<
baci<. That was natural, he thought ; but a
life in New York, the great city, which to
tlie siniple-liearted old man seemed a very
Babylon of iniquity, was different, and for a
time he objrcted to sending her there. But
Guy persuadid him, and when he heard that
Agnes was going, too, he consented, for he
li'.d faiih in Agnes as a protector. Maddy
had never told him of the scene which fol-
lowed that lady's return from Saratoga. In-
deed, Maddy never told anything but good
of Aikenside or its inmates, aiut so Mrs.
Agaes came in for a share of the old
peiiple"* gratitude, while even Uncle Joseph,
hearing a daily prayer for the *youn^
niiidani,' as grandpa termed her. learned to
pray for her liimself, coupling her name
with that of Sarah, asking in his crazy wa\
that God would 'forgive Sand;,' first and
tlien * lik'ss thf. madam — the madam.'

A few days before Maddy's departure,
grandpa went up to see 'tlie madam;'
anxi(nis to know something more than hear-
say about a person to whose care his child
was to be partially intrusted, Agnes was in
her room when told wlio had asked for her.
Starting quickly, she turned so deadly white
that Maddy, who brought the message, flew
to her side, asking in much alarm what was
the matter.

' Old/ a little faint. It will soon pass oft','
Agnes said, and then, dismissing Maddy, she
tried tc compose herself sufficiently to pass
the ordeal she so iriuoh dreaded, and from
which there was no possible escape.

Thirteen years ! Had tiiey changed her
past rjcognition ? She hoped, she believed
so, and yet, never in her life had Agnes
Remington s heart beaten with so much
terror and apprehension as when she entered
the reception-room where Guy sat talking
with the inffrm old man she remembered so
well. He had grown older, tldnner, poorer
looking, than when she saw him last, but in
his wrinkled face there was the same be-

MADELINE.

hbouis.wh
iivied, but

I unkindly
i grown ll]^
vas wholly
Ipa Mark-
eased that
t unity for
icli desired.

lest there
ling would
n she wa.>
knew that
i and thi'
itly every
not blame
uess to :.'i>
gilt ; but a

which to
ed a very
;, and for a
here. But
heard that
3d, for he
r. Maddy
ivhich fol-
■atoga. In-
^ but good

so Mrs.
f the old
jIc .Josepli.
le ' vouni;
Iftarned to
lier name
crazy \va\
' Hist and
vni. '
departure,

madam ;'
than hear-
e his child
;nes was in
ed for her.
adly white
ssage, flew

what was

II pass off, '
laddy, she
ly to pass

and from

anged her
e believed
liad Agnes
so nuicii
lie entered
at talking
mbered so
ler, poorer
ist, but in
1 same be-

nignant, heavenly expression, which, when
she was bette" ihan she was now, used to
lemindherof the angels. His snowy hair
was parted just the same as ever, but the
mild blue eyea were dimmer, and rested on
her with no suspicious glance, as, partially
reassured, she glided across the threshhold,
and bowed civilly when C!uy presfcuted grand-
father to her.

A little anxious as to how her grandfather
would acquit himself, Maddy sat by, -won-
dering why Agnes appeared so ill at ease, and
why her ,i;raudfathcr started sometimes at
the sound of her roice, and looked earnestly
at her.

' We've never met before to my knowledge,
young woman,' he said once to Agnes, 'but
you are mighty like somebody, and your
voice, when you talic low, Iceeps niakii'" me
juiiip as if I'd heard it summers or otlier. '

After that Agnes spoke in elevated tones,
as if she thought him deaf, and the mystified
look of wonder did not return to his face.
Numerous were the charges he gave to Agnes
concerning Maddy, biading her be watchful
of his child, and see tl\at she did not
* get too much taken in with the wicked
thing::! on Broadway I" then, as he arose
to go, he laid his tivml)li!ig hand
on her head, and said solemnly, ' You
are voung yet, lady, and there may be a long
life before you. (iod liless yon, tiuii, and
prosper you in proportion as you are kind to
Maddy. I've notliin" to give you nor Mr.
Guy :or your g( odnes.s, only my prayers,
and tlieiii you have every day. We all prav
tor y'ou, lady, Joseph and all.thuugh I doubt
me liP knows much the meaning ot what he
says. '

'Who. sir? What did you say/' and
Agnes',^ face was scarlet, as grandpa replied,
' Joseph, our unfortunate boy ; Maddy must
, have told you ; the one who's taken such a
shine U: Jessie. He".s crazy-iiko, and from
the corner where lie sits so much, I can 'near
him w nispering by the hour, sometimes of
folks he used to know, and then of you,
whom lie calls madam. He says, for ten
minutes on the stretch: '(Jod bless the

madam — the

that's l>e(au-ie

madam — ti

tnaiiam

you are gooW

to Maddy
^^>u■l^ sick. l;uly ; talkm' alnai'-. crazy folks
makes you faint, ' grandpa ad. led hastily, as
A^nes "turned white as the dress she wore,
wore.

'No -oh, no. I'm letter now.' Agnes
gaspe<l, liowing him to the door with a feeling
that siic could not breathe a moment longer
in his pieseiice.

He lid not hear her faint cry of bitter re-
morse, a.> he walked through tne hall, or
know she watched him as he went slowly

down the walk, stopping often to admire the
fair blossoms which Maddy did not feel at
liberty to pick.

' lif lov'id flowers, ' Agnes whispered, aa
better nature prevailed over every other
feeling, and, starting eagerly forward, she
r.an after the old man, who, surprises at her
eviilent haste, waited a little an.xiously for
her to speak.

It was rather diflijuit to do so with
Maddy's inquiring eyes upon her, but Agnes
managed at last to say :

' Does that crazy man like flowers — tiie
one who prays for the madam ? '

' \iis, he used to, years ago,' grandpa re-
replied ; and bending down, Agues began to
pick and arrange int(j a mos: tasteful
b(uu(uet the blossoms and buds, growing so
profusely within the border.s.

' Take them to him, will you ' ' and her
hands shook as she passed to (iiandpa Mark-
ham the gift that would tliriil poor crazy
Josepli with a strange delight, making iiim
hold converse awhile with the unseen px*
sence which he called 'she,' and then to
whisper blessings on the madaiu's head.

Tiu'ee days alter this, a paily of four left
Aikenside, vvhicii piescntfd a most for-
lorn and cheerless appearance to tiie passers-
by, who were glad almost as the servants
when, at the expiration of a week, (Uiy
came back and took up his older, life of
solitude and loneiiiKss, with nothing in
patticularftj interest him, exci pt his books
and the letters he wrote to Luey. Nothing
but these and the doctor's picture — the one
designed expressly for him, and which
troubled him greatly. Believing that he
had fully intended it for the doctor, (Juy
felt as if it were, in a measure, stolen proper-
ty, and this made him prize it all the more.

Now that Maddy was away, Ciuy missed
her terribly, wondering how he had ever
lived witl out her, ami sometimes working
hiuiseU' into a violent jiassi iii against the
med'il. onie neighbfjurs who would not let
her remain with him in peace, ami who, now
that she was gone, did not stop their talk
one whit, for the people marvell il more than
ever, feeling cnnliilent ll(J^^ that he was
educating his ov, n wife, and making sundry
spiteful remarks as to what he intended do-
ing with her relations. (Juy only new that
he v\as ve-y lonely, tliat I.iicy's letters
seemeil insipid, that even the doctor iailed
to interest him, as of (dil, and that his great-
est comfort w.as in looking at the briuht
yoiniff face which seemeil to smile so trust-
tully upon him, just as Maddy had smiled

upon him when, in Madam "s parlour,

he bade her good-bye. The doctor could
not have that picture, he finally decided.

MADELINE.

' Hal ought to be satisfied with getting
Maddy, as of course he will, for am I not
educating her for that very purpose ?' he
said to iiimself ; and, as a ki"d '>f atonement
for what he deemed treache. , j his friend,
lie talked with him often oi her, always
taking it for granted that when she was old
enough, the doctor would woo and win the
little gii'l who had come to him in his capa-
city of Inspector, as candidate No. 1. At
Prst the doctor suspected him of acting a
part in order to cover up some design of his
own with regard to Maddy, and aftected an
indifference he did not feel ; but, as time
passed on, Guy, who really believed himself
sincere, managed to maKe the <loctor bel eve
so too. Consequently, the latter abandoned
his suspicions, and gave himself up to bliss-
ful drean)S of what might possibly be when
Maddy should have become the brilliant
woman she was sure one day to be.

CHAPTER XV.

THE HOLIDAYS.

The summer vacation had been spent by
the Remingtons and Maddy at the seaside,
the latter coming to the cottMge for a week
before returning to her school in New York .
and as the doctor was then from home, she
did not see him at all. Consecjuently he had
not seen her since she left Aikenflidc i((r New
York. ]}ut she was at home now for the
Christmas holidays — was down at the cot-
tage, too ; and unusually nervous for him,
the doctor stood before the little square .ylasa
in his back office, trying to make himself
look as well as possilde, for he was going
that afternoon to call ;.pon Misa Clyde. He
was glad she was not at Aikenside ; he
wouhl rather meet her at the cottage, and
he hoped he might be fortunate enough to
find her alone.

The doctor was ser:ously in love. He ac-
kuowledired that now vo himself, confessing,
too, that with his love was mingled a spice
of jealousy, lest Gny Remington should be
eq Minding more thought on Maddy Clyde
f :ia(i was consistent with the promised hus-
band of Luey Atiiei^toue. He wished so
nuieii to talk with (iuy about her, and yet
lie dreaded it ; for if tiie tnlk should eontirm
his sus])ieions tiicit; would l)e no hupe for
him. No girl in lier iiijlit mind would pre-
ter liini to (iuy iUuiin'^'toii. and with a little
siifli the do(;tui' \\ as tiirniii^ auay i\\>m the
tilass, when, as if to verify a lamiliarpiovcrb,
(iuy himself drove up in a most dashing
equipag-', the silver-tipped harness of his
high-mettled steed flashing in the wmtry

sunlight, and the bright-hued lining of h 6
fanciful robes presentmg a very gay appear
ance.

Guy was in the best of spirits. For an
entire half day he had tried to devise some
means of getting Maddy up to Aikenside.
It was quite too bad for her to spend the
whole vacation at the cottage, as she seemed
likely to do. He knew she was lonely
there; ; that the bare floor and low, dark
walls affected her unpleasantl}-. He hail
seen this in her face when he baile her good-
bj'e, for he had carried her down to the cot.
tage himself, and now he was g >ing after
her. There was to be a party at Aikenside ;
the very first since Guy Mas its n, aster. Tie
neighbours had said he ^\as too proud to in-
vite them, but they shouM say so no mor*'.
The house was to be thrown open in honour
of (iuy's birthday, and all who were at idl
desirable guests, were to be bidden to the
fe.«tival. First on the list was the df)ct( r,
who, remenibeving how averse (Uiy was to
large parties, wondered at the proceedings.
But (Uiy was all engaged in the matter, and
after telling who were to be invited, added
rather iiidifl'ereiitly, 'I'm going down to
Honedale after Maddy. It's better for her
to be with us a day or two beforehand.
You've seen her, of <ourse.'

No, the doctor luui not ; he was just go-
ing there, he said, in a tone so full of disap-
pointment, that (iuy d(!tected it at once,
ami asked if anything was the matter.

' '^Juy, ' the doctor continued, sitting down
by his friend, ' I remember once j'our mak-
ing me your contidant about Lucy. You re-
membi r it too ?'

' Yes, why ?' (jluy replied, beginning to
feel strangely uncomfortable as he half
divined what was coming next.

Latterly Guy had stopped telling the doc-
tor that he was educating Maddy for him.
Indeed, he did not talk of her at all, and the
doctor might have fancied her out of his
mind but for the frequent visi< i to Nevr
York, which Guy found it absol ^ely neces-
saiy to make. Guy did not himself under-
stand the state of his own fet'liugs \s ith re-
gard to Mad'iy, but if compelled to explain
the'n they would have been something as
follows : He fully expeeled to marry Lucy
Atherstone ; the possil)ility that he should
not had never nccnried to him, but that wa?
no reason why Maddy Clyde need be married
for these many years. 8Iip was very young
yet ; tiere was 'ime enou'^h for her to think
of mai'ryii;;j wl.en she was twentv-live, .imI
in the meanwhile it would be sjilendid to
have her at Aikenside as Luey's friend.
Nothing could be nicer, and (iuy did not
care to have this little arrangement spoiled.

MADELINK.

ning of h <5
gay appear

ts. For an
-vi.se some

Aikensidt'

spend tlif
she seemed
vas )on( ly

low, dai k

He had

e her good-

to the cot.

-•iiig after
Vikenside ;
ister. Tie
roud to in-

no inoro.

in honor; r
vere at it 11
len to the
he doctc r.
iiy was to
oceediiigs.
ittei', and
cd, added

down to
er for her
iforeliand.

i just go-
of disap-
; at once,
;ter.

ing down

our inak-

You re-

nning to
he half

the doc-
for him.
, and the
It of his
to New-
ly neoes-
If under-
uitli re-
' explain
hi ling as
•y Lucy
! should
:Iiat was
nianicd
V \'o\ing
;<) tiiiiik
ive, ,Tid
ii'lid to

fi'iciid.
did lu.i
ipciled.

lint that the doctor had an idea of spoiling
it, he had not a doubt, particularly after the
doctor's next remark.

' 1 have not seen Maddy since last spring,
you know. Is rflie very much improved ?'

' Yes, very much. There is no more
stylish-looking gn-1 to be .seen on Broadway
t an Maddy Clyde,' and (!uy shook down
hi-< pantaloons a little aw kwanlly.

' Well, is she as handsome as she used to
hd, and as childish in her manner ?' the doc-
tor asked ; and Guy replied :

* I took her to the opera once last month,
and the many admiring glances cast at our
box proved pretty positively that Maddy's
beauty was not of the ordinary kind.'

'The opera!' the doctor exclaimed;
' Maddy Clyde at the opera ? What would
her grandfather say? He is very puritanical
in his notions.'

' Yes, I know ; and so is Maddy, too. She
wrote and obtained his consent before she'd
go with me. He won't let her go to a
theatre anyhow. He considers that in the
same block with the bottomless pit.'

Here an interval of silence ensued, and
then the doctor began again :

' Guy, you told me once you were educat-
ing Maddy Clyde for me, and I tried to make
you think I didn't care ; but I did, oh, so
much. Guy, laugh at me 'I you please. I
cannot blame you if you do ; but the fact is,
I believe I've loved Maddy Clyde ever since
she was so sick. At all events, I love her
now, and I was going down there this very
afternoon to tell her so. She's cdd fiiougii.
She was sixteen last October, the — tlic ■'

'Tenth day,' Guy responded, thii.s sliow-
ing that he, too. was keeping Maiidy's ago.
even to a day.

'Yes, the tenth day, 'resumed the doctor.
'There are many years' difference l)et\voen
us, but if she feels at all as I do she will not
care, Guy ;' and the d(;ctor beyan to talk
earnestly : " I'll be candid with yuu, and
.say that you have sometimes made my lieart
ache a litth'.'

' I 1' and Guy's face was crimson, while .
the doctor continued : '

' Yes, and 1 beg your pardon for it ; but I
let me ask you one question, and upon its
answer will depend my future course with
regard to Maddy : You are true to Lucy ?'

Guy felt tlie blood prickiiiig.it the roots of
his hair, but he answered truthfully, as lie
believed :

' Yes, true as steel ;' wliile tiie generous
thought came over him that he would fur-
ther the doctor's plans ad lie possibly could.

'Then I'm satisfied,' the doctor rejoined ,
' and as you have rather aSBuiued the position
of Maddy's guardian or brother, 1 ask your

permis.non to offer her the love which,
whether she accepti it or not, is hers.'

Guy had never felt a sharper pang than
that which now thrilled tlirougli every nerve,
but he would not prove false to the frienti
confiding in him, and he answered calmly ;

' You have my consent ; but. Doc, liett'r put
it off till you see her at Aikenside. There's no
chance at the cottage, with those three old
people. I wonder she don't go wild. I'm
sure I should. '

Guy was growing ratiier savage al)nut
something but the doctor did not mind ; and
grasping his arm as he arose, lie said •

' And you'll manage it for me, Guy ? You
know how. I don't. You'll contrive for
me to see her alone, and maybt; say a word
beforehand in my favour.'

' Yes, yes, I'll manage it. I'll fix it right.
Don't forget, day after to-morrow night.
The Cutlers will be there, and, by the way,
Maria has grown to be a splendid girl. She
fancied you once, you know. Old Cutler is
worth half a million. ' And Guy tore himself
away from the doctor, who, now that the ice
was broken, would like to have talked of
Maddy forever.

But Guy was not thus inclined, and in a
mood not extremely amiable, he threw him-
self into his sleigh and went dashing down
toward Hoiieilale. Kor some un^ccountable
reason, he was not now one bit interested in
the party, and, were it not that a Uiw of the
invitations were issued, he would have been
tempted to L'ive it up. <;uy did not know
what ailed hiin. He only frit as if .someliody
had l)cen nieddliiig with lii.s plans, and had
he been in the habit of swearing he would
prol >ably have sworn : but as he was not he
contented hiiii.sclf with driving like a second
Jehu until he reached Honedale, where a pair
of soft, bruwn eyes smil(;d up into his face,
and a little warm hand was clasped in his.as
Maddy came out to tlie gate to meet him.

.She was very glad to see him. Tlie cot-
tage, wich if# humlile adornings, did seem
lonelj', ami almost dreary, after the life and
bustle of New York, and Madily h.ad cri'^l
more than once to think how liard and wi k-
ed she must be growing when her home had
ceased to be the dear ohl place she once lov-
ed so well. She had been there five da\-s,
and notwithstanding the efforts of hergraid-
parei-'S to entertain her, each day had
seemed a week in its duration. Neither the
doctor nor (Juy hail been near her, and
Maddy hail made Uersrdf believe tlie former
was sadly remiss in his iluty, inasmuch as he
had not seen her for so Ioiilt. 'de had been
in the habit of calling eveiy week, her
grandmother said, and this did not tend to
increase her amiability. Why didn't he

MADELINE.

come now when he knew she was at home?
Didn't he wish to see her ? If not, .she couhl
V»e indifferent too, and when they did meet,
she could show him how little siie cared ;

At Guy she wa.s not particularly piqued.
She did not take his attentions as a matter
of course, and did not tiiink it very strange
that since blinking her tliere on the night of
her return from New York, he had not once
called upon her ; still, she thought more of
him, if possible, than of the doctor, during
those five days, and was rather anxious to
see him. She had something to show him —
a letter from Lucy Atherstone, who had
gradually come to be her regular correspond-
ent, and vvhom Maddy had learned to love
with all the intensity of her girlhood. To
her, ardent imagination Lucy Atherstone was
but a little lower than the angels, and the
pure, sweet thoughts contain-.u! in every
letter were doing almost as much toward
moulding iier character as (inmdpa Mark-
ham's prayers and constant teachings.
Maddy did not know it, but it was these
letters from Lucy which kept her from loving
(Juy Remington. She could not for a
i.'oment associate him with her.self when slie
so constantly thought of him as tlie hus'oaud
<;f another, and that otli(M' Lucy Atherstone.
Not for worlds would Maddv have wronged
tlie gentle creature who wrote to her so cou-
tidingly of Guy, envying her that she could
so often see his face and hear his voice, while
his betrothed was separated from him by
many thousand miles. Little by little .Maddy
had learned that Lucys mother was averse
to the match, and had always been ; that
she had in her mii.d an English lord, who
wouhl make her daughter ' My lady ; ' and
this was the secret of her so long deferring
her daughter's marriage. In her last lettuV
to Maddy, however, Lucy had written witli
more than her usual spirits that she should
come into possession cf lier property on her
twenty-fifth birthday and be really her own
mistress. She could then feel at lil>erty to
act for herself, and she launciied out into
joyful anticipations of the time when she
should come to Aikenside and n\eet her dear
Maddy Clyde. Feeling that <Juy would be
glad to see this letter, Maddy had all the
morning been wishing he would come ; and
when sho saw him at the gate she ran out to
meet him, her eyes and face sparkling with
eager joy as she suffered him to vr-tain hei
hand, while she said, ' I am so glad to set
you, Mr. Remington, I almost thought you
had forgotten me at Aikenside.'

Uuy began to exclaiui against anyone's
forgetting her, and also to express his
pleasure at finding her so glad to see
him, when Maddy interrupted him

with, 'Oh, it's not that; I've some-
tiling to show you — suinething which
will make you very happ; . I had a
letter from Lucy last night. When she is
twenty-five she will be her own mistress,
you know, ami she means to be married in
spite of her mother — she says — let me see — '
and drawing from her bosom Lucy's letter,
Maddy rea<l, ' "I do n^t intend to fail in
filial obedience, but I have tried dear Guy's
obedience long enough, and as soon as I am
of age I shall marry him. " Isn't it nice ? '
and returning the letter to its hiding-place,
Maddy scoopcid up in her hand and ate a
quantity of snow beside the path.

' Yes, it is verv nice,' (Uiy admitted, but
there was a shadow on his brow as he follow-
ed Maddy into the cottage, where tlie
lunatic, who had been watching them from
tlie window, shook his head doubtfully and
said, ' Too young, too young for you, young
man. You can't have o'ur Sunshine, if you
want Her.'

'Hush, Uncle Joseph,' Maddy whispered,
softly, taking his arm and laying it around
her neck. ' Mr. Remington don't want me.
He is engaged to a beautiful English girl
acrosB the sea. '

Low as Maddys words were, Guy heard
them, as well as the crazy man's reply, ' En-
gagements have been broken.'

Tliat was the first time the possibility had
ever entered Guy's brain that his engage-
ment might be broken, provided he wished
it, which he did not, he said to himself pos-
itively. Lucy loved him, he loved Lucy,and
that was enough , so in a kind of abstracted
manner, arising from the fact that he was
calculating how long it would be before Lucy
was twenty-five, he began to talk with
Maddy, asking how she has spent her time,
and so forth. Tliis reminded Maddy of the
doctor, who, she said, had not been to see
her at all.

' He was coming this morning, 'Guy re-
joined, ' but 1 persuaded him to defer his
call until you were at Aikenside. 1 have
come to take you back with me, and we are
to have a party day after to-morrow evening,
and 1 wish you to be present. '

Maddy had never attended a big party in
her life, and her eyes sparkled from mere
anticipation as she looked apj ealingly to her
grandfather, who, though classing parties
with the pomps and vanities from which he
would shield his child, still remembered that
he onee wasyoung; thatfifty yearsago, lie too,
like Maddy, wanted 'to seethe folly of it, "and
UQt take the mere word of older people that
in every festival scene there was a pitfall,
strewn over so thickly with roses that it was
ofttimes hard to tell just where its boundary

''l
sul

a pi
; ill

aft!
a.iil

> <^|

MADELINK.

l.y re-
fer Ilia
ll have
|ve are
suing,

.\.: commenced. Besides that, (Jrandpa ha<l
iiVh in (Tiiy,aiid so liiis oonaont was granted,
udMaddy was soon on lieiwayto Aikenside,

liich presented a yayer, hiisier appearance
t.ianslie iiad seen thcrr hefoi-e. Jessie was wihl
\ iti» delight, orag<;ing forth at once the
|iiiik dress which slie was to wear, and whis-
'jioring to MaiUly that (iiiy had bought a
i)luu silk for her, and that Sarah Joms was
;it that moment fashioning it after a
■ liss lett there by Maddy the previous
summer.

' Mother said plain white muslin was more
appropriate for a young girl, but brother
Miy said no ; the blue silk would be useful
after the party ; it was what you needed ;
a.nd so he' bought it and paid two dollars a
> aid. but its a secret until you are called to
Li'\ it (111. Isn't (Juy splendid ?'

He was indeed splendid, Maddy thought,
.vontleruig wiiy lie was so kind to her, and
lilt woiihl be so wl.en Lucy came. The
dress fitted admiral)ly, though Maddy
tlioULcht her ;;ranilfather would say it was
too low m the neck, but Sarali ovarruled lier
objections, assisted by (Juy, who, wiicii the
dress was complete and tried on for tlic last
time, was called in by Jes.sie to see if
' Maddy must have a piece sewed on, as she
suifgestcd.' 'I'lie neck was <i.ti /hit, (iuv said,
laughing at Maddy for being so old-maidish,
and saying wlieu lu; saw how really dntrcss-
ed she sceiiii'd, tliat lie would provide her
with sonictliiiiii to relieve the bareness of
whicli she complained.

' Oh, I know, I saw, I peeked in the box,'
.Jessie boL'an, but <>uy put his hand over tlie
little tattler's mouth, bidding her keep the
result of her /KitliK/ to her.self.

And foi once Jessie succeeded in doing
so, aitliough she several times set Maddy to
guessing what it was (luy had for her in
a box ! As the size of the i ox was not men-
tioned, Maddy ha<l fully made up her mind
to a shawl or scarf, and was proportionately
disajipointed when, as she was dressing fer
tlie party, there was sent up ti^ her room a
small round box, si'arcely larue enough to
iiold an apple, much less a small scarf. The
present provol to be a pair of plain but
lieavv bracidcts, and a most exquisitely
wrouglit cliaiu of gold, to which was ap-
pendeil a beautiful pearl cross, the whole
Accompanied v.ith the words, 'P'romGuy.'

Jessie was in e(>slacies again. Clasping the
ornaments on Maddy "s neck and arms, she
danced around her, declaring there never
was anything more beautiful, or anybody so
pretty" as Maildy was in her party
dress. Maddy was fond of jewellery

-and felt as a Hush of {^ratified
pride, or vanity, or satisfaction, which ever

one ciioose.j to call it, as she glanced at her-
self in the mirror and remembered the time
when, riding with the doctor, she had m«it
Mrs. Agues, with golden bracelets Hashing
on her arms, and wished she might one day
wear something like them. Tlie day had
come sooner than she had anticipated, 1 it
Maddy was not so happy in possessi(ni of the
coveted ornaments as she had thought she
should bt\ It seemed to her that < Juy ought
not to have gi\en them to her, that it was
improper for her to keep them, and that
botii Mrs. Noah and Agnes thought so, too.
She wisiicd siie knew exactly what was
right ; and then, remembering that Guy
had said the doctor was expected early, she
decided to ask liisopiniou on the subject and
abide by it.

At first Agues had cared but little about
the party, atl'ecting to despise the people in
their immediate neighbourhood : but her
spirits rose at last ; and when her toilet waa
comideted, she shcaie resplendent in lace
and diamonds and curls, nianagiiig to retain
through all a certain simpliiaty of dress aii-
propriate to the hostess. But beautiful as
Agnes was, she felt in her jealous lieart
that there was about Maddy Clyde an at-
traction ^he dill not jiossess. (Juy saw it
too, and while complimenting 'ds pretty
inotlicr-in-law, kept his eyes tixed admiring-
ly on ^addy, who tarted him into certain
un]il<,'asant remembrances by asking if tlie
doetur lunl coiiu; yet.

'No — yes -tlure lie is now," and (Juy
looked into the hall, where tlie doctor's
voice was lieanl innuiiing for him.

' F want to see him a niinate, a'om , ph ase.
There's something 1 wish to ask liiu.' And,
unmindful of Agiics's daikeneil frown, or
Guy's look of wonder, Madiiy darted from
the rfinin, and ran liastily down to the liall
where the doctor steod, waiting for Guy,
not for her.

He had not expected to meet lier thu«, or
to see her thus, and the siglit of her, grown
so tall, so womanly and beautiful, almost
took his breath away. And y. t, as lie stood
with lier liand in his, and sui veged her from
head to foot, he felt that he would ratiier
have her as she was when a dainty frill
shaded her pale, wasted face, when the
snowy ruil'e was fastened higli about her
throat, and the cotton bands were buttoned
about wrists, where golden ones now wero
shining. The doctor iiad never forgotten
Maddy aa she was then, the very embodj-
ment.'he thought, of helpless purity. The
little sick girl, so dear to lum then, was grow-
ing away from him now; and these adorn iiigs,
which marked the budding woman, seemed
to remove her from him and place her nearer

■)8

MADELINE.

aiy, whose hride h'mouIiI wear silk and
jewels, just as Matldy did.

Slie was very glad to see him, she said,
iskiiig ill tlH! same breath why he had not
lieeu to the cottage, if she had not grown
tf 11, and if he thought her improved with
living in a city ?

' One question at a time, if you please,'
lie said, drawing hei- a little more into the
shadow of the hall, where they would lie
less observed by any one passing through it.

Madily dill not wait for him to aiihwer, so
eagei' was she t" UMl)ur>len her niiiid and
know if siie ou;;A to keep the costly pre-
.sents, at which she kiuw he was looking.

' If lie reinenilx r.s his unpaid bill, he iniist
consider me mighty mean,' she thought;
and then, with her usual frankness, she told
luMi of the ]ier[)l(\ity, and a>lved hisojiiiiioii.

' It would displease Mr. (iiiy very iinieli if
[ were to give tlieni wiok," she said ; * lint it
IS hardly rigiit for me to accept them, is it ? '

The doctor did not say she ougiit
not to wear the ornaments. though
he longed to tear tlieiii from her
arms and neck and tiirow them anywhere,
he care 1 not w here, so ihey freed her wholly
from (iuy.

' They are very becoming, ' he said. ' You
wouhl not look as well witiiout them ; so
you had better wear them to-night, and to-
morrow, if you will grant me an intei^'iew, I
will talk with you further.'

He said all this to gain the desired inter-
view for which (iuy was to prepare her.
Tiiathe had not done so lu' felt assured, but
lie could not be angry with him, as he came
smilingly toward them, as^ving if they had
talked privacy long enough, and sflancing
rather curiously at Maddy's face. There
was nothing in it." expression to disturb him,
and, ofhring her his arm, he led her back to
the drawing-rooms, where Agnes was
sniootliuig down the folds of her dress, pre-
paratory to receiving the guests ju>!t descend-
ing the stairs. It was a brilliant scene
which Aikenside presented that night, and
amid it all Agnes bore herself like a queen ;
while .IcHsie, wi h her sunny face and flow-
ing iiair. came in for a full share of atten-
tion. Hut amid the gay throng there was
none so fair or beautiful as Maddy, who de-
ported herself with as much ease and grace
as 'f she had all her life been accustomed to
just such occasions as this. At a
distance the doctor watched her, tell-
ing several who she was, and once
resenting, by l)ot!i look and manner, a re-
mark made by Maria Cutler, o he effect
that she was nol)ody but Mrs. Remington's
governess, a poor girl whom (Juy had taken
a fancy to educate oat of charity.

'He seems very fond of his charity puj ■
upon my word. He scarcely leaves h.
neighbourhood at all,' whispered old Mi.s
Cutler, the mother of >'a ii, wl o, (!uy snii .
once fancied Dr. Holl)rook, and who had n
particular objections to fancying him no\<.
provided it could be reciprocal.

But the doctor was only intent on Madd-
Knowing always just where she was staii'
ing, jii.st who was talking to her, and ju-
how far from her Ouy was. He knew. too.
when the latter was urging her to sing ; ain'
managing to get nearer, heard her objei;;
that no one eared to hear her.

' But i do ; I wish it,' (iuy replied iu tha:
tone which people generally obeyed; and
casting a half frightened look at 'he sea of
faces around her, Maddy suffered him to
leail her to the piano, sitting quite stiL
while he found what he wished her to play.

It wa.s his favourite song, a'ld one which
bifnight out Maddy's voice in its varioi;.-
modulations.

"Oh, please Mr. Remington, anything but
that song. I cannot do it justice ;' Ma<ldy
".^'hispered, pleadingly, but Guy answered
resolutely, 'You can.' There was no appeal
after this, but a resigned, obedient look,
whicli made the doctor gnash his teeth as he
leaned upon the instrument. What right
had (Juy to command Maddy Clyde, and
why should she obey ? and yet, as the doctor
glanced at (luy, he felt that, were he in
Maddy's place, he should have done the
same.

'No girl can resist Guv Remington,' he
thought. ' I'm glad there's a Lucy Ather-
stone over the sea. ' And with a smile of
encouragement for Maddy, who was pale
with nervous timidity, he listened while her
sweet, bird-like voice trembled for a moment
with fear, and then, gaining confidence from
its own sound, tilled the room with melody,
.and made those who had wandered off to
other parts of the building hasten back to
see who was singing.

Maria Cutler had presided at the piano
eai'lier in the evening, as had one or twf)
other young ladies, 1 ut to none of these had
(juy paid half the attentionhe did to Maddy,
staying constantly by her, holding her fan,
turning the leaves of music, and dictating
what she shouhl play.

' There's devotion,' tittered a miss in long
ringlets ; ' but she really does play well. '
and she appealed to Maria Cutler, who an-
swered, ' Yes, she keeps good time, and I
should think might plav for a dance. I
mean to ask her,' and going up to (luy she
said, ' I wish to speak to — to — Jessie's gover-
ness. Introduce me, please. '

Guy waited till Maddy was Chrongh, and

MADELINE.

B»

ton, ' he

Atlier-

mile of

as pale

lile h(M'

loment

■e from

melody,

.1 off to

b;ick to

■ piano
or tM'o
wMe hail
Maddy.
H'T fan,
ctating

in long
well,'
tvho an-
and I
moe. I
iiiy alie
3 gover-

gh, atnd

t..ongave the desired introduction. In a
r lue not wholly free from suiierciliousness,

i!is>a Cutler said :

'Can you play a waltz or polka, Miss
< 'lyde ? We ju'e a'jliiiig to exercise our feet

-that is. if Mr. 'lcniiii>;tou docs not ohject.

! dare aay old Mr. i'.ml Mrs. Deacon Crane
•vill start for home instantcr at the lirst note

if anytliing as wicked as Mo.ey Mu^k.'

When tile ])arty was (irsi talked abuut,
Agnes had p.i)[josed tliat it be a regular
dancing -party, with suitaoli music prov.ded
for it. Ihit (Uiy, who kne\,- how sucii a
thing wo lid shock the puritanical prejudices
of many of the people of Sommerville, who
:ield dancing as a .-iin, said, ' Xo — he \vished
.ill his guests to enjoy themsjlves. ' So he
Hould not hire music, or h ive d.incing as a
i iile. If any of the young people wislieil to
amuse themselves that way, they were wel-
come to do so, and he pi'csumed some one of
their number could play sutliu-iently well fur
(juadrilles, and possibly waltzing.' 80, when
appealed to on the subject by Miss Cutler,
he replied, ' Certainly ; dance by all means
if you wish to, and Maddy is willing to
|)lay. '

Maddy bowed, and struck into a spirited
waltz, which set many of the yount; people
to whirling in circles, and produced tiie re-
sult winch Maria so muel. desired, viz. : it
took (Iny away Jrom the piano, fur he could
not mistake lier evident wish to liave him as
a partner.and witii his arm around her waist
he was soon moving rapidly from that part
of the room, leaving only tlie doctor to wateli
Maddy 's fingers as they tlew over the keys.
Maddy never thouglit of being tired. She
enjoyed the excitement, ami was glad she
could do something towards entertaining
( iuy's guests. But (iuy did not forget iier
for an instant. Tlnough ail the mazes of the
gidily dance, lie had her betore his eye, see-
ing not the clouds of lace and muslin encir-
cled by his arm, but tlie little figure in blu;^
sitting so patiently at the piano until he
knew she must be tired, and determined to
release lier. As it ciianced, Maria was on his
arm, and drawing her nearer to Maddy, lie
said, ' Your Hngcrs ache liy this time, I am
sure. It is wi'ong to trouble you longer.
Agues will take your place while you try a
(juadrille -I shall (ind you a partner.'

' Oil, tliank you, ' ^Iaddy answered. ' I
am not tired in the least. I had as lief play
till morning, provided they are satisfied
with my time, and my stock of music holds
out. '

' But it is not fair tor one to do all the
playing : besides, I shall ask you to dance
Mith me by-and-bye. '

Maddv's face crimsoned for an instant.

and then in a low voice she said, ' I thai.k
you, but 1 must decline.'

'Maddy I_ (Juy exclaimed, in tones more
iiidicati\ e of reproach tli;iii expustuhition.

There were tears in Maiidy's eyes, and
Maria Cutler, wateliiiig her, was vexed to
see how lieaiitiful wa.« tlie expression of Ina-
face as she answeied Ir.uikly, ' J have never
told you that yraiiilpa ubjicted to my taking
dancing lessons w hen I wrote to him about
it. He (hies not like me to dance.'

'A saint!' Maria uttered under her
lireatli, smiling contemptuously as slitt made
a movement to leave the piano, hoping <Iuy
would follow her.

ihit he did not at once. .Standing for a
moment irresolute, w Idle he looked curious-
ly at Maddy, he said at last :

" Of course I interfere with no one's scru-
ples of that kind, but I cannot allow you to
wear yourself out for our amusement.'

'I like to play — please let me,' was Mad-
dy's reply ; and, as the set upon the floor
were waiting for her, she turned to the in-
strument, while tJuy mechanically offered
his arm to Maria, who was waiting fur him,
and sauntered toward the green room.

• What ablue olil ignoramus that grand-
father must be to object to dancing, don't
you think so?' Maria .said, laughing a little
spitefully, and feeling secretly glad that
.Maddy had refused, and secretly angry at
Guy for seeming to care so mucii.

' Say,' she continued, as (hiy did not an-
swer her, 'don't you think it a sign flat
something is lacking in brains or education,
when a person si'ts up that dancing is
wicked ?'

(;uy would have taken Maddy's side then,
wliatever he might have tiiought, and lie
replied .

'Not lack of brains, certainly. Education
and einunistiiices ha\e much tu do with
one's view.-, upoii fhatsubject. For my [larf,
I like to see iieopie consistent. Now, tliis
old ignoramus, as you call him, lays great
stress on pomp ami vanities, and when I
aski'd liim once wluit he meant by them, lie
mentioned dancing in particular as one of
the things which you church members pro-
mise to renounce;' and (!uy bowed to-
wards Maria, wlio, knowing that she was one
of the cliureh members referred to, winced
perceptibly.

' But this girl — ^his Maildy. There's no
rcasim why she sliouM decline, ' she said ;
and Guy replied :

' Respect for her grandfather, in her case,
seems to be stronger thin respect for a higher
power in some other ea-sea. '

'It's just as wicked to play fo; d.i.u ■; as

MADELINE.

tis to tliinoe,' Maria remarketl, impatiently ;
wliiU' (iiiy ritjoiiiftl :

■ That is very p()ssil)lo ; Jiit I prcaniut!
Maiidy has never seeu it in that li,','iit, which
makes a diHerenee ; ' and tiie t>vo retraced
tlieir sttips to the rooms wlu'ro th(! L'ay ro-
s'ellers were still trippinj; to Mad.ly's music.

After several incllectiial elFurts Ai^nes had
sticceeiled in entn'mu the (hu^tor awa}' from
the piano, and tlms there wis no one near
tfj ^■^'e how at liist the liriglit cf)lor hcgan to
fade from Maddy's cheelis as the notes be-
fore her ran toij;ether, and the keys assumed
the form of one hu<,'e key which she could
not manage. Tliere was a blur before her
eye.s, a buzzing in her <'ars, and just as the
datuHTs were entering heart and soul into
the merits of a poprlar pollui, tliere was a
sudden pause m tin' mufic. a 'jraslj among
the keys, and a faint cry. which to those
nearest to her sounded vi:ry iuuch like ' Mr.
<iny,'as VJadily fell forw.'rd with her face
upon the piano. It was hard telling which
carried lier from tlir room, the doctor or
Guy, or which face of the tlu-ee was the
whitest, (iuy's was the most frightened,
tor the doctor knew she ha<l only 1 .inteil,
wiiiie (iuy. struck with the marble rigidity
of tlie fice so lecently flushed with excite-
ment, said at first, 'She's dead!' wiiile
over him there flashed a feeling thai life
with Maddv dead would be desolate indeed,
liut Madd was not dead, and (iuy, when
ne went bai;k to his guests, carried the ncw.s
that she had recovereil from her faint, which
she kindly "scribed to the heat of the rooms,
instead, ut fatigue from playing so long. The
doctor was with her and she v.as doing as
wall as could he expected, he said, thinking
within himself now he wished they woulil
go home, and wondering what attraction
there was there, now that Maddy's place
was vacant, (iuy was a vastly miserable
man by the time the last guest had bidden
him good-night, and lie had heard for the
hundred-and-tiftiath time what a delightful
evening it had been. Politeness required
that he should lotsk to the very last as
pleasant and unooncernedasifup-stairs there
were no little siclc girl, all alone undoubtedly
with I)r. Holbrook. whom h<i mentillv sty Icl
a ' lucky dog,' in '■.hat hn was not obliged to
appear again in the purlours. uid'-ss he
chr)Ose.

The doctor ki^iiw M^addy did not rcjuire
his presence afte.- the first half hour, but ho
insisted upon he • being sent to bed, and then
went frequently to her door, until assured by
Mrs. Noah that she was sleeping : oundly,
and would, if let alone, be well as ever on
the morrow ; a prediction which proved true,
for when at a late hour the next inorniLi'

tile family nut at the breakfast tal«i'.
Maddy's was the brightest, freshest face o;
the whole, not evm excepting Jessie'.s.
Maddy, too was <lelight(d with the party,
ihclaring that notlMig but pleasurable e.\-
eitement and heat h.id ma e her faint ; and
then, with all the intcicst which youn-
girls usually attach to fainting fits she
asked how she looked and how she acted,
anil it .slie didn't aMjicar very ridiculous, aid
how she g(jt (Jilt ot the ro*)m, saying theonl)
thing slie rememiiered after falling was a
sensation as if she were beiny torn in two.

'That's it," cried .Tessie, who ieadil>
volunteered the desired information. 'JJrothir
(Juy was 'v.ay off with Maiia Cutler, and
doctor was with n.amma, but both ran so
fa.^t, anil both tried to take you up. I think
Miss Cuthr real liatefiil, for she said, mean
like, ' Do j'oii see them pull her, as if it wa-s
of the slightest consequence which carried
her out '! '

'Jessie!' Gi y interposed sternly; while
the doctor, .v'ho had spent the night at
Aikciiside, looked disapprovingly at the
httlf girl, who subsided into silence after
saying, in an under-tone, "I do think
she s hateful, and that isn't all she said
either al)0ut Maddy ! '

it was rather uncomfortable at the tal)lu
after that, and rather quiet too, as Maddy
did not care to ask anything more concern-
ing her faint, while the others were not dis-
posed to talk.

Breakfast over, thetwo young men repaired
to the library, where Guy indulged in his
cigar, while the doctor fidgeted for a time,
and then broke out abruptly :

' I say, Guy, have you said anything to
her about— well, about me, yon know?'

'Why, no, i*\c hardly had a chance ; and
then, again. I comduded it better for each
one to sp^iak for himself ; ' and carelessly
knocking the ashes from his half-smoked
cigar, Guy leaned back in his chair, with his
eyes, a id, to all appearance, thoughts wh. 'ly
intenv upon the curls cI smoke risin:^ ^.bove
hi^ leal.

' Guy, if you were not engaged, I
should be tempted to think you wanted
Maddy Clyde yourself,' the doctor sui'denly
excla med, confronting Guy, wh > still
watching the rings of smoke, answered
with the most provoking coolness, ' You
should ?'

' Yes, I .should ; and I am not certain but

you do as it is. Guy,' and the doctor greM'

very earnest in his manner, ' if you do care

for Maddy Clyde, and she for you, pray tell

I me so before I snake a fool of my.self. '

I ' Doctor, ' returned (iuy, throwing the re-

' mains of his cigar into the grate and foldiuij

^ADRI.INR.

iHt talii.'.
est fiicc !>:
{ Jobsie's.
the part \ ,
urable t'.\-
fiiiut ; and
ch youii-
fits slu'
ilie actrtl,
uloiis, aid
1^' the only
n^' was a
I in two.
o ieadil\
. 'JJiotluV
■utler, ami
th ran so
. I think
laid, mean
3 if it Wii.>
3h carrit'il

ily ; while
night at
i' at the
ence aftei'
Jo think
she Huiil

the table
as Maddy
concern-
re not dis-

n repaiied
ed in his
>r a time,

lything to
:inw V'
mce ; and
• for eacli
carelessly
If-smoked
, with his
its wh. 'ly
^ny above

;aged, I
wanted

sui'denly
v\\^ still

answered
L'ss, ' You

rfcain but
ctor grew
II do care

pray tell
If.'

!g the re-
id foldiuij

Ilia handfi on his head, ' you desire that I be
f i-ank, and I will. I like Maddy Clyde very
m ich — more, indeed, than any girl I ever
!....t, except Lucy. Had I never seen her —
Luoy, I mean— I cannot tell how I should
feel toward Maddy, The chances are. how-
ever, that much aj I admire her, I should
not make her my wife, even if she were will-
ing. But 1 have seen Lucy. I am engaged
to be married. I shall keep that cngago
nient, and if you have feareil me at all as a
rival, you may fear me no longer. I do not
stand between you and Maddy f'lyde. '

(luy l)elieved that he was saying the truth,
notwithstanding that his heart Ixjat faster
tiian its wont and his voice was a little
thick. It wns ddiibtfnl whether he would
marry Maddv Clyde, if he could. Hy na-
ture and ediii ition he was very proud, and
tne inmates dt the red cottage would have
been an obstacle to b(! surmounted by his
))ride. He 'new they were far, far better
than liimse!l : but, from his earliest remem-
brance, he iiad been taught that blood ami
family and p'sition were all-important ; that
by virtue of tluin Remington was a name of
which to be proud ; (liat his father's foolish
marriage with a pretty goviu'iicsa was the
first misalliance ever know in the family, and
that he was not likely to follow thatexain)>le
was a point fully establisiied in his own
mind. He might admire Maihly very much,
and pcriiaps, Ituild castles of what might
possiljly h.ive been, had she been in his
sphere of life ; but, sh<nild he verily think of
making her his wile, the olden pride would
ceitainlv come up as a i)arrier between them,
(ruy could not explain all tliis to the doctor,
who would have been tempted to knock him
down, if he had ; Ijut he succeeded in quiet-
ing his fears, and even suggested bringing
Maddy there, if tiie doctor wished to know
his fate that morning.

' I hear her now — I'll call her,' he said ;
and opening the door, he spoke to
Maddy, who was just passing through
the hail. ' Dr. Holbrook wishes to
see you,' he said, as MaiMy came up to him:
and, holding the door for hei to enter, he
saw her take the seat ho had just vacated.
Then, closing it upon them, he walked away,
thinking that last night's party, or some-
thing, had produced a bad etfect upon him,
making him feel blue and and wretched, just
as he should suppose a criminal would feel
when about to be executed.

CHAPTER XVL

TUB DOCTOR AND MAUDY.

Now that they were alone, the do<'tor'8
courage forsook him, and he could only
staininer out 8(jme common-place icinarks
about the party, asking how Maddy liad
enjoyed it, and if she was sure she had
entirely recovered from the effects of her
fainting-tit. He was not getting on at all,
and it was impossible for him to say any-
thiiiL' as he had meant to say it. Wliy
couldn't she help him, instead of luokiiii; so
unsuspiciously at him with those l.irge,
biiylit eyes? Didn't she know iiow dear
she was to him ? He slioulil think she might.
Siie ought to have divined it ere this ; and
if so, why didn't she blush or do soinctliing '.'

At last slie came to his aid by saying,
'You promised to tell me about the brace-
lets and necklace, whether 1 ought keej)
them.'

'Yes, oh, yes, I bdieve I did.' And
g(!tting up from his chair, the doctor
began to walk the tloor. the lictter to
hide his confusion. ' N'es, the bi'acilits.
You look very pretty in tlicni, .Maddy. very;
but you are always pretty — ahem — yes. It
you were engiiged to (iiiy, J slioulii say it
was proper ; but if not, wiiy, 1 don"t knosv;
the fact is, Maddj. I am not (juite certain
what I in saying, so ycni must excuse me. 1
almost hattvl you that day you sent the not'',
telling me yon were coming to be exaiiiiih'd ;
but I had not seen you then. 1 liid not
know how, after a while — a very little wliile
— I should in all probability — well, 1 did : I
changed my mind, and I — 1 yuess you have
not the slightest idea what 1 mean.' And
stopping suddenly, he confronted the
astonished Maddy, who replied :

' Not the slightest, unless you are going
crazy. '

!She could in no other way account for \\\s
stiauicc conduct, and she sat stating a: him
while he continued :

' I told you once that when I wanted my
bill I'd let you know. I'd ask for pay. I
want it now. 1 present my bill.'

With a scared, miserable feeling, Maddy
listened to him, wondering where slie could
get the money, if it were possible for her
grandfather to raise it, ami how mu h lier
entire wardrobe would bring, suppose she
should sell it ! The bill had not troubled
her latterly, for she had fallen into a way of
believing that the doctor would wait until
she was graduated and could earn it \>y
teaching. Nothing could be more inoppor-
tune than for him to present it now ; and
with a half stifled sob she began to speak,

MADKLIN'K.

Iiut he sileiKcil her hy h ge.wturc, ami sittiii;.;
«l<)\\ii lii'siilc ht!r, liiiiil, ill u voici' iiidio iiatui-
.il tliiiu the Olio witii which he liad at ttmi
aihh'CfMi'd hiT :

' MatUly. I know you have no money. It
Im not that I want, NIatkly; I want- 1 want

you. '

Ih' Iteiit down over her now, for her face
Mas hidden in lier han(ls, ail Kense of sij^ht
»luit out, ail K( list- of licaiin;,', too, save tiie
words lie was luiiirin;;, into lier ear -words
wliich hurneil tlair way into lier lieart,
niakin;,' it throb for a single moment with
<,'ratilifd [dide and then j,'row lieavy as lead
US she l<iiew how impossible it was for her
to pay thf di'ht in tiie way which he ilcsircd.

' 1 can't doetor ; oh, I ean't I' she soljhed.
' I nevei' <lreamed of this ; never supposed
you could want me for your wife. I'm only
a little ;,'irl — only si.vteen last October — but
['ni so sorry for you, who have been so kind.
If 1 only eouM love you a.syou deserve! I do
love you tio ; hut not the way you mean. I
cannot l)e your wi:e ; no, doctor, I cannot.'

Slie was 8ohl)in^f piteously, and in his con-
cern for her the doctor forj^'ot somewhat the
stunning Mow he luid received.

'Pii't, Maddy.' he said, drawing her
ti'cmliiiiig form (d"Sely tohim. ' Don't he so
distressed. 1 did not much think you'd tell
me yes, and I was a fool to ask you. I am
too old ; but. Madily, (Juy is as old as I
am.'

The doctor diil not know why he saiil this,
ueless in tiie i'nat keenness of Ids disappi-int-
i!e-iit there was a satisfaction in telling her
th.u tlie ol>jection to his age would .apply
al.<o t'i(iuy. I>ut it did not affect Maildy
in tlie least, or give her the slightest inkling
of his nu'aning. He saw it did not, and the
pain was h'ss to bear, r^till he would know
ce; lainly if he had a rival, and he said to
her :

' Do you love some one else, Maddy ! Is
ar.other preferred before me, and is that the
reason vhv you cannot love me?'

' Xo, ' Maddy answered, through her tears.
' There is no one else. Whom should I love,
unless it were you? I know nobody but
^Ir. Remington,'

That name touched a sore, aching cord in
tiie doctor's lieart, but he gave no sign of the
jealousy which had troubled him, and for a
111 inient there was silence in the room ;
tlicii, as the doctor began to realize that
Maddy had refused him, there awoke within
him a more intense desire to win her than
he had ever felt before. He would not give
her up witliout another effort, and he pie "i-
ed again for her love, going over all the
past, and telling of the interest a ■ akened
when first she came to him that April after-

noon, almost two years aj?o ; then of the
little sick gill who had grown so into tli"
h( ai t never lietore uHeeted in the lea.nt h,N
woniaiihoo.l ; and lastly, of the beautifu'.
woman, as he calhd iier, sitting beside him
now in all the treshness of her younj< wo-
manhood. Madiiy, as she listened, felt for
him a strange kind of a pity, u wish to do
his bidding if she only could, and why
shouldn't she? (lirls had married those
whom they did not love, and been tolerably
happy witli them too, Perhaps she could
be so with the doctor, There was every-
thintr about him to resjiect, and much which
she could I)Ve. Should she try ? There
was a great lump in Maddy's throat as she
tried to sp' ak, iuit it cleaied away, and she
.said very sadly, but very earnestly, too ;

*I)r. Holliiook, would you like me to s; .
yes with my lips, when all the time the •
was sometliing at my heart tugging to jiw-
swer no ?'

This was not at all what Maddy meant to
say, but the words were born of her extreme
truthfulness, and the doctor thus learned the
nature of the struggle which he saw was
going on.

'No, Maddy, I wouhl not have jou say
yes, unless your heart was in it, 'he answered,
while he trieil to smile ujion the tearful face
looking up so sorrowtully at him.

Iiut the smile was a forlorn one, and there
came instead a t;;ar as he tlioii:;ht how dear
was tins girl who could never l)e ids. Maddy
saw the tear, and, as if she were a child,
wiped it from his cheek ; then, in tones
M'hich nevei' faltered, she told him it might
be that in time she sliouhl learn to love him.
She would try so hard, she would think of
him always as her )iromised husl)aiid, and by
tliat means should ham at last not to shrink
from taking him for such. It niigiit be ever
so long, and perha[)s s .c sli(juld be twenty or
more, but some time in the future she should
feel different. Was he satisfied, and would
ho wait?

Her little hand was resting on his shouhler,
but he did not mind its soft pressure or know
that it was there, so strong was tiie tempta-
tion to accept that half-made promise. But
the doctor was too noble, too unsellish, to
bind Maddy to himself unless she were
wholly willing, ami he .said to her that if she
did not love him now she probably never
would. She could not make love. She
need not try, as it would onlj' result in her
own unhappiness. They would be friends
just as they always had been, and none need
know of W'hat passed between them, except
Guy. 'I must tell him,' the doctor said,
' because he knew that I was going to ask
you. •

MADKLINK.

Wiis

face

Maddy could not explain why it was tlin*
.!ic felt gl.'id tlic diH'tor wnild toll (lily-
Sin! did ni)L auiily/.n any of Ikt fctdingH, or
stop to a.slv why «lii! .slioidil can: h> ii'Uc (liiy
Keiniiij,'ton knos\- tlic all^^^■c|■ hIic !ifid yivcu
i>r. H')ll)ii)oU. lie wax L'liiiu tu l.ini now,
she wassiu'c, tor he ar'»Mc l . leave h.r, s.iyinu
lie iriiglit n<'t huo lier aj,'ain hcfoic >-li • r^ turn-
ed to New \'ork. She dill not mention his
liill. That was ainiuij,' the Itye /^nnew, a thinu'
never again to be talked .ilxnit ; ami I'tVerini;
him her hand, .siie looked fur an instant
earnestly into hia face, and th«n, witimnt a
woi'd, hurried from the mom, while tlie doc-
tor, with a sad, heavy hoait, went in quest
of Guy.

'Refused you, did you say?' and (Iny's
faoo certainly loi)ke(' brighter than it had
before since lie left tiie doctor with Maddy
Clyde.

' Yes, refused me, as I niiglit have known
she would,' was the do(;tnr'» repl}-, Kpuken
so naturally that (!ny looked up (juiekly to
see if he really did not care.

But the expression of tin; face belied the
calmness of the voice ; and, t )iu;he(l with
genuine pity, (iiiy asked the cause of the re-
fusal — 'Preference for anyone else, or
what ? '

' No, there was no one whom she prefer-
red. She merely did not like ine well enough
to be my wife, tiiat was all." tlie doctor s;iid,
and then he t. ied to talk of something else ;
but it would not do. Tlio woiiinl was yet
too fresh and sore to be covered up, and in
spite of himself the bearded chin qniveretl
and the manly voice sliook as he l)a(le good-
bye to (Uiy, and then went galloping down
the avenue.

Great was the consternation among the
doctor's patients when it was known that
their pet phy.sician - the one in whose skill
they had so nuicli confid Mice -was going to
Europe, wherein I'aris he could perfect him-
self in his profession. .Some cried, and
among thein Agnes ; some said he knew
enough already ; some tried to dissuade hi n
from his purpose : some wondered at the
sudden start, while only two knew exactly
why he was giing-Guy and Maddy; the
former approving his decision, and lending
his influence to make his tour abroad as
pleasant as possible ; and the lat:er weeping
bitterly as she thought how she had sent
him away, and that if aught bi fell him on
the sea or in that distant land, she would be
held responsible. Once there came over her
the wild impulse to bid him stay, to say

that .she would be hia wife ; Imt, before tlie

rash act was d< , «iiiy came dnwn to the

cottage, and Ma«ldy'8 resolution gave way
at (ince.
[ It would In- dilb ■nit to tell the exact
nature of Middy's liking for Guy at tliaL
time. !liid he olteii'd ininself to her, sh"
would )irobaI)ly liavi^ ret'usei him even more
liinniptly tlriu .-ihe did the doctor ; for, t"
all 1 iieiits ,'<n<l purpii.ses, he w.im. in her
estimatimi, tlie Inisband of Lin.'y .\t lierstoni'.
As siicli, tliero w;is no harm in making; him
her paragon of all mah,' excelleiK'e ; and G'ly
woiihl have felt flattered, could he have
kiiiiwii iiow miieh he was in tiiat young
gill's mind. Uiit now for a fe>v days li>' had
a rival, lor Madtly's thoiudits were all
given to the tloetor, wiio came down
to see her once betore staitirig for Kiirope.
She did not cry while he was there, but lier
voice was strange and hoarse as she gave him
messages for l.iicy .Athc'i'stone ; and all that
day her face was white and sad, as are faces
of those who come liack from burying their
dead.

Only once after the party did she go uji
to Aikensiile, and then, summoning all her
fortitude, she gave back to Guy the brace-
lets and the necklace, telling luni she ought
11 )t to wear them -that ornaments so rich as
these were iiut for her — that her graiidn'otlier
did not wish her to k(>ep them, and he niiist
take them back, (iiiy s.iw she was in
eainest, ami much against iiis will he re-
ceived again the ornaments he had been so
happy in p.ircliasing.

' They will do for .Jessie when she is
older,' Maddy said; but (iiiy thought it
very doul>tml whether Jessie would ever
have them. They were something he had
bought for Maddy, something she had worn,
and dn such they were too sacred to gi\e to
another. So lie laid them away beside the
picture guarded so carefully from every one.

Two weeks afterward Aikenaide presented
again a desolate, siuit-up appearance, for
Agnes, Maddy ami .Icssie had returne<l to
N<'W York ; Agnes to continue the siege
which, in despair of winning the doctor, she
had commenced against a rich old bachelor,
who had a house on Maddisoii .S([uare ; and
Madilj' to hor books, which ere long oblir,er-
ated. in a measure, the bitter memory of all
that had transpired during her winter va-
cation.

CHAPTKR Xlir.

WOMANHOOD.

Two years passed quickly, part'o ilarly at
school, and to Madiiy Clyde, taUing with

MADKLINK.

Iier coinpaniona of the coming holidays, it
Hot'iiw'il lijinlly poH.-iihlo that two whole yoars
wen' jioiw Ninctr thu oveiitful vaciitioii whon
I)r. llMllutxik liinl HOHtartK'il \wr by oH'i'iiiij;
lier his Imiid. Ho was in KurDpo still, aiui
iinothir naiiio tlian his was on the littlu
otli 'u ill Mrs. Uiiiiiui's yard. Tu Maddy ho
niiw wiotr fn'iiiifiitly ; fricmlly, familiar
1 ttiTM, Miich as a hiothiT mi;,'lit writi', iinv»'r
ri iVniiii; to the past, hut lt'llinj{ her what-
ever ht' tlioui,dit svoulil inttTi'st and pii-aso
her. OicasionaUv, at tir.st, and 'iinrc fn!-
<|Ui'ntly attrwards, lit' .s|)()ko of Mirgarct
At urstone, liUcy'a yoiin^'fst aistcr, a hril-
liaiit, hraiitilul j^irl, who reminded him. ho
said, of .\Iadily, only Hhe was saiicior, and
miMii ut a fi-a.se ; not at all liKc Lucy, wliom
lie di'soril)c<l as sonicthinj^ pci'fi'ctly an;,'»dic.
Il(>r twt!i;ty-tiftli luithda^ fniiiid iicr on a
sii'k hfil, witli !>r. liolljrook in attendance,
and liiis was tin' iiM^on L'iven wliy the mar-
riage between hcM'If and (Jiiy wa.sa^^aiii de-
ferred. There had been many weeks of
pain, succH'i'd(Ml by long, weary months of
langonr, and during all this time the doctor
had been with her as the family phv sician.
while Margaret also iiad been con:iitaHtly in
att(-iidanee.

Uiit Lucy was miioli better now. Slie
eoiild sit up all day, and even walk a Itttic
distance, as.sisted by the doctor and Mar-
garet, wliDso name had come to be almost as
familial- to Maddy as was that of Lncy.
Ami M.iddy, in tliiiiKiiig of Margaret, .sijine-
tiiut's \\on(lcr"d 'if—.' but never went any
further than that. Neither did she ask fiiiy
a word sliout her, though she knew he must
have seen her. She diil not say much to
him of fjucy, but she wondered why he did
not go for her, and wanted to talk to him
ab )ut it, but he was so changed that she
dared not. He was not sociable, as of old,
and Agnes did not hesitate to call him cross,
while Jessie complained that he never
romped or played with her now, but sat all
day long in a dee)) reverie of some kind.

On this account Maddy did not look
forward to the coming vacation as joy-
fully as she would otherwise have
done. .Still, it was always pleasant going
home, and she sat talking with her young
friends of all tliey expected to do, when a
servant enteretl the room, and glancing over
the group of girls, singled Maddy out.saying,
as he placed tlie unsealed envelope in her
liand, ' A telegram for Miss Clyde.'

There was a i)lur before Maddy's eyes, so
that at first she could not see clearly, and
Jessie, climbing on the bench beside her
read aloud ;

' Your grandmother is dying. Come at

once. Agues and Jessie will stay till ne\
week.

Gov Rkminotow. '

It was inipoSHiblr to go that afternoon, bin
with the earliest dawn .Maddy was up, and
unmindful of the snow falling so rapidly,
started on that sad juurney hoim-. It wah
tne first genuine storm of the season, and it
seemed resolved on making amcmls for pattt
neglect, sweeping in fiinous gusts against
till' window.s, Mfting down in thirk niasHen
from the laden .sky, and so impeding the
progress of the train that the ciiill wintr\
niyht had closed gloomily in ere the Sommet-
ville station was reached, and .Niaddv, weary
and dispirited, stepped out upon the platform,
glancing an.xioiisly arournl for the usual
omnibus, which she had little hope would be
there on such a night. If not, what would
she do? This had been the burden of her
thoughts for the last few hours, for she
could not expect (j!uy to send out his horses
in this fearful storm, much less to be there
liiinself. ihit(Jiiy was there, audit was his
\oicc which first greeted her as she stooil
iialf blinded by the snow, uncertiin what
shi; must do next.

'Ah, .Mr Ktiinington, 1 didn't expect this.
I am so glad, and how kind of you to wait
for me I' *iie exclaiiiuHl, iier voice expressing
her delight, and ain|)ly repaying the young
man, who h id not lx;en very patiiMit or
iiappy tiiroiigh the six long hours of waiting
he had endured.

But he was both happy and patient now,
with Miuldy's hand in his, and pressing it
very gently he Icil her into the ladies' room ;
then making her sit tlown before the tire, he
brushed her .snowy garments himself, and
dashing a few flakes from her disordered
hair, told her what she so eagerly wished to
know. Her grandmother had had a paraly-
tic stroke.aml the only word she had uttered
since was "Maddy." Guy had not been
down himself, but he had .sent Mrs. No.di as
soon as Farmer (Jreen had brought the news.
She was there yet, the storm having pre-
vented her return.

'And grandma?' Maddy gasped, fixing
her eyes wistfully upon him. ' Do you
think her dead ? '

No, Guy did not, and stooping he asked if
he should not remove from the little feet
resting on the stove hearth the over-shoes, so
full of melting snow. Maddy cared nothing
for her stioes or herself just then. She hardly
knew that Guy was taking them off, much
less that as he bent beside her, her hand lay
lightly upon his shoulders as she continued
her questionings.

' She is not dead, you say ; but do you

thi(
teh{

ingf

pao
sail
paiil
of r[
till

did
in hi
the

MADKLINK.

tliiiik- <locB auylKi'ly think abe'll dio ! Yoiir
t»!l«grfiiM siiid " flyiiij,'. " '

Nliuldy «ns not to be deceived, aiui tlnnk-
iii^' it Knst to l)(! frank with her, (Juy told
111' ^liiit till' pliytiician, whom he hud taken
imi...! toHiio on JiiH way to tlio depot, liad
Maid there wan no hope. Old ngrt and an im-
paired eonctitution prechnled the poMMil>ility
of recovery, but lie trnrtted she miji^ht hvc
till the young lady ednic.

' Slie miiHl -she will I Oli, ^ramlma.why
did f ever leave her? ' and biiryini^ hei' face
in her iiands Maddy eried j)at<aionately.wiiilfl
the J»Ht three yearn of her life paHHcd in
rapid review before her mind — ytars which
«ihe had p:i.^sed in luxniioiin etse, Inavinc; her
^'ruiidmotiiiM' to toil in tho luind^le cottajU[p,
and die '.'.'I'.out o;ip p.utinj^' word from Iier.

The fteliiig that porliann she had licen
gnilt.v of negipot W}« the bitterest of all, and
Maddy wept on.unmindfnl of Ciny'a attempts
to Hootho iier. At laat, an she heard a olock
in the adjoinin;,' room strike t'i,!,dit, who
started up, exclaiming, ' I have staid too
long. I must go now. Is there any con-
veyance here?

'But, M.uldy,' (Juy rejoined, 'you cannot
po to-ni,L,'ht. T!ie roads Iictwecu hero and
J tonediile are one unbroken snow-bank. It
would take hours to y)reak throuj^h ; besides
you are too tired. You need rest, and must
come with me to Aikcnside, where you are
expected, for when I found how late tlic
train would be, I seiit word to have your
room and the parlours warmed, and a nice
hot i-uj)!) V ■ eady for us. ^'ou'Il surely go
with me, it 1 thiidi heat.'

Guy's manner was moi-e like a lover than
u ... ;.-, I'Ut .M;i Idy \\ .,.i i:i no .state to re-
mark it. Shi' only felt an intense desire to
go iiome, and tur'niiig a deaf ear to all he
could urge, replied :

' You don't know how dear grandma is to
me, or you would not ask me to day. She's all
the mother I ever knew, and I must go.
Think, would you stay if the one you loved
best was dying? '

' But th« one I love best is not dying, so I
can reason clearly, Maddy.'

Here Guy checked liin],solf, and listened
while Maddy asked again if there was no
conveyance tliere as usual.

'None but mine,' said Guy, while Maddy
continued faintly :

' And yen are afraid it WiU kill your
horses ? '

' Xo, it would only fatigue them greatly.
It's for y )u T fear. You've borne enough
to-day."

• Then Mr. Remington, oh, please send
me. I shall die at Aikenside John wi 1
diite me, I kuovv. He used to like me, I'll

a«k liim.'and Maddy wan going in quc^t of
the Aikenside coinhman, when Guy held
her liaek, and said :

'.lohn will go if I bni him. But you,
Maddy if I thou'/nt it whb safe."

' It is. Oh, let nie go, and Maddy gran|M!d
bntii his hands I', it'chingly.

h iherr wa» a mm who irould resist the
elofpient appeal of Maildy's eyes at that mo-
metit, tho man Wi»H not (Juy Jlemington,
and leaving her alone, lio went to .lolin,
asking iiim if it would be p )s.-,il)le to get
through to ilonedale that night.

.Font! dmok his heatl decitledly, hiit when
(iiiy evplained Maddy's distress and anxiety,
tlie iirt,'ro began to relent, particularly a.s he
saw his young master too was interested,

'I'll kill them hr.rsfs,' he said ; 'hut
mabhy that's nothin' to please the girls '

' If we only had runners now, instead of
wheels, John,' (Juy said, after a moment's
reflection. ' Drive back to Aikensiilo as
fast as possible, and change the carriage for
a covered sleigh. Leave the grays at home
and take a pair of farm horses. They can
endure more. Tell Flora to send my travel-
ing sliawl — Miss Clyde may need it— and an
extra carriage robo, and a bottle of wine,
and my buckskin gloves, and bring Tom
with you, and a snow-shovel, we may have
to dig.'

' Yea, yes. I know,' and tying liis muffler
about his throat, Jahn started otT through
the storm, his mind a confused medley of
ideas, tin- neiiii points of which were, bot-
tles of wine, snow-shovels, and the fact that
his master was either crazy or in love.

Meanwhile, with the prospect of
going home, Maddy had grown
rpiiet, and did not refuse the
supper of buttered toast, muffins, steak and
hot coffee, u hioh (luy (-rdered f'-om the small
hotel just in rear of the depot. Ti»'cd, ner-
vous, and almost helpless, she allowed Guy
himself to ])repare the coH'ec, taking it from
his hand a ;d drinlcing it at his bidding as
obedii'utly as a child. There was a feeling
of delicious rest in beinc cartel for thus, and
but for the dying one at Honedale she would
have enjoyed it vastly. As it was, however,
she never for a moment ft.rgot her grand-
mother — though shedi'i forget, in a measure,
her .anxiety, and was able to think h /W ex-
ceedingly kind Guy was. He was like what
he used to be, she thought, only kinder ; and
ihinking it was because she was in trouble

slie accepted all liislittle atti'iitioiis willingly,
feeling liow pleasant it was to have him
there, and thinking once with a half shudder
of the long cold ride 1/efore her, when Guy
would no longer be present, and also of the

MADELINE.

!' >

■:.■(•
I;: i':

'< ii

I'.'

; I
11

dreary home where death might possibly be
a guest ere she could reach it.

It was after nine when John appeared, his
•crisp wool powdered with snow, which
ching to his outer garments, and literally
covered bis dark cloth cap.

'The snow was mighty deep,' he said,
bowing to Maddy, ' and the wind was
getting colder. It was a hard time Miss
Clyde would have, and hadn't she better
wait ? '

' Drive close to the platf 'm, ' Guy said to
John, and the covered sieigli was soon
brought to the point designated. ' Now
then, Maddy, I won't let you run the risk of
covering your feet with snow. I shall carry
j'ou myself,' Guy said, and before Maddy
was fully aware of his intentions, he liad
her in his arms, and was bearing her to the
sleifi;!).

Very carefully he drew the soft, warm robe
about her, shielding her as well as he could
from the cold. ; then pulling his own fur
collar about his ears, he sy.rang in beside
her, and, closing the door behind I.im, bade
John drive on.

' But, Mr. Remington, ' Maddy exclaimed
in much surprise, ' surely you are not going,
too'' You must not! Jt is asking more
than I expected. Please don't go ! '

' Would you r.'.ther I should not — that
is. aside from any inconvenience it may
be to nie — would you ratliif go alone?'
Guy asked ; and Maddy rt'i)Iii(l :

• Oh, no. I was dreading the long ride,
but did not dream of your going. You will
shorten it so mucli.'

' Then I shall be paid for going,' was
Guy's response, as lie drew still more closely
around her the fancy robe.

The roads, thougli badly drifted in some
places, were not as bad as Guy hail feared,
and the strong horses kept steadily on ;
while Maddy, growing more and jjiore fa-
tigued, at last fell away to sleep, and ceased
to answer Guy. For a time he watched her
di'oopiny head, and then, carefully '■.'•awing
it to him, made it rest upon his shoulder,
while he wound his arm around her slight
figure, and so supported her. He knew she
was sleeping quietly, by hei' gentle breath-
ings ; and once or twice he involuntarily
passed his hand caressingly over her soft,
round cheek, feeling the blood tingle to his
finger-tips as he thought of his jiosition
there, with Maddy Clyde sleeping in lili,
arms. What would Lucy saj- could ahe see
him? And the doctor, witi; his strict ideas
of i;ightand wrong, wonM he oV)ject? Guy
did not know, and, with his usual indepen-
dence, he did not care. At least lie said to
himself he did ni)t ;ai'e; and so. bani.shinif

both the doctor and Lucy from his mind, he
abandoned himself to the happiness of the
moment — a singular kind of happiness, inas-
much as it merely consisted in the fact that
Maddy Clyde's voung head was pillowed on
his bosom, and that, by bending down, he
could feel her sweet breath on his face.
Occasionally there flitted across Guy's mind
a vague, uneasy consciousness that though
the act was, under the circumstances, well
enoutjh, the feeling which prompted it were
not such as either the doctor or Lucy would
approve. But they were far away ; they
would never know unless he told them, as
he probably should, of this ride on that win-
try night ; this ride, which seemed to him
so short that he scarcely believed his senses
when, without once having been overturned
or called upon to use the shovels so thought-
fully provided, the carriage suddenly came
to a halt, and he knew by the dim light
shining through the low window that the
red cottage Vi as re.»ohed.

Grandma Markham was dying but she
knew Maddy, and the palsied lips worKed
painfully as they attempted to utter tie
loved name ; v^ hjle her wasted face lighted
up with eager joy as Maddy's arms
were twined about her neck, and
she ^olt Maddy's kisses on her cheek
and 'jiow. Couiu she not speak ? Would
si e ues'er speak again, Maddy asked despair-
ingly, and her grandfather replied :

' Never more, likely. The only thing she's
said since the shock was to call your name,
Siie's missedyou desperately this winterback;
more than ever before, I think. So have we
all, but we w juld not send for youj— Mi. Q^iy
said you were learning; so fast. '

* Oh, grandpa, why didn't you? I would
have come so willingly, ' and for an instant
Maddy's eyes Hashed reproachfully upon the
recreant Guy, standing aloof from the little
group gathered around the bed, his arms
folded together, and a n'oody look upon his
face.

He was thinking of what had not yet
entered Maddy's mind, thinkirg of the
futii'.c- — Mad<ly's future, when the atjed form
upon the bed should be gone, and the two
comparatively helpless men be left alone.

' But it shall not be. The sacrifice is far
too great. I can prevent it, and I will,' he
muttered to himself, as he turned to watch
the gray dawn breaking in the east.

(iuy was a puzzle to himself. He would
not admit that during the past year his lik-
ing for Maddy Clyde had yrown to sfonie-
thing stronger than mere friendship, nor

MADELINPJ.

mind, he
3SS of the
less, inas-
fact that
llowed on
down, he
his face,
ay's mind
it though
ices, well
;d it were
icy would
i^ay ; they
i them, as
that win-
ed to him
his senses
iverturned
thought-
enly came
dim light
7 that the

but she

ps worKed
utter tie
ice liglited
ly's arms
(ck, and
her cheek
? Would
id despair-
i:

thing she's
'Our name,
inter back;
>o have we
—Mi . Q^ty

I would
an instant
y upon the
the little
his arms
i upon hicj

id not yet
g of the

aged form
d tlie two
t alone,
ihce is far

I will,' he

I to watch

He would
ear his lik-

II to sotne-
lup, nor

yet that his feelings toward Lucy had umler-
fi[one a change, prompting him not to go to
her when she was sick, and not to be
sorry as he ought that the marriage was
again deferred. Lucy liad no suspicion of
the change, and her child-like trust in liim
was the anchor which held liim still true to
lier in int -ntions at least, if not in reality.
He knew from her letteiy how much shu had
learned to like Maddy Clyde, and so, he
urged, there was no harm in lii.s liking her,
too. She was a splendid girl, and it sccincil
a pity that her lot should have heeii so
humbly cast. This was usually the drift ot
his thoughts in connection with her ; and
now, as he stood there in tiiat cottage,
Maddy's home, they reciUTcd to him with
ben-fold intensity, for he foivisaw that a
5-truggle was before him if he rescued .\Lid(ly
as he meant to do from her approaciiing fate.

No such thoughts, however intruded tliem-
aelves on Maddy's mind. Siie did not look
away from the present, except it were at the
past, in wdiich she feared she had
erred, in leaving her grandmother too much
alone. But to her passionate appeals for
forgiveness, 'f she had ever neglocted
the dying one, there came back only
loving looks and mute caresses, the age I
hand smoothing lovingly the bowed head, or
pressing fondly the girlisli clieeks.

^Vith the coming of daylight, nowever.
there was a change ; and Maddy, listening !
intently, heard what .sonndt-d like her naine. I
The tied tonu;ue was loosed for a little, and |
in tones scarcely artieuiate, the ois(;iple who \
for long years had served her Heavenly ,
Fatlicr faithfully, bore te-tiinony to the i
blessed truth that God's promist's to those I
who love Him are not mere promises — tliat i
He will go with them tlirough the river of
death, disarining the fainting soul of every
fear, and making tlie dying beil the gate of
Heaven. This tribute to the Saviour was
her first thought, while tiio second wa.s a
Idessiiig for her darling, a charge to seek tiic
narrow way now in life's early morning.
Disjointed sentences they were, but Maddy
understood tliem all, treasuring up every
word even to tiie last, the wonls so painfully
uttered : ' You — will — care — and — comfort

She did not say whom, but Maddy knew
whom she meant ; and without then real-
izing the magnitude of the act, virtually ac-
cepted the burden from which Guy was so
anxious to save her.

CHAPTER XVIIL

THE BURDEK.

Grandma Markham was dead, and the
covered sleigh, which lave in the afternoon
plowed its way heavily back to Aikcnside
carried only Mis. Noah, who, with her fore-
head tieil ii|) in knots, sat back among the
cushions, thinking not of the jKat'cfnl dead,
gone forever to the rest wiiich remains for
the people of (Jod, but of the wayward (iuy,
who had resisted all hor cllortd to persuade
Idin to return with hei'. instead of staying
where he was not needcd^^and where his
presence was a restr.tini, to all save one, and
that one Maddy, fnr whose sake he staid.

' She'd ])e vuinnied,' the indignant old
lady Slid. ' if she would not write to Lucy
herself if Guy did not (piit Ids doin's ; ' and
thus resolving she kept on her way, while the
object of her wrath was, it may be, more
than half repenting of his decision to stayj
inasnuicli as he hegan to have an unpleas-
ant Conseiousneas of being in everybody's
way.

Inthehrst hour of Maddy's bereavement
he had not s])oken with her, hut had kept
himself aloof from the room where, with her
grandfather and Uncle .Icscph, she sat, hold-
ing the por aching head of the latter in her
lap and trying to speak a word of consola-
ti(m to the old, brol;iMi-hoarted man, whose
hand was grasped in hers. But Maddy
knew hi' was there. Slie could hear his
voice each tune he spoke to Mrs. Noah, and
t!iat made the dosolatiun easier to bear. vShe
dill not look forward to the time when he
wouhi be gone ; and when at last he told her
he was going, she started quickly, and with
a gush of tears, exclaimed : ' No, no ! oh,
no I

'Maddy,' Guy whispered, bending over
the strange trio, 'wonhl you rather I should
stay ? Will it be pleasanter for you if I

do y

' Yes — I don't kno.v. I guess it would'
not be so lonely. Oh, it's terrible to have
grandmother dead !' was Maddy's response :
after which tiny would liave staid if a whole
regiment of Mrs Xoahs had confrontetl him
instead of one.

Maddy wished it ; that wa^ reason enough
for him ; and giving a few directions to
John, he staid, thereby disconcerting the
neigh Injuring women who came in to perform
the last offices for the dead, and who wished
the young man from Aikenside was any-
wlicie b :t there, criticising all their move-
ments, as they vainly fancied he was.
But Guy thought only of Maddy, watching
lier ao carefully that more than one meaninj;

MADELINE.

I': 'I

for Grandma
the lounge in
empty — when
had been sent
drivea away,

glance was exchanged between the women,
who, even over the inanimate form of the
dead, spoke togetlier of what might possi-
bly occur, and Mondering what would be the
effect on (Jrandpa Markham and Uncle
Joseph. Who would take care of them ?
And then, in case Maddy should feel it her
duty to stay there, as they half-hoped she
would, they fell to pitying the young girl,
who seemed now so wholly unfitted for the
burden.

Tu Maddy there came no definite thought
of the future during the two days that white,
rigid form lay in tlie cuttage ; but when, at
last the deep grave made
Markham was occupied, and
the little front room was
the Aikensidc carriage, which
down for the mourners, had
taking both Guy and Mrs. Noah —
when the neighbours, too, had gone,
leaving only herself and the little
girl who had been hired as help sit-
ting by the fire, with the grandfather and the
imbecile Uncle Joseph — then it was that she
first besran to feel tlie pressure of the bur-
den — began to ask herself if she could live
thus always, or at least for as long as either
of the two helpless men were spared.
Maddy was young, and tlie world as she had
seen it was verj' bright and fair, 'brighter far
than a life of laborious toil, and for a while
the idea that tiie latter alternative must be
accepted niaile her dizzy and fiiut.

As if divining her th'inghts, the poor old
grandfather, in his prayers that night, asked
in trembling tones, which showed how much
he felt what he was sayi-ig, that God would
guide his darling in all she did, and give hrr
wisdom to make the proper decision , that if
it were best she mii^ht be happy tl*ore with
them, but if not, 'Oh, Father, Father !' he
sobbed, ' help me and Joseph to bear it.' Ho
could pray no more aloud, and the gray head
remained bowed down upon the chair, wliile
Uncle Joseph, in his crazy way, took up the
theme, begging like a very child that Maddy
might be inclined to stay — that no. young
man with eui-iinjr hair, a diamond cross, and
smell of HUisk, niigiit be p'.;rniitted to come
near her with enticing looks, but that she
might stay as she was and die an oM maid
forever ! This was the substance of Uncle
Joseph's prayer, which set the hired girl to
titterine;, and would have wrung a smile
from Maddy herself had she not felt all tiie
Btrange petition implied.

With the waywardness natural to people
in his condition, Uncle Joseph that night
turned to Maddy for the little services his
sister had formerly rendered, and which,
linco her illness, Grandpa Markham had

done, and would willingly do still. But
Joseph refused to let him. Maddy must
untie his cravat, unbutton his vest, and take
off his shoes, and after he was in bed,
Maddy must sit by his side holding his hand
until he fell away to sleep. And Maddy did
it cheerfully, smoothing him quiet, and keep-
ing back her own choking sorrow for the
sake of comforting him. Then, v^hen this
task was done, she sought her grandfather,
still sitting before the kitchen fire and evi-
dently waiting for her. The little hired girl
had retired, and thus there wae no barrier to
tree conversation between them.

' Maddy, ' the old man said, 'come sit close
by me, where I can look into your face, while
we talk over what must be done.'

With a half shudder, Maddy drew a
stool to her grandfather's feet, and resting
her head upon his knee, listened while
he talked to her of the future, and told her
all her grandniotlier had done ; told of his
own lielplessness ; of the trial it was to care
for Uncle Joseph, and then in faltering tones
asked who was going to look after them
now, ' We can't live here alone, Maddy.
We can't. We're old and weak, and want
some one to lean oa. Oh, why didn't (iod
take us with her, Joseph and me, and that
would leave you free, to go baek to the
school, and the life which f know is plea-
santer tiian to stay here vith us. Oh,
Maddy ! its comforts me to h'.w at you — to
hear your voice, to know that thougli I don't
see you every minute, you are somewhere,
and by and by you'll come in. I shan't live
long, and may be .Joseph won't. God's
promise is to thoin who honour father and
mother. It'll be hard for you to stay, hard-
er than it was once ; bht Maddy ! stay with
me, stay with me !— stay with your old
grandpa !'

In his earnestness he grasped her arm, as
if he thus wouUl hold her while the tears
rained over his wrinkled face. For a mo-
ment Maddy made no response. She had
no intention of leaving him, but the burden
was pressiiif^ heavily and her ton<,'ue refused
to move. Madily then was a stranger to the
reli^'ion which w.as sustaining 1: grand-
f itlier in his o;reat trouble, but the teachings
of tier childhooil had not been in vain. She
WttN '^Jod's covenant chihi. His protecting
presence was over and around her, moving
her to the right. New York, with its gay
sights ; her school, where in another year
she was to graduate ; the trip to the Cats-
kills which Guy had promised Mrs Agnes,
Jessie and herself ; Aikenside, with its
luxurious ease — all these must be given up,
while, worse than all the rest, Guy, too,
must be given up. He would not come to

MADELINE.

Honedale often ; the place was not to his
taste, and in time he would cease to care for
her as he cared for her now. ' Oh, that
would be dreadful !' she groaned aloud,
while her thoughts went backward to that
. ight ride in the snow storm, anii the num-
berloss attentions he had paid then. She
should never ride with him again — never ;
and Maddy moaned bitterly, as she l)€gan to
realize for the first time how much slie liked
( luj" Remington, and how the giving him up
and his society was the hardest part of all.
But Maddy had a brave young heart, and at
last, winding her arms around her grand -
lather's neck, she whispered : ' I will not
ieavo you, grandpa I'll stay in grandmo-
ther's place.'

Surely Heaven would answer the
blessings which the delight d old man
whispered over the young girl,
taking so cheerfully the burden from which
many would have shrank.

With her grandfather's hand upon her
head, Maddy could almost feel that tlic bless-
ing wa.s descending ; but in lier own little
room, where she had lain sick for so many
weary weeks, her courage began to give way,
and the burden, magnitied tenfold by her
nervous weakness, lofiked heavier then she
could l>ear. How could slie stay tliei'e.going
through each day with the sauie routine of
literal drudgery — drudgery which would not
end until the two for whom she made tlie
sacrifice were dead.

' Oh, is there no way to escape, no help ?'
she moaned, as she tossed from side to side.
' Must my life be wasted here ! Surely '

Maddy did not iinish the sentence, for
something checked the words of repining,
and she seemed to hear again her grand-
father's voice as it reiieated the promise to
those who keep with their whole souls the
tifth commandment.

' I will, I will,' she cried, while into her
heart there crept an intense longing for the
love of Him who alone could make her task a
light one. ' If 1 were good, like grandma,
I could bear everytliing, ' she thought, and
turning upon hei pillow, Maddy prayed an
earnest, cliildibh prayer, that God would
help her to do right ; that he would take
from her the i)r(iud spirit which rebelled
against her lot because of its loneliness, that
pride and love; of her own ease and advance-
ment in preference to other's good might all
be siilnlueil ; in short, Ihat she might be
Ucd's child, walking where He appcjiuted her
to w i!k without a murmur, and doing cheer-
fully His will.

Aikenside, and school, and the Catakill
mouiilai::^ were easier to abandon after that
prayer ; but when she thought of Guy, the

fiercest, sharpest pang nhe had ever felt shot
through her heart, making her cry out so
quickly that the little hired girl who shared
her bed moved as if about to waken ; but
Maddy lay very quiet until all was still
again, when, turning a second time to (Jod,
she tried to pray, tried to give up what to
her was the dearest idol, but she could not
say the words, and ere she knew what she
was doing she found herself a^kini,' thai
Guy should not . forsake her. " L«t him
come,' she sobbed, ' let Guy come sometimes
to see me. '

Once the tempter whispered to her, that
had she accepted Dr. Holbrook she would
have been spared all thi.s, but Maddy
turned a deaf ear to tiiat suggestion. Dr.
Holbrook was too noble a man to have
an unloving wife, and not for a moment did
she repent of her decision with regard to
him. She almost knew he would s>y now
that she was right in re'usinsi him, and right
in staying there, as she must. Thoughts of
the doctor quieted her, she helieved, not
knowing that Heaven was already owning
its submissive child, and breathing upon it
a soothing benediction. The moan of the
wind an<l the sound of the snow beating
against her little window ceased to aniujy
her. Heaven, happiness, Aikenside and
Guy, all seemed blended into one great good,
just within her reach, and when the long
clock below the stairs struck three she did
not hear it, hut with the k-ar-stains upon her
face she lay nestled among the pillows,
dreaming that her grandmother had come
back from the bright world of glory to bless
had darling child.

It was broad noon ere Maddy awoke, and
starting up, she looked about her in bewil-
derment, wondering where she was and
what agency hatl been at work in her room,
transforming it from the cold, comfortlesi
apartment she entered the previous night,
into the cheery-looking chamber, with a
warm fire blazing in the tiny Hre-place, a
rug spread down upon the hearth, a rocking-
chair drawn up before it, and all traces of
the little hired girl as completely obliter.ited
as if she had never been. During her grand-
mother's illness, Maddy's room had l>een
left to the care of the hired girl, Nettie, and
it wore a neglocted, rude aspect, which had
gratetl on Maddy'f finer fcp ings, and mada
everything so uninviting. 15ut this morning
all was changed. Some skilful hand had
been busy there while she slept, and Maddy
was wondering who it W)uld be, when the
door opened cautiously and Flora's good,
humoured face looked in — Flora from Aiken,
side. Maddy knew now t<> whom she wa«
indebted for all this comfort, and with a cry

' I". •

MADELINE.

-t

of joy she welcomed the girl, whose very
presence brought back something of the life
with which slie had p.arted forever.

'Flora, 'she exchiimeil, *how came you
here, and did you make this tire, and arrange
the room for me ?'

' Yes, I made the fire, ' Flora replied, ' and
tixed up the things a little, hustlin' that
young one's goods out of here,because it was
not fit for for you to be sleeping with her.
Mr. Remington was angry enough when he
found it out.'

' Mr. Remington, Flora ? How should he
know of our sleeping arrangements ' Maddy
asked, but Flora evaded a direct reply, saying,
* There were enough ways for things
to get to Aikenside ;' then continuing, 'How
tired you nnist be, Miss Maddy, to sleep so
sound as never to hear me at all, thougli to
be sure I tried to be still as a mouse. But
let me help you dress. It's neaily noon,
and you must be hungry. I've got your
breakfast all ready. '

' Thank you, Flora, I can dress myself,'^
Maddy said, stepping out upon the floor, and
feeling that the world was not so dark as it
liad seemed to her wlieu last night she came
lip to her chamber.

God was comforting her already, and as
she made her simple toilet, she tried to
thank Him for His goodness, and ask for
grace to make her wliat she ought to be.

' You have not yet told me why you came
here,' slie said to Flora, who was busy mak-
ing her bed ; and who replied, ' It's Mr,
Remington's work. Ho
come, as you would need
set to rights, so you
school.'

Maddy felt her heart coming up in her
throat, but she answered calndy, ' Mr. Rem-
ington is very kind— so are you all ; but,
Flora, I am not going back to school.'

' Not going back !' and Flora stopped her
bed makmg, while she stared blankly at
Maddy. ' What are you going to do ?'

' Stay here and take care of grandpa, '
Maddy said, bathing her face and neck in
the cold water, which could not cool the
feverisii heat she felt spreading all over
them.

' Stay here ! You are crazy, Miss Mad-
dy ! 'Tain"t no place tor a girl like you,
and Mr. Remington never will suffer it, I
know,' Flora rejoined, as siie resinned her
work, thinking tihe ' yiiould die to lie moped
up in that nutshell uf a iioiise. '

With a little sigh as .she foresaw tlie ojipo-
sitioii slie should pi'obably meet with hum
Guy, Maddy went on with lier toiiet, which
was soo'i completed, as it did not take long
to ananye the dark calico dress and plain

thought I'd better
help to get things
could go back to

inen collar which she wore. She was not
as fresh-looking as usual that morning, for
excitement and fatigue had lent a paleness
to her cheek, and a languor to her whole ap-
pearance, but Flora, who glanced anxiously
after lier as she went out, muttered to her-
self, ' She was never more beautiful, and I
don't wonder an atom that Mr. Guy thinks
so much of her.'

The kitchen was in perfect order, for
Flora had been busy there as else-
where. The kettle was boiling on the stove,
while two or three little covered dishes were
ranged upon the hearth, as if waiting for
some one. Grandpa Markham had gone out,
but Uncle Joseph sat in his accustomed cor-
ner, rubl)ing his hands when he saw Maddy,
and nodding mysteriously towar d the front
room, the door of which was open, so that
Maddy could hear the fire crackling on the
hearth.

'Go in, go in,' Uncle Joseph said, waving
his hand in that direction. ' My Lord Gov-
ernor is in there waiting for you. He won't
let me spit on the floor any more as Martha
did, and I've swallowed so much that I'm
almost clioked.'

Continual spitting was one of Uncle
Joseph's worst habits, and as his sister had
indulged him in it, it had become a source
of great annoyance to every one. Thinking
that L^nele Josepli referred to her grand-
father, and feeling glad that the latter had
attempted a reform, she entered the room
known at the cottage as the parlour, where
the rag carpet and the six cane-seated chairs
and the Boston rocker were kept, and where
now the little round table was «icely laid
for two, wliile, cozily seated in the rocking-
chair, reading last night's paper, and look-
ing very hcndsone and happy, was Guy !

When Maddy j-'ayed that he might come
and see her she di '■ not expect an answer so
soon, and she started back in much surprise,
while Guy came easily forward to greet her,
asking how she was, and telling her she
looked tired and thin ; then making her
take the chair he had vacated, he stood
over her, while he continued ;

' I have taken some liberties, you see, and
have made myself quite at home. I knew
how unaccustomed yon were to the duties
of a house, and as 1 saw that girl was whol-
ly mcompet nt, I denied myself at least two
lioiirs' sleep this morninir f'>r the sake of
gettinu' here early, bringing j-'lora with me
and a few things which 1 thought wonM '<e
for yoiir comfcirt. You must exensi." nif?,
Vint Flora loc^kcd so euhl when she i :tine
down tViini your ehamliet. wh'.-re f srnt i.'""
to see how you were, that with your ;;■. imt-
father's i>eriuiuiiun 1 ordered a tire to ixj

MADELINE.

ee, and
knew

(lutiea
IS whul-
ast two

ako of
itii me
ouM '-e
so nil',
r:tllie
( i:t '.'"■

to ixj

kindled there. I hope you found it comfor-
taMc. This house is very »!ol(l.'

lie kept talking, anil ^la^l(ly, in a delici-
ous kind of bewilderment, listened to liiin,
w >iidering if ever before there was a person
B ' ivind and good as Guy. And Guy was
doing great violence to his pride by being
there as he was, but he could do anything' for
Maddy, and so he had forced down his
pride, trying for her sake to make the cot-
tage as pleasant as possible. With F'lora to
assist he liad succeeded wonderfully, and
was really enjoying it himself. At first
Maddy could not thank him, her heart was
so full, but Guy was satisfied with the ex-
pression of her face, and calling Flora lie
bade her serve the breakfast.

'You knowmj' habits,' he said, smilingly.
as he took a scat at the table, ' and brearv-
fasting at daylight, as I did, has given me an
appetite; so with your permission, I'll
carve this nice bit of steak for you, while
you pour me a cup of cotiee, some of l\lva.
Noah's best. She ' — Guy was going to say,
'sent it,' but as no stretch of the ima'^'ina-
tion conld construe her ' calling him a f(jol '
into sending Maddy 's coffee, he added in-
stead, 'I broii^lit it from Aiken.side, to-
getiier with this strawberry jelly, of which
I remember you were so fund ; ' and lie
helped Maddy lavishly from the fanciful
jelly-jar which yesterday was adorning tiie
sweetmeat closet at Aii<enside.

How chatty and social ne was, tryiniT to
cheer Maddy up and make her torgi t that
such a thing as death had so lately fouml en-
trance there. He talked of Jessie, of Aik-
enside, of the pleasant time tiiey would
have durin<>' the vacation, and of tlie next
term at school, when Maddy, as one of tlie
graduating class, would not be kept in as
strictly as heretofore, but allowi-! tf> .see
more of the city. Maddy felt as if she
bhould die for the pain tugrginf; at hei- heart,
•while she listened to him and l<new that the
pictures he was drawing were not for iier.
Her ])lace was there; and after the iuvaktast
was over and Flora had cleared tiie dishes
away, she shut tlie door, .^o that they iiii^ht
be alene, and then standing before Guy, she
told him of her resolution. bcg.,niig of him
to help her and not maKe it lianLi to bear
by devising means for lier to escajie what she
felt to be an imperative duty. (Juy had
expected something,' like this and was pre-
pared, as he thought, toeoin'oat all her argu-
ments; so when she had tiiiisheii, he rcjilied
that ot course he did not wish to inttirfere
with her duty, but there might be a ques-
tion as to what really was her duty, and it
Beemed to him he was Vk tter able to judge of
that than herself. It was not right for her

to bury herself there, where another could
do as well. Her superior talents were ^dven
to her to improve, and how could she im-
prove them in Konedale ? liesides, her
grandfather did not expect her to stay. Guy
iiad talked with him while she was asleep,
and the matter was all arranged ; a compe-
tent woman was to bo hired to take charge oi
the domestic arrangements, and if it seemed
desirable, two should be procured ; anything
to leave Maddy free.

' And grandpa consented to this willing-
ly ';' Maddy said, feeling a throb of pleasure
at thoughts of release. But (iuy could not
answer that the grandfather consented will-
ingly-

' He thinks it best. VVhen he comes back
you can ask him yourself,' he said, just as
Unci"' .Joseph opened the door and brought
their iiiteivi(!W to a close by asking very
meekly. ' If it would please the Lord
(Governor to let him spit !'

The blood rushed at once to Maddy 's
face, and she could not repres^i a smile, while
G V laii;,died aloud, saying to her softly :
' For your sake, I tried my skill to stopi
what 1 knew must annoy you. I'ardon me
if I did wrong !' then turning to Uncle
iloseph, he gave the desired permission, to-
gether with the promise of a iiaiidsonie .-pit-
toon, which should be sent diAvii on the mor-
row. With a bow Uiule .los ph tiifned
away, muttering to hiiusLdf, ' High doings,
now Martha's gone ; but new lonls, new
laws. 1 trust he's not going to live ii;!re ;'
and very slyly he afked Flora if the Lord
Governor liait br night !iis things ?

At this point ( iraiidjia Markham came in,
and to him (Juy appealed at once to know if
he were not willing for Maddy to return to

SeilJol.

' 1 said she might if she thought best,'
was the reply, spoken so sailly ili;>,'u Maildy'a
arms were at once twined round the old
man's neck, while she said to him :

' Tell me honestly which you prefer. I'd
like so much to go to schorl, but I am not
sure 1 shouhl be happy there, knowing h.ow
lonely you were at home. Say, grandpa,
whieii do yon prefer ?' and hho tried t) speak
|ii,ivfuliy. tl:uUi;h her heart-beats wen- al-
most audible as .>lie w lited for the atisu >r.

(irandpa coind not deceive her. ' He
wanted his darling sorely, and he wanted
her to be liappy, 'he said. Perhaps they
cr>uld get on just a^ well without her. When
Mr. <iuywas talking it looked as if they
mifht, he made it all so plain, but the sieht

of Madily was a eomt'irl.

She was all ho

had left. Maybe he shoiddn't live hmg to
pester her, and if he didn't, wouldn't she

'f i

MADELINE.

ihvays feel better for having stayed with her
()i(l grandpa to the last ?

He looked very pair; and thin, and his
hair was as white as snow. He could not
live n)any years, and turning resolutely from
(iuy, who, so long as he held her eye, con-
tiolled her, Maddy saitl :

'I've chosen onue for all. I'll stay with
grandpa till he dies, ' and with a convulsive
sob she clung tightly to his neck, as if fear-
ful t'liat without such hold on him her reso-
lution would give way.

It was in vain that Ciuy strove to change
Maddy's decision, and late in the afternoon
he rode back to Aikensido a disappointed
man, with, however, the feeling that Maddy
had done right, and that he respected her
all the more for withstaiidmgthe temptation.

CHAPTER XIX.

LIFB AT THE COTTAGE.

It was arranged that Flora should, for the
present at least, ivmain at the cottage, and
Maddy accepted tlie kiiulness giafc^fully.
■She had become so accustomed to be.ug cared
for by Uuy, that she almost lookcil upon it
as a matter of course, airi did not think
what others iiii.;ht lio^ssilily say, but when, in
as delicate a mamiur as possible, Guy sug-
ge'^ted furnisliii!!.!; the eottaie in better
stylo, even prop; 'iiiy t>> m.iileraize it entirely
in the spriu;/, Maddy -jbj u-tcd at once.
They were alrt'a<ly iiideliLod tu iiim for more
than they could ever pay, she said, and she
would not suffer it. So Guy suljuiitcul,
though it grated upon his sense of t)ie beau-
tiful and refined terribly, to see Maddy
amid so huniljle 8urr'nuidin;rH. Twice a
week, and sonietimes oftener, he rode down
to Houodale, and felt that without these
visits life would hardly have been endur-
able.

Duringthe vacation J essiespentapartof the
time with her, but Agues ivsolutely resisted
all Guy's entreaties that she shouid at 1 a ;t
call on Maddy, who h:id expi'essed a wish to
see her, and who, on account of her grand-
father's iiealth, and the chJldiishneHs with
which Uncle .Ioae;ih dung to her, could not
well «:<• up to Aikea-itif. A;;iU',s vvuuid not
go to Honedale neither would isho give otlicr
reasons t'oi the obstinacy tliau tlie apparently
foolish one that she did not wi.-.'i to see a
crazy man, as sucii .-i;^...., made her nervou;i.
Still, she did not (jhjecC to Jessie's gi;ing as
often as she liked, ami she sent by her many
little delicacies from Aikenside, some for
grandpa, but most for Uncle Joseph, who
prized highly everything coming from ' the
Madam, ' and sent back to her more than one

straugely-worded message, which made the
proud woman's eyes overflow when sure thai
no one could see her.

But this kind of intercourse came to an
end at last. The vacation was over, and
Jessie had gone back to school, and Maddy
began in sober earnest the new life before
her. Flora, it is true, relieved her of all
household drudgery, but no one could share
the burden of care and anxiety pressing so
heavily upon her ; anxiety for lier grand-
father, whose health seemed failing so fast,
and who always looked so disturbed if a
shadow were restine; on her blight face, or her
voice less cheerful in its tone ; and care for
the imbecile Joseph, who clung to her as a
child clings to its mother, and refusing to be
cared fo" by any one else, and often requiring
of her more than her sttength could endure
for a great length of time. She gave him
his breakfast in the morning, amused him
through tlie day, and then after he was in
bed at night often sat by his side till a late
hour,singing to him old songs, or telling Bible
stories until he fell asleep. Then, if he
awoke, as he frequently did, there was a cry
for Maddy, and the soothing process had to
be repeated, until the tired, pale watcher
ceased to wondir wliy her grandmother had
died so suddenly, wondering rather that she
had lived so long and borne so much.

Those were dark, wearisome hours to
Maddy, and when the long, cold winter was
gone from the New England hills, and the
early buds of spring were coming up by the
cottage door, t!ie neighbours licgan to talk
of the change which iiad come over the
young girl, once so full of life and health,
but now so languid and pale. Still,
Maddy was not unhappy, nor was the
discipline too severe, for by it she learned
at last the great object of life ; learned
to take her troubles and cares to one who
helped her to bear them so cheerfull}"^,
that thos« who pit ed her most never dream-
ed liow heavy was her burden, so patiently
and sweetly she bore it. Occasionally there
came to her letters from the doctor, but
latterly they gave her less pleasure than
pain, foi as often as she read one of his
kind, friendly messages of sympathy and re-
membrance, tlie t' .ijiter whispered to her
\ that though she did not love him as she
! ought to love her li'iiiKUid, a life with him
I would be far prefesable to the life she was
I livin:-.', and a ri'ceipt of hia letters always
gave her a pang wiiich lasted until Guy
came down to see her, when it usually dis-
appeared. Agues was now at Aikenside,
and thus Maihly frt(iuently had .Jessie at
the cottage, but Agnes never came, and
Maddy little guessed how often the proud

MADELINE.

lours to
inter was

and tho
by the
to talk

ver the

lealth,

Still,

was the

learned

one who

eerfuUj',
dream-

•itiontly
y there

or, but
e than
of his
and re-
to her
as aUe

th him

he was
always

til (lay
ly <lis-

kenside,
ssie at
le, and

i proud

woman cried herself to sleep after listening
i,u Jea«ie'3 recital of all .vladdy had to do
for the rrazy man, and how patiently she
tlid it. He had taken a fancy that Maddy
must tell him stories of Sandi, describing
her us slu: wan now, and not as she used to
i)e when lie knt w lier. • What is she now ?
flow does slie look ? What docs she wear?
Tell uie, tell me ' ' he would plead, until
Maddy, forced to tell him something, and
havmg distinctly in her mind but one
Tushionable woman such as she fancied
iSarah might be, told him of Acnes Reming-
ton, describing her as she was in lier mature
beauty, with htr iieavy flowin* curls, her
brilliant colour, hor flashing diamonds and
oostly laces, and Uncle Joseph, listening to
lier with parted lips and hushed breath,
would whisper softly, ' Yes, that's Sarah,
Ijeautiful Sarah ; but tell me — does she ever
think of me, or of that time in the orchard
when I wove tlie apple blossoms in Iier hair,
where the diamonds are now ? She loved
me then ; she UAd me so. Df)e8 she know
how sick, and sorry, and fooli.sh I am ? — how
tlie aching in my poor simple brain is all
for lier, and hoM' you, poor Maddy, are do-
ing for me what it should have been her
place to do ? Had I a voice,' and the crazy
man would grow excited, as, raising him-
seli in bfd, he ge.sticnlated wihlly, ' had I a
voice to i-each her, I'd cry shame on her, to
let you do lier work, let you wear your
young life and fresh, briLjht beauty all away
lor ine, whom she ruineii.'

Tiie voict' h(! craved, or the echo of it, did
reach hor. for -b's-sie had been present when
the titucy tii'.Nt seized him to hear of Slarah,
and in tlie shadowy twilight she told her
mother ail, dwelling most upon the touching
sadness of his face when he said, ' Does she
know how sick and sorry I am? '

Tiie pillow which Agnes pressed that ui<i;ht
wa;. wet w ith tears, while in her heart was
planteil a (.'erm of gratitude and respect for
the young girl doing her work tor her. All
tliR-. she could do for "Maddy without going
directly to her, she did, ilevising many arti-
cles of comfort, scntiing her fruit and
fi,,ivers, the last new book, or whatever else
.vhe thought might please her, and always
fuidiug a willing messenger in Guy. He was
miserable, and nianng»Hi when at home to
inalce others so around him. The sight of
Miiddy Iw'iU'ing her burden so uncomplain-
inuly almost r.Kuldened him. Had she fret-
t"d or i'oni})l.iiii(.d he could have borne it
bt^tl M'. he said, but he did not see the neces-
sity for her to lose ail her spirit or interest
in I vcrything and everybody. Onix' when
he hi it<'.d as much to Maddy, he had been
flwod into silence by the subdued expression

of her face as siie told him in part what it
was which helped her to bear, and made the
rough places so smooth. He liad seen some-
thing like this in Lucy, when paroxysms of
pain were racking her delicate frame, but he
could not understand it ; he only knew it
was something he could not touch —some-
thing against which his arguments btat
helplessly ; and so with an addetl respect
for Maddy Clyde he smothered his impati-
ence, and determining tt) help her all he
could, rode down to Honodale ev<iy day,
insU'ad of twice a week, us he had done be-
fore.

Attentions so marked could not fail to be
commented upon ; and while poor, unsus-
pecting Maddy was deriving so much com-
fort from his daily visits, deeming that day
very long which did not bring him to her,
the Honedale gossips, of which there were
many, were busy with her affairs, talking
them over at their numerous tea-drinkings,
discu.ssing them in the streets, and finally at
a quilting, where they met in solemn con-
clave, deciding that 'for a girl like Maddy
Clyde it did not look well to have so much
to do with younsr Remington, who, every-
body knew, was engaged to somebody in
England.'

' Yts, and would have been married long
ajro, if it wasn't this foolin" with Maddy,'
ciiinied in Mrs. Joel Spike, throwing the
chalk across the quilt to her sister, Trip-
hciiy Marvel, who w^aidered if Madiiy
thougiit he'd ever have her,

'Of course he won't. He knows what he
is about. He is not gr^en enougii to marry
Cj!randi)a M;.rkiian!"s daught*'r ; and if -J •
don't look out, slx^'ll -et lirrsi-lf into a piet t •
scrape. It don't look woU, aiiyl^nv, ior he,,
to be i)utting ou aii>, as she has done cvo^
since the S'i_' folks took her up.'

And tliis and inucli more was said, and liy
the time the pal 'hwork (juilt was done.tluie
remained but iiltle to Iv said » itiier for or
against Cjuy Kemir.gton and Ma''dy Clyde
which had not been said liy either friend
or fvic.

Among the invited guests at that (|u ilting
was tlie wite of Farnun' (.Ireeii, Maddy's
warmest friend in Honedale, and the one
who did her best to defend her against the
attacks of those whose remarks she will
knew were caused more by envy than by
any personal dislike to Maddy, who useti to
be 60 much of a pet until her superior ad-
vantages separated her in a measure from
them. Good Mrs. (}roen was sorely irieil.
Without in the least blaming Mad<iy, she.
too. had been troubled at the fretjuciu.y of
Guy's visits to the cottage. It was not
friendship alone which took him there, she

MADELINE.

'Hi

was sure ; and knowing that he was engaged
ahc f'.'ared for Maddy's happiness at firat,
and ufterwaid, wiien people began to talk,
she feared for her good name. Something
niuat be done, and thou^ii she dreaded it
greatly, she was tlie one to do it. Accord-
ingly, next day she started for the cottage,
which (liuy liad just left, and this in lier
opinion accounted for the l»right colour in
Maddy's check and the sparkle in her eye.
Guy had been tlieri!, briii^iuL' and leaving a
world ot sunshine, hut, alas, his chances for
coming again as Ih; had done were fearfullj'
small when at the close of Mn Oree
well-m. .t vis't Maddy hiv ,i. h>v Oi d. i. r
white, liii^htened lace b..iied iu ii- v )«''
lows, and herself half wishing sh' ha i ' o'
before the last hour had come, wic 'ne
terrible awakening it had brought ; awaken-
ing to the fact that of all living lieings, (!uy
Remington was the one she loved tiie licst —
the one without whose presence it seemed
to her she could not live, but without whicii
she now knew she nuist.

Witli the best of intentions Mrs. (Iieen
had made a bungle of the whole atFair, Init
had succeeded in giving Maddy a general
impression that ' folks were talking awfull}'
about (Uiy's coming there, eind doing for her
so much like an accej^ted lover, wlieii every-
body knew he was engaged, andwouhln't be
likely to marry a poor girl if he was not ;
tb.at unless siie wanted to be ruined teerotally
and lose nil her friends, she must contrive to
stop his vi-:its, and not see him so mucli.'

' Yus, I'll do aaything, only please leave
me now," Maddy gaspe.i, her face as white as
as les and hei" eyes tixed pleadingly upon
Mrs. Green, who, having been yt)ung iier-
seif, guessed the truth, and, as she rose to
go, laid her motiierly hand on Maddy's head,
sayiu;4 kindly :

' Poor c!nld, it's hard to bear now, but
yo I'll get over it in time.'

'Get over it,' .Maddy moaned, as she .shut
and h >ite I the door after Mr.?. Green and
th ■ t'iir;w lierself upon the b d, ' "I never
shall nil I die 1'

She almost felt that she was dving, so
desolate and so dreary the future looked to
her. What was life worth without Guy, and
w.iv !.ail she been thrown so much in his
wa ; why permitied to love him as she
knew .she did, if slv) must lose him now ?
Maddy could not cry ; there was a tightness
about Iier eyes, and a keen, cutting pain
about her heart as siie tried to pray for
stiength to cast (iuy Reniing'on from her
he.-.rt, wl;pre ii was a si:i for him to lie ; and
ill 11 ^]i,. ■•shi'd t , l„j fni'^'iven for the wr'iiig
she had unwittingly dme to Lucy Athcr-

stone, who trusted her implicitly, and who,
in her last letter had said ;

*If I had not so much faith in Guy
I should be jealous of one who
has 80 many opportunities for stealing his
heart from me, but I trust you, Maiidy
Clyde. You would not <lo a thing to harm
me, I am sure, and to lose (itiy now, .ifter
tiiese years of cruel waiting, would kill
me. '

Tlioro was in Lucy's heart a faint stirring
of fear lest .Maddy Clyde miglit be a shadow
ii her pathway, else sin; hnii ii^\rer wi\.e;i
th t to her. But Lu^iy's cause was safe in
..Mc Idy's hands. Always too liigh-souled to
do a treacherous act, she was now sustained
oy another and holier principle, which of it-
r:'" would have kept her from the wrong.
Lu 'OV a few moments Maddy abandoned
herseli to the bliss of fancying what it
would be to be loved by (»uy Remington, as
slie loved him. And as she thought, there
crept into her heart the certainty that in
some degree he did love her ; that his
frieiid-^hip was more tlian a mere liking for
the gill to whom he had been so kind. In
Lucys absence she was essential to his hap-
piness, and that was why he sought her
society so much. Remembering (everything
that had passed, but nn/rc particularly the
incidents of that meinoraVtle night lide to
Honedale, with all that had followed since,
she c<iuld not doul>t it, and softly to herself
she whisjHred, ' He lo\es me, he loves me,'
Mliile little throbs of joy came and went in
her heart ; but only for an instant,
and then the note of joy was chanared to
sorrow as she tlionght how she must hence-
forth seek t" kill that love, both for her own
sake and for Lucy's. Guy must not come
there any more. She could not bear it
now, even if the neighbours ha«l
never meddled with her. She could
not see him as she iiad done and not
betray her real feelings to warn him. He had
been there that day ; he would come again
t )-niii!'i'OW, and she coidd see him just as he
wwuld look coming up the walk, easy and
8 ■li-i)'issesse(l, conti<ient of his reception,
his handsome face beaming with kind
tlioughtfulness for her, and his voice full of
tender ef»ncern, as he asked her howshe was,
and b;ule P'lura see that she did not overtax
herself — and all this unist cease. She had
seen it, heard it for the last time I Xo won-
der tiiat Maddy's heart fainted within her, as
s'ue tliouiiht how desolate, how dreary
would be the daj's wlien Guy no longer
came there. But the victory was gained at
last, and strength imparted for the task she
!)ail to do.

Gong to the table she opened iier port-

MADELINE.

port-

folio, the gift of Guy.aiid wrote to him what
tlie neighbours were saying, and that lie
must come there no more ; at lea-^t, only
once in a great wljile, heeau-itt if he did, she
could not see hin. Then, when this was
written a'.ie wont drwn to Tn iIc Joseph, who
was beginning .o call for lier, and sat hy liim
as usual, singing lo liim tlio songs • loved
so well, and whicli tliis night pleased him
es,,?cially, because the voice which sang
the.n was so plaintive, so fml of woe. Would
he never <'o to 'jen, or the hand which hehl
h. a 80 iirmly relax its hold? Never, it
seemed to Maddy, wlio sat and sang, while
the night-')ird on a distant tree, awakened
by the low song, uttered a responsive note,
and the liours crept on to midnight. Human
nature could endure no more, and when tiie
crazy man said to her, ' Now sing of Him
who died on Calvaiy,' Maddy's answer was
a gasping cry as she fell fainting on the
pillow.

' It was only a nervous headache, 'she said
to the frightened Flora, who came at Uncle
Joseph's call, and iielped her young mistress
up to bed. ' She should be belter in the
morning, and she would ratlier be alone.'

80 Flora left her, but went often to her
door, until assui'ed by the low breathing
sound that Miulily was sh-'ping at last. It
was a heavy sleep, and when Middy awoke,
the pain m her temples wiis sLill there ; she
could not rise, and was half glad that she
could not, in ihuiueh as her illness would be
a reaso ; why she could not ser' (Jny il he
came. She did not Uiiosv he was there al-
ready, until she heard his voice speaking to
her grandJather. It was later than she im-
agined, and he had riihlcn <]owii (larly be-
cause he could not stay away.

' I can't .'•:ee him. Flora,' Maddy said, when
the latter came up with the message that
Mr. Hemiugton was there with his buggy,
and asked if a little ride would not do lier
good. ' I can't see him, but give him this, '
and she placed in Flra's hand the note
baj)lized with so many tears and pr;>yer>^, and
the contents of which made ihiy furious ;
not at her, but at the neighbours, the in-
qui.-itive, ignorant. meddU'some nei^h'ours,
who had dared to talk uf liim, or to luvathf
a susni''io'is word against .M.iddy Clyde. Ht-
would make them sorry for it ; they should
take l)ack every wonl ; and tlu-y should beg
Maddy's forgiveness for the pain they had
caused her.

All this, and much more, Guy thought, is,
with Maddy's note in his hand, he walked
up and down the sitting-room, raging like a
young lion, and threatening veilgeauce upon
everybody. This was not the Hrst intima-
tion Guy had received of the people's gossip,

for only that morning Mrs. Noah hail hint i
that his course was not at all calculated to
do Maddy any good, while Agnes had re-
peated to him some things which she iiad
heard touching the frequency of his visits
to Hoiiedale ; but these were nothing t<j
the calmly-worded messagi' which banislie>-
him eHeetually from .Maddy's presence. Ht
knew Maddy, and he knew she nieant wliat
she wrote, but he could not have it so. He
must see her ; he would see her ; and so for
the next half iioiir Flora was the bearer of
written messages to and from Maddy's room;
messages of earnest entreaty on the
< n : hand, and of firm denial on the other.
At last Maddy wrote :

'If you care for me in the least, or for my
respect, leave me, and do not come again
until I send for yr . I am not insensible to
your kindness. ee' all , but the world

is nearer right tti vi. y: .suppose. It does
not look well fr v'ou ■ ;omo here so much,
and I prefer tli.it J,, a tihould not. .Justice
to Lucy requ .5 th-. . you stay away.'

That roused i/'i pride, and writing
back :

' You sha
spran? into
him as he drove furiously away.

Tliose were long, dreary days which fol-
lowed, and but hr her grandfather's increas-
ing feebleness M.iddy would almost have
died. Anxiety for liiin, however, kept her
from dwelling to(» mncu upon lii-rself, but
the exciteineet and the care woiv upon her
sadly, lobliing her eye of it:-^ luster and
her clieeiv of its remaining bloom, and
making Mrs. Xoah cry when she came
one liav with .bs.'ie to see how they

"e beyed. (lood-bye !' — he
s ouggy, and .Maddy heard

were gi'tti:!g on. She had heard from
(!uv ot his baiii.-iiiuent, and now that he
staid away, she was ready to step in ; so she
came laden with sympathy and other more
sul)staiitial comforts brought from Aiken-
side.

Maddy was glad to see her, and for a
time cried softly on her bosom, while Mrs.
Noah's tears kept company wir.h hers. Not
a word was said of (Jny. except when Je-sie
told her that ' he had gone to Boston, and it
was s^i stupid at home without him.'

'■\ itli more tlian her ordinary discretion,
Flora U'pt to herself wliat had pa^^jed when
(!uy was last there, so .VIrs. > di knew
notidng excei)t what he had told her, and
what she read in Maddy's white, suffering
face. This last was enough to excite all her
pity, and she treated the young girl with
the most motherly kindiifss, staying all
night, and herself taking care of grandpa,
who was now too ill to sit up. Ther©
seemed to be no disease preying upon him,

MADELINE.

not'oing nave old iij^n, uiitl tlie loss of oik- wlio :
for luorc thuu totty years ha<l sliui'td mU iiis '
joy and sorrow, lie coul<l not live witliout I
li«r. and one iii,s(lit, tbroo wobUh alti r tJiiy's ,
disuiissal, he said to Muddy, at) ttlio was
about t(j leave him :

'Sit with me, ilarliiig, for a little while* j
if you an- not too tirdd. Vour jjjrajidniotlier
seems near me to-ui.i{iit, and .so does Alice,
your motliir. Maybe I'll l)e witli them i)e-
f(i\' another tlay. I Impe I may, if Ood is
willing, and there's muuh I would say to
yon. '

He was very pale, and tlie great sweat-
■ rop* stfKid on his forehead and under his
\vl, it • hair, but Maddy wiped them away,
aiii hsteiied with a l)reaUing heart wlnle the
aged disciple, almost home, tolil Ik r of the
peaci.', tlie j>>y, tiiat slione arouu I his path-
way to the tomb, and of the everlasting arm
beuini^ him so gently over Jordan. Then
be talked of herself. l)le.ssin^ her for all she
ii:'.(l Ui-cn to him, tolliiii; her how i)ap]iy she
iiad made his life since she came home to
stiy, and how for a time lie ached so with
tear lest she .sliould clioose to <>o back and
leave him to u str i'iu(.)-. * But my darling
»■ lid with her old i,MMiidpa. .She'll never be
•o;iy for it. I've tried you sometimes, I
kMow, tor old folks ain't like young ; but
I'm sorry, Maddy. and you'll forget it when
I'm gone, darling Maddv. precious child !'
and the tremliliiiLC har.d rested caressingly
on her bow>.'ii head as grandpa went on to
spi^ak of his little property, which was hers
after the mortgage to Mr. tjuy was paid.
• I've kept up the interest,' he said, ' but I
could nrvci get him to take any of the
principal, i don't know why he is so good
to me. Tell l.i'ii, Maddy, how I
tiiiinked and b'c se 1 him just be-
fore 1 died ; tell him how I u.sed to
pray for him every day that he might chooee
the bettor y>art. And he will--rin sure he
will soniL' day. He hasn't Ijeeu here of late,
and tiiough my old eyes are dim, I can see
t;iatyour step haa grown slow, and your
fice whiter Ity many shades, since he staid
away. Maddy. i-i.ild, tlie dead tell no sec-
rets, ami ] Jihall soon be dead. Tell me. then,
what is between you two. Does my girl love
Mr. Guy ?'

'Oh, grandpa, grandpa!' Maddy moaned,
laying hei' head beside his own on the pillow.

It woul 1 be a relief to talk with some one
of t!'.at terrible puin, which irrew worse
every day ; of that intense longing just for
Oie sighc of the beloved one ; of (xuy, still
absent from Aikenside, wandering nolwdy
knew where ; and so Maddy told the whole
etory, while the dying man listened to her,

and smoothing her silken hair, tried to com-
fort her.

' The worst is not over yet, ' he said. 'Guy
will ofl'er to make you his wife, mc ificing
Lucy for you ; and if lie does, what will my
darling do?'

Maildy's In art leapt intu her throat, and
for a mniiient ])ruven:ed her from answering,
for tin- thought of (iuy's really ottering to
make her his wife, to sliield her from evil, to
enfold her in his tender h)ve, made her giddy
with joy. But it could not bo, and she au-
■wered through her tears :

•I shall tell him No.'

' God bless my Maddy ! You will tell him
No for Lucy's sake, and God will bring it
right at last,' the old Jnan whi8i>ered. liis
voice growing very faint and tremulouts.
' She will tell him No,' he kc()t repeating,
until rousing up to greater consciousness, he
spoKc of Uncle Josepli, and nsked what
Madtly would do with him ; would she send
hini 'ua^k to the asylum, ov laie for him
there? ' lie v\ ill be happier here,' he said,
• but it is asking too mucli of a young gii 1 like
you. H<' Ilia} live for ye;irs.'

' 1 do not know, gr;unii>a. I hope I may
do riglit. I think 1 siia'.l keep Uncle Jd.seph
with me,' Maddy replied, a shudder creeping
ovei' her at the thought of living out ali
her youth, and possilily middle age, with a
lunatic.

But her grandfather's whispered blessings
brought comfort with them, and a calm (juiet
fell upon i;er as she listened to the words of
prayer, catt;hing now and then her own name
and that of Guy's.

' I am drowsy, Maddy. Watch while
I slevp. Perhaps I'll never wake
again,' grandpa said, and clasping
Maddy's hands he went to .sleep, while
Maddy kept her watch beside him, until
she too fell into a troubled sleep, fruin which
she was reused by a clammy hand pressing
on her forehead, and Uncle Joseph's voice,
which said :

' Wake, my child. There's been a guest
here while \ou slumbeird,' and he pointed
to the rigid features ot the dead.

CHAPTICR XX.

THE BURDEN GEOW.S HEAVIER,

Of the days which followed, Maddy had
no distinct consciousness. She only knew
that other liand;-; than hers cared for the
dead ; tlw.t in the little parlour a stifl", white
figure luy ; that neighbouring women i^tolo
in, treading on tip-toe, and speaking in
hushed voices as they consulted, not her, but
Mrs. Noah, who hadcoine at oace, and cared

MADKLTNR.

?sing3
(jiiiut
ids of
uaine

had
Liiew

the
rhito
•tola
: in

but
ared

lor her utiU hers 8o kindly. That she lay all
day in hor own room, whero the HUinmer
bn>ez« blew softly through the window,
bringing the perfumu of suninier flowers,
the sound of a tolling bell, of grinding
wheels, the notes of a Tow, Had hymn, sung
in faltering tones and of many fcot moving
from the door. Then frieml I j faces looked
in upon her, asking how she felt, and whis-
pering ominously to each other as she an-
swered :

' Vory well ; is grandpa getting better ?'
TIk II Mra. Noah sat with her for a time,
fanning her with a palm-leaf fan and brush-
ing the flies away. Then Flora came up
with a m*n whom they called ' Doctor,' and
who gave her sundry little pills and

f)owdors, after which they all went out and
eft her tlieie v ith Jessie, who had been cry-
ing, and who8> soft little hands folt so cool
on her hot ho ul, and w.iobc kisaesou her lips
made the tea: ^ atart, and brought a thought
of («uy, nial ng her ask, * if ho was at the
fuiiera. ? ' She did not know whoae funeral
she meant, oi- why she used that word, only
it Koenieil to In r ttuit .Jessie had just come
back from somebody ^, jrave, and she asked
if (lay waa there.

'No,' .JesHJo said; 'mother wanted to
write ivnd tell him, but we don't know where
he is.'

And this wa.s all Maddj could recall of the
days suci:oi'ding the night of her l;iat w;it<'h
at her grandfather's side, until one balmy
August afternoon, when on the Honedale
hills there lay that smoky haze ao like the
autumn time hurrying on apace, and when
through her ojh'ii window stole the fragrance
of the lat(:r snninier flowers. Then, aa if
waking from an ordinary sleep, she woke
suddenly to consciousnes^s, and staring about
the room, wondered if it were as late as
the western sun M'ould iiidicate, and how she
came to sleep so long.

For a while she lay thinking, and as she
thought, a sad scene came back to her, a
night when her hot hands had been enfolded
in those of the dead, and that dead her
gramlfather. Was it true, or w;is she laltour-
ing under some haUuciiiation of the brain ?
If true, was that white, pallid face still to he
seen in the room Ih;Iow, or had they buried
him from her .sight? She would know, and
with a strange kind of nervous strength she
rose, and throwing on the wrapper and
slippers which lay near, deacendtd the stairs,
wonderinc to find herself so weak, and iialf
shuddering at the deep stillncss-s of the
house — a stillness broken only by the ticking
of the clock and the purring of the houae
cat, which at sight of Maddy arose from its
position near the door and came forward,

rubbing its sides against her dress, and try«
ing in various ways to erince its joy at see-
ing one whose caresses it had missed ao long.
The little bed-room off the kitchen, where
grandpa slept and died, was vacant ; the
old-fashioned coat was put away, as was
every vestige of the old man, save the
broad-rimmed hat which hung upon the
wall just where hit hands had hung it,
and which looked so much like its owner
that with a gush of tears Maddy «ank upon
the bed, moaning to herself, ' Yea, grand-
pa is dead. I rtineml>er now. Hut Uncle
Joseph, where is he? Can he too have died
without my knowledge?' and she looked
around in vain for the lunatic, not a trace of
whom was to be found.

FIIh room was in perfect order, a.s was
everything about the house, sho\ung that
Flora was «till the domestic goddess, while
Maddy detected also varioim things whicli
she recognized as havine come from Aikcn-
side. Who sent tliem ? Did (luy, and had
he l)een there too while she was sick ? The
thought brought a throb of joy to Maddy's
heart, but it soon passed away as slie began
ayain to wonder if I'ncU' Joscpli, too, liad
died, and where Flora was. It \\':\n not far
to the Honedale bnrying-ground, and Maddy
could see the head-stoney glcainin;,' through
the August sunlight ; could disujrn Iwr
mother's, and knew that two fresh mounds
at least were made beside it. l)Ut were
there three ■/ Was Uncle Josepli tliere ? By
stealing across the meadow in tJie rear of
the house the distance to the grave-yard was
aliortened more than half, and could not be
more than the eighth part of a mile. She
could walk so far, she knew. The fresh air
would ito her good, and hunting up her long
unused ha*", the im|at;ent girl started, stop-
ping once or twice to rest ai a dizzy faintneas
can'o over her. and then continuing on until
the spot she sougiit was reachc<l. There
were three graven, one old and sunken, one
made when tlie last winter's snow was ou
t'le hills, the other fresh and new. That
was all. Uncle .loseph M'as not there, and »
vague terror entered .Maddy's heart lest he
had lieen taken hack to the asylum.

' I will get him out,' she said ; ' I will take
care of liini. I shouhl die with nothing to
do ; and I promised grandpa '

She could get no further, for the rush of
memories which came over her, and seating
herself upon the ground clo.se to the new
grave, slie laid her face upon it, and sobbed
piteously :

"Oh, grandpa, I'm so lonely without you
all ; I almost wish I was lying here in the
quiet yard.'

Then a storm of tears ensued, after which

MADELINE.

MatUlv grew calm, nutl with lirr lirad atill
bent (town did not lieur tiu! rnpid Ht(<|i com-
ing down tliu gi'UHHy road, pant tlit> nuirhlu
toinb-atont'H, to wlusre MJie was truiicliing
upon til)' ground. 'I'lurr it HtoppiMl, and in
a lull t' wliiNpcT some unu callcu, 'Muddy!
Matldy !•

Then aliu started, and lifting up Ium' head
saw before herduy lleniiiigton. Kor a mo-
ment she regarded liini intently, while he
said to hei*, iuiidly, pityingly :

' I'oor cliild, you liavo sullercd so much,
and J never knew of it till a few days
ago.'

At tlie sound ( f that loved voice speaking
thus to her, overvthing else waa forgottc n,
and with a cry of joy .\Iaddy stretched her
hands toward liiiu, moaning out :

'Oh, (Juy, (iuy, where iiuvo you been,
when I wanted you so much ?'

Mathly did not know what she was say-
ing, or half c(Hi)preli(iid the efifect it had on
Guy, wlio forgot everything save that she
hau missed him, had turned to him in her
trouble, and it was not in his nature to re-
sist her appeal, ^^'ilh a .spring he was at
her side, and lifting her in hia arms acuted
himself upon In r nwjther's grave ; then
straining her tightly to his bosom, In^
kis.-sed her again and again. Hot, burning,
passionate kisses they were, which tool fi'(;ni
Maddy all [suaer of resistance, even had
she wisiied to resist, which she did not. Too
weak to reason, or see the harm, if harm
tliere weir, in lieing loved by (<uy. sho
altandoned hertelt' for a brief interval lo the
bliss cf knowing that she was beloved, and
oi hearing him te!^ her so.

' l)arliiig iMaddy,' lie said, '1 went away
because you sent me, liut now I have come
back, and nothing shall part us again. Yon
are mine ; I claim you here at your mother's
grave. Dear Maddy, I did not kimw of all
this till tiiree daj's ago, when Agnes' letter
found me almost at the Roeky Mount.iiiiS.
Then I travelled day ;n 1 night, reaching
Aikenside this morning, und ei^minc straight
to Honedalv. I wish 1 had come before.
now that I know you wanted mo. Say that
again, Maddy. Tell me again that you
missed ami wanted me.'

He was smoothing her iiaii', as her head
Btill lay pillowed upon his breast, so he
could not .-ee the spasm of pain which con-
torted her features as he thus a])})ealeil to
her. Half bew ildcred, Maddy eoulu not at
first make tjut whether it were a blissful
dream or a reality, that she was there in
Guy's arms, with his kisses on her forehead,
lips and cheek, his words of love in her ear,
and the soft summer sky smiling down upon
her. Alas, it was a dream from which she

was awakened by the thought of one a( rosa
the Hca, whuHe place uhe had usurped, and
thiii it was wh th broiiglit the grieved ex-
int Hibion to Iter face as she answered mourn-
fuby :

'J did want you, Guy, when I forgot;
but now— oh, (Juy— Lucy Atherstonc !'

With a gesture! of impatience Chiy waa
about to answer, when Fom(>thing in the
heavy fall ot the liM le hand from his shoulder
alarmed him, and lifting up the dro< ping
head he saw that .Maddy had fatntoil. Then
back across the meadow (luy bor<' her to the
cottage, whore l''!ora, who hail just return-
ed from a neighbour's, whither she had gone
upon an errand, was looking for her in nuich
alliight, and wondering who had come from
Aikenside with that wet, tired horse, which
showed so piaiidy how hard it had been
driven.

They carried Maddy again into her little
chamber, win' .. sho nevtr h-ft until the
golden harvest sheaves were gatheied in,
and the hot Septendier sun Wiis ri]teiiingthe
fruits of autumn. Hut now she liad a new
nurse, a constant attendant, wiio during the
day seldom left her except to talk with and
iunuse Uncle Joseph, mourning below be-
cause no oi;e sang to him or notii-ed him as
Maddy u>ed to do. lie had not been sent
to the asylum, as Maddy feared, but by w;iy
of relieving Flora had I eeii taken to Farmer
Green's, where he was so homesick and dis-
contented that at Guy's insti'/ation he was
Hull'ered to return to the coLtaire, crying like
a little child when the old faniiliar s])ot wa.s
reached, kissing his arm- hair, the cook-
stove, the tongs, Mis. iSc^ah and Flora, and
timitUy othring to kiss the Lord (iovernor
himself, as he persisted i-.i eailing (Juy, who
declined the honour, but listened quietly to
the crazy man's )i!'n';iise 'not to spit the
smalh'st kinil of a spit on the floor, or any-
where exeeiit ill its )iroi)er place.'

Guy had passed tnrougli several states of
mind during the interval in wiiich we have
seen so litlie of him. Furious at one time,
and reckless as to conseijucnees,' he liad de-
terminetl to break with Lucy and marry
Ma<hiy, in spite of everybody ; then, as a
sense of honour came over him, he resolved
to forget Maddy, if possible, and marry
Lucy at one"-. It was in this last mood,
and w bile roaming over the Western coun-
try, whither after his banishment ho had
gone, that he wrote Lucy a strange kind of
letter, saying he 1 ad waited for her long
enough, £.nd sick or w ell he should claim
her the coming autumn. To this letter
Lucy had responded quickly, sweetly re-
proving (iuy for his impatience, softly hint-
ing that latterly he had been quite as cub

MADKLINK.

was
liko

>t W.IS

cook-
and

/CM'IIOf

wlio
V to
' tl.e
iiuy-

ites of

liavo
time,
(1 de-
luarry
as a
solved
iiany
nood,
coun-
liail
ind of

long
claim

ettet
re-

hiut-
cul-

pable AH hoi'Hclf in the hiattor of doforrlut<

thoir union, and |i',iiiiiitiu;4 tlio iiihlal day
for tlu' ot I'l'i'iidiff. Att»'r thiH wasi
)-ettlt'd tiny toll li iter, t!i>i\iuh lliu oM hoiu
Hpot III bin lioart. wiiuri' Maduy ClydM had
hueii, was very Hnvf still, iiiid moiiicUiiii'm it
ri-cjiiii'tMl all hi.s powir* ol ieit-i-'iitrul
to ke n» troiM wilting' to Liioy
and askiiij; to hv rt'Iea.sod tvoin
an eiiga^^uineiit no irlM^oino as liiH had he-
I'omo. lie had ii"'/l'> ti'd to an>\vt r A;,'iu'.s'
li'tters w'lL'ii lie lira lift iioni««, and slm diil
not know wlutrc he was until a Hhoit time
'ti'fore his roturn, wlicn .-«ht' wiott' apiirisinji,'
him of gran Ipa'H df ith ami Maddy'a Hovcru
iMnesH. Tina ltioii;,dit iiini at once, and
Sl.iddy's iuvoliuitary outbuist when she
met him in the j^ravi yard, chaiij^'od the
svholo current of his intfutioiiH, FiOt what
would ooino, Madily L'lydo should he iiiii
wife, and as such Ik- uatcheil over hi>r con-
stantly, nursing Ikt hack to litu, and l)y lii.s
manner etfectnally siit'iicing all ri'inark, so
that the neighbouiri whisptri-d among them-
selves what Maddy's ]nii.spL'it-. were, and,
as was quite natural, were a veiy little more
attentive to tlie future lady of Aikenside.
Poor Maddy ! it was a terriMe trial \vliic:h
awaited In'r, hut it must he met, and so with
prayers and tears -lie tortilied herself to uiei I
it, wlfile (5uy hung ovei" her, never guessing
of all tiiat wa8i>aH.sing in her iniiid, or how,
when he was out ot sight, the hps he had
longed so nuieh to kiss, hut never had since
that day in the graveyard, (juiven'd with an-
guish as they asked for strength to do right ;
crying ofitsn, 'Help me, Father, to do my
duty, and give me. too, a greater inclination
to do it than 1 now possess.'

Maddy's heart failed her sometimes, and
she migiit have yicMcd to the temptation hut
for a letter from Lnc}', full of eager antici-
pations of the time when she shouhl see( !uy,
never to nart again.

'Sometimes,' she wrote, 'there comes
over me a dark furehoding of evil — a fear
that I shall miss the cup now just within
my reach ; hut ' pray tiie had fieliiigs aw.i_\,
I am sure tlure . no living being who wiil
<!ome be';ween us i > break my iieart, and as
[know God doetli all tiiin.;3 well. 1 trust
him wholly and cea.- to doubt."

It was well the letter came when it did, as
it helped Maddy to m 'et the hour she so
much dreaded, and which came at last on an
afternoon when Mrs. Noah had gone to
Aikenside, and Flora had gone on an errand
to a neighbour's two miles away, thus leaving
(4uy free to tell the story, so old, yet always
new to him who tells it and to her who
listens, t!ie story which, as (iuy told it, sit-
ting by Maddy's side, with her hands in his,

thrilleil her through and through, making
the Hweat-drops start out aruuiid iter lipsAud
ninlorneath Inr liair ; the storv which made
(iuy hniiselt pant nervously and tremble like
a 'leaf, HO earnestly he told her how long
lie liail loved her, ol the picture with-
held, the jealousy he felt each time the
'duoliT naini-d her, the sellish joy jie expuri
eiiited when lie heard tin' iloclor \,#.h lefusotl;
of. ills growing dissatisfaction with Imh
enga:.,'emrnt, his freipicut resolves to break
it, his tinul lUcision, which that scene in tin.*
graveyard had reversed, and then asked if
siu' would not be liis — not doubtfully, but
conliileiitly, eagerly, as if sure of her an-
swei.

Alas for (iuy 1 he could nut believe he
heard aright when, turning her head away
fur a nioiiieiit wiiilo she prayotl for strength,
Maddy's answer canit), "1 cannot.Guy, 1 can-
not. I acknowledge the love which has
stolen upon inc, I know not how, but 1 can-
not ilo this wrong to Lucy. Away from me
you will love her again. You must. Read
this, (Juy, then .say if you can desert her,'

.She placed Lucy's letter in his hand, and
(jiuy read it with a h art which achml t<j its
very core. It was cruel to deceive that
gentle, trusting gill writing so hivingly of
him. hut to lose .Maddy was to his undisci-
plined nature more dreadful still, and cast-
ing the letter aside he pleaded again, this
time with the energy of dtvspair, for he read
his fate in Maddy s face, and when her lips
a second time conlirmed her first reply, while
she appealed to his sense of honour, of jus-
tice, of right, and told him he couldaud
must forget her, he knew there was no hope,
and man though ho was, bowed his head
upon Maddy's hands ami wept stormily,
with mighty, choking soha, which shook his
frame, and seenie<l to break up the very
fountains of his life. Then to Maddy there
came a terrible temptation. Was it . ight
for two wlio loved as they did to live their
lives apart ?— right in her to ^orce on Guy
the fultihnent of vows lie co ihl not literally
Uiep'.' As mental struggles are always the
iinn'e severe, so Matidy's took all her
. C! (uigth away, and for many minutes she
w as so white anil still that Guy roused him-
self to care for himself to can for her,
thinking of uothing then except to make her
If^tter.

It was a long time era that interv.'jiV
ended, hut when it did tiierc was on Mad ly's
face a peaceful expres.-.i;> ;, wliich only t.'«
sen.se ot having done :ig.tJit tl.e ccst'. of a
t'tarful sacrifice could give, whih; < Jay's bore
traces of a girat ami ei ashing sorrow, as he
u cut out from Maddy s ir'Scnce and felt
that to him she was lost fur ever. He i»ad

MADELINE.

promiied her he would do right ; had
said he would marry Lucv, and be to her
what a husband should be ; and he had
listened while she talked of another world,
where they neither marry or are given iu
marriage, and w' ere it would not be sinful
for them to love each other, and as she talked
her faoe liad shone like the face of an angeL
He had held one of her hands at parting,
bending low his head, while she laid the
other on it aa she blessed him, letting her
fingers thread his soft brown hair for a mo-
ment and linger caressingly among his curly
locks. But that was over now. They had
parted forever. She was lying where he
left her, cold and white, and faint wrth
dizzy pain. He was riding swiftly toward
Aikenside, his heartbeats keeping time to
the swift tread of his horse's teet, and his
mind a confused medley of distracted
thoughts, amid which two facts stood out
prominent and clear — he had lost Maddy
Clyde, and had promised her to marry Lucy
Atherstone.

For many days after that Guy kept his
f) i room, saying he was sick, and refusing to

see any one sa\ .* Jessie and Mrs. Noah, tlie
latter oi whom guessed in part what had
ha()pene(], and imputing to liiiii far more
credit than he deserved, petted and pitied
and careil for him until he grew we u-y uf it,
and said to iiei', savagely :

' You needn't think n)e so good, for I am
not. I wanted Maddy Clyde, and told her
so, but she refused mo and made me promise
to marry Lucy ; so I'm going to do that
very thing. I am going to Eii|,dand in a few
weeks, or as soon as Maddy is l)etter, and
before the sun of this year sets I shall be a
married man. '

After this aU Mrs. Noah's influence was
in favour of Maddy, and the goodlady made
more than one pilgrimage to Honedale,
where she expended all her argumauts try-
ing to make Maddy revoke her decision; but
Maddy was fiim in what she deemed right,
and as her health began slowly to improve,
and there was no longer an excuse for Guy
to tarvy, he started for England the latter
part of October, as unhappy and unwilling
a bridegroom, it may be, as ever went after a
bride.

CHAPTER XXL

THK INTERVAL BEFORE THE MARRIAGE.

Maddy never knew how she lived through
those bright, autumnal days, when the gor-
geous beautv of decaying nature .seemed so
cru'^lly to mock lyrr aii^^uish. As long ao
Guy was tliere, breatliing the same air with I al

herself, she kept up, vaguel}' consci(;us of a
shadowy hope that something would happen
without her instrumentality, son'.etbiDg to
ease the weight pressing so hard upon her.
But when she heard that he had really gone,
tliat a line had been received from him after
he was on board the steamer, all hope died
out of her heart, and had it been right she
would have prayed that she might die, and
forget how utterly miserable she wai.

At last there came to her three letters,
one from Lucj', one from the doctor, and one
from Guy himself. She opened Lucy's Hist,
and read of the swe t girl's great liappiness
in seeing Giij again, of her sorrow to find
him so thii', and pale, and changed, in all
save his extreme kindness to her, his caveful
study to her wants, and evident anxiety to
please her in every respect. On this Lucy
dwelt, until Maddy's heart seemed to leap
up and almost turn over, so fiercely it
throbbed and ached with anguish. She was
out in the woods when she read the letter,
and laying her face in the grass she sobbed
as she never sobb d before.

The doctor's letter was opened next, and
Maddy re id with blinding tears that which
for a moment increased her pain and sent to
her heart an added pang of disappointment,
or a sense of wrong done to her, she could
not tell which. T)r. Holbrook ^\a3 to be
mariied tin' .-■am'.' I'ay as Guy, and to
Lucy's sister Margaret.

'Maggie, 1 caU h't, ' he wrote, ' liecauae
that name is so much like my first lov,
Maddy, the little girl who thought I was t o
old to be her husband, and so made mo very
wretched for a time, until I met and knew
Margaret AthTstone. I have told her of
you, Maddy ; I would not many her with-
out, and she seems willing to take me as I
am. We shall come home with Guy, who
is the mere wreck of what he was when I
last saw him. He has told me everything,
and though I doubly respect yoanow,Icannot
say that I think you did quite right. Bet.
ter that one should suffer than two, and
Lucy's is a nature whicli will forget far soon-
er than yours or Guy's. I pity you all.'

This almost killed Maddy ; she did not
love the do';tor, but the knowledge that he
was to be married added to her misery, wiiile
what he said of her decision was the climax
of the whole. Had lier ' -rifico been for
nothing ? ^V'ould it have l>een l>etter if she
had not sent Guy away ? It was angiiihh
unspeakable to believe so, and the leafless
wood(< never echoed to so bitter a cry of pain
as that with which shf 'aid lior head om the
ground, and for a brief moment wished that
alie might die. God pitied His child thea,

MADKLiXK

ami for the next half iiuiir she lianlly kiuw
what she siiiVc; t-d.

There wa.-: (iMj''t< letter yet to read, and
with a listli'SM iiidili" mice i^lie opened it at
last and \va« glad that lie made no dirort re-
ference to the pai?t excej.t when he .spoke of
Lucy, telling liow happy she was, and liow,it
anything couhl reconcile iiini to his fate, it
was the knowing how pure ami gnrid and
lovini^ was the vrife he was getting,'. Then
lie wrote of the doctor aricl NIargaret, wlioin
he described as a dasliing, brilliant giri, the
veriest tease ami madcap in the worlil, and
the exact opposite of Maddy.

' It is a strange to me why he chose her
after loving yon,' he wrote; ' but as they
seem find of each other, their chai ces of
happiness are not inconsiderable'

This ht'er, so calm, so 'jhcerfnl in its
tone, had a quieting effect on Maildv, who
read it twice, and then placing it in her
bosom started for the cottage, meeting on
the way with Flora, who was seeking for her
in great alarm, Uncle Joseph had a lit, she
said, and fallen upon the floor, cutting his
forehead liadly against the siiarp point of
the stove. Jinrr,\ ing on Maddy found that
what Fh)ra had said was true, and sent im-
mediately for the physician, wiio came at
once, but shook his head doubtfully as he
examined his patient The wound was very
seiious, he said and fever might ensue.
Nothing in the fnrm of trouble could parti-
cularly affect Maddy now, and perhaps it
was wi-icly ordei'cil that Uncle Jose])h's ill-
ness sliouLii take her thouglits from herself.
From the very lirst he refused to take his
medicines from any one save her or Jessie.
\\ iiu Willi her motiu'..3 permission stayed
altogether at the cottage, and who, as Guy's
sister, was a great comfort to Ma<idy.

As the fever svhich the doctor had pre-
dicted, increased, and Uncle Joseph c;rew
more and more delirious, his ciies for Sarah
were heart-rending, making Jessie weep j
bitterly, as she said to Maddy : ]

'If I knew where this Sarah was I'd go ,
miles to find her and bring her to him. '

Something like this Jessie said to her i
motlicr when she went for a day to Aikeu-
side, asking her in conclusion if she thouglit
Sarah wouhl go, supposing she could be
found.

' Perhaps,' and Agnes l)rushed abstracted-
ly her long Ho«ing hair, wi.ding it ar.aind
hor fingers, and tlien letting the soft curia
fall across her snowy arms.

'Where do you siijiposc she is?' was
J'jssic's next ((uestioii, but if Agnes knew,
she did not answer, except by .•(minding
her little daughter that it was past her bed!-
tiBie. I

^.ics 8 eyes were very

Tiic next nuirniii'' Atii
red. asil sliehadbeen wakeful theentirenight,
while her wiiito face fully warranted the
hea<lachfc she professed to have.

' Jessie, ' she said, its they sat together at
breakfasi, ' I am goiig to Honedale to-day
to see Maiidy, and sliall leave you here, as I
do not care to have us both aksent.'

•Jessie demurred a little at first, but finally
yielded, wondering what had prompted this
vis;t to the cottage. Maddy wondered so,
too, as from the w indow she saw Agnes in-
stead of Jessie alighting from the carriage,
and was conscious of a thrill of gratification
that .\gnes should have come to see her.
But Agm s"s business was with the sick
man, poor Uncle Joseph, who was sleepiiig
when she came, and so did not hear her
voice as in the tidy kitchen she talked to
Maddy, appearing extremely agitated, and
casting li(>r eyes rapidly from one part of the
room to another, resting now upon the tin-
ware hanging on the wall, and now upon the
gourd swiuiuiing in the water-pail which
stood in the old- fashioned sink, with the
wooden spout directly over the pile of stones
covering the drain. These things were
familiar to the proud woman ; .she had seen
them before, and the sight of them brought
to lier a iimst remorseful regret for t!ie past,
while her heart ached cruelly as she wished
I she had never crosse<l tliat threslmld, or,
I crossing it, had never brought ruin t(j one of
i its inmates. Agnes was ciiauged in various
' ways. All hope of the doctor had long since
\ been given up. and as Jessie grew older the
' mother nature wcs sti'onger within her,
subduing her :eHisiiniss, and making her
far nioic gcutie and considerate for
otherri than sh^' had been before. To
Maddy she was excee<lingly kiml, and never
more so in niainur than new, when they sat
talking together in the humble kitchen at tie
cottage.

' You look tired and sick, 'she said. ' Your
cares have been too much for you. Let me
sit liy your uncle till he awakes, and you go
up to led.'

Very gladly Maddy accepted the offered
relief, and utterly worn out with constant
vigils, she was souu slee) i"g soundly in her
own room, while Flora, in the little back
rodui of the house, was busy with her iron-
ing. Tims tliere was no one to see Agnes as
she went slowly intf> the sick-roum where
I'liele .foseph lay, his thin face upturned to
the light, aiui his lips occasionally moving as
he niuttered in his sleep. There was a
strange contrast between that wasted im-
becile and that proud, (|ueenly wnnan, but
sh.c could r.-wiendicr a time when the super-
iority was all upon his side, a time when in

MADELINE.

her estimation he was the embodiment of
every manly beauty, ami the knowledge that
he loved her, his sister's little hired girl,
filled her with pride and vanity. A great
change had come to them both, since tli'se
days, and Agnes, as she watched him, and
smothered the cry of pain which rose to her
lips at sight of liini, felt that for the fearful
change in him she was anaw-^rable. Intel-
lectual, talented, admired, and sought by all
he had bsen once; he was a mere wreck now,
and Agnes' breath came in short, quick
gasps as, glancing fui'tively round to see that
no one was near, she laid her hand upon his
forehead, and parting his thin hair, said,
pitj'ingly ' poor Joseph. '

The touch awoke him, and starting up he
stared wildly at her, wliile sonic iniMnory of
the past seemed to be struggling througii the
misty clouds, clearing his mental vision.

' Who are you, lady, with eyes and hair
like hers ?'

'I'm the "madam," from Aikenside,'
Agnes said, quite loud, as Flora passed the
(lo(jr. Then when she was gone she added,
softly, 'I'm Sarah. Don't you know me?
Sarah Ag: ■s Morris.'

The truth seemed for a nionient to burst
upon him in its full reality, and to her dying
dtiy Agnes would never t'oi'get the look upon
his face, the smile of perfect happiness bri ak-
iiig through tlic rain of tears, the love, the
tenderness, mingled with di.'t.tst, which
that look betokened as he con' "'■•d ga/ingat
her without a word. Again her iiand rested
on his forehead, and taking it iif'W in his he
held it to the liglit, langliing insanely at
its soft whiteness ; tiieu touchin.' the
cor-tly diamonds wliicii flashed upon him the
rain If >w iuies, he said :

' Wlierc's that li tie bit of a ring I bought
for yon ? '

S!ie had anticipated this, and took from
her pocket a plain gold ring, kept until th; t
day where no one could find it.and holding it
up. she saidt:

' Here it is. Do you remember it ? '

' Yes, yes ;' and Ids lips began to quiver
witli a grieved, injured expression. ' Me
Of ulil give you diamonds, and I couldn't.
That's why you loft me, wasn't it, Sarah —
why you wrote that letter which made my
liead splil in two ! It's ached so ever since, ai;<l
I've missed j'ou so much. They put me jn a '
cell where cnizy people were oh i so many \
— and they said that 1 was mad, when I was '
only wanting you. I'm not mad now, am i, :
darling '! '

His arm was rouml her neck, and he drew I
her down until his lips touclic'd hers. And '
Agnes sulFei'ed it. .Slie eouhl not return the
k'sK. but she did nnt turn awav from him.

and she let him caress her hair, and wind it
around his lingers, whispering :

'This is like Sarah's, and you are Sarah,
are you not ? '

' Yes I am Sarah,' she answered, while the
smile so painful to see aiiaiu broke over his
face as he told how much he had missed her,
and asked, ' if she had not come to stay till
he died.'

'There's something wrong,' he said; V^onie-
body is dead, and it seems as if somebody
else wanted to die — as if Maddy died ever
since the Lord Govenor went away. Do you
know Governor Guy ?'

' I .am his step-mother,' Agnos replied,
whereupon Lncle Joseph laughed so long and
loud that Maddy woke, and, alarmed by the
noise, caine down to see what was the
matter.

Agnes did not hear her, and as she reached
the doorway, she started at the strange
position of the parties — Uncle Joseph still
smoutliing the curls which drooped over
liirn, and Agnes saying to him :

' You heard his name was Remington, did
j-on not ? — James llemiiigton ? '

Like a sudden revelation it came upon
Muddy, and she turned to leave, when
Agnes, lifting her head, called her to come
in. She did so, and standing upon the
opposite side, .said, qucstioiiingly :

' You arc Sarah Morris ? '

For a moment the eyelids quivered, then
the neek arched proudly, as if it were a
thing of vMiicli she was not ablianied, and
Agnes answered :

' Yes, 1 was Sarah Agues Morris ; once,
when a mere child, I was for three months
your grandmother's hired girl, and after-
waiils adopted by a lady who gave me ivhdi
,;diication 1 possess, together with that tast«
for high life which prompted me to jilt yout
Uncle .foaeph when a richer man than ho of-
f«red himself lo me. '

That was all she said — all that Ma Idy
ever kjiew of h«r history, as it was never re-
ferred to again, except that evening, wheu
Agnes saio to her, pleadingly :

' Neith' « Guy nor Jessie, nor any one,
need know what I have told you.'

' They shall not,' was Maddy's reply ; and
from that moment the pjist, so far as Agnes
w.iK concerned, was a sealed page to b(;lh.
With this bond of confidence between them,
Agnes felt 'lerself strangely drawn towards
Maddy, uMIe, if were possible, somctiiing
of her olden love was revived for the help-
less man who clung to her now Unstead of
Maddy, refusing to let her go ; mijther had
Agnes any disposition tf) leave him. She
sliould stay to the lust, she said : and she
did, taking Maddy's place, and by her faith-

The
churcl
the oo
Unfeti
ones, j
stately
often,
with t
ing on
leafless
heard f
written
she was
liow nu
Maddy
lust int(
pleasani
gret his
after so
a little
throbbec
half hopi
sliould rt
(hiy h;
be made
largely in
pair, had
rooms int
thorouglil
paiut, cai

MADELINE.

dit

rail,

)the
• his
her,
r till

ome-

body

ever

you

plied,
,g and
)y the
IS the

iached
tiange
h still
L over

, did

on,

e upon
, when
;o come
)on the

then

'ere a

and

once,
month*
a fter-
yhat
at tasta
It \ou«
n h<; of'

Ma idy
ivev re-
r, wheu

ly one,

ly ; and

I Apnes

r.. buih.
them,
l()\vard»
|it,thing
help-
tcad of
|h<'i tiad
She
ii!(i she
1 r faith-

fulness and care winning golden lauifls in
the opinion of the neighbours, who mar-
velled at first to see so gay a lady at Uncle
Joseph's bedside, attributing it ;ill to bcr
friendship for Maddy, just as tliey attri-
buted liis calling for Sarah to a crazy freak.
She did resemble Sarali Morris a very little,
they said : and in Mad'ly's prej^^'uce they
.sometiines wuiideied where Sarali was, iuid
if she was hap'py with the old man whom
.she married, and who they liad lieard was
not so ricli after all, as most of the money
belunired to the m, who inherited it from
his mother ; but .\Iaddy kept the secret
j'rom every one, so that even .fessie never
susp',;cted why her mother staid day afttn-
day at the cottage : watchin c and waiting
until the last day of .lo.-eph's life.

She was alone with him wlien he died, and
NIaddy never knew what passed l)etween
them. She had left them together for an
hour, while she did some errands ; and when
she returned, Agnes met hor at the door,
and with a blanched cheek whispered :

' He is dead ; he died ni my arms, bless-
ing you and me. Surely my sin ia now for-
given.'

CHAPTER XXII.

BEFORE THE BKIDAL.

There was a fresh grave made in the
church-yard, and another chair vacant at
the cottage, where Ma<hlywas at latit alone.
Unfettered l)y care ami anxiety for sick
ones, her aching heart was frt-e to go to the
stately mansion she had heard de.'^ciibed so
often, and where now two lirides wen; busy
with their preparations for the bridal hurry-
ing on so fast. Since the letter read in the
leafless October woods. Muddy liad net
heard from! Tuy directly, tb nigh Lucy li;ul

'ectly, tmnigh Lucy
lines, telling how li;

written a few brief lines, telling how liiippy
she was, how strong she was growing, and
how much like liimself <Jiiy was becouiing.
Maddy had l)een less tlian a woman if the
last intelligence had failed to ailect her un-
pleasantly!^ She did not wish (iuy to re-
gret his decision ; Ijut to bi' fori^otton so soon
after so strong pmtostations of iilleotion w.as
a little morV y <\'y, and Maddy's heart
throbbed paiufuiiy as she read the letter,
half hoping it might prove the last she
slunild receive from Lucy Atlierstone

Cuy had left no orders for any changes to
be made at Aikonside ; but Agnes who was
largely imbued witli a love oi bustle and re-
pair, had insisted that at least the suite of
rooms intended for the Itridc should be
thoruughlv renovated with new paper and
paint, carpets and furniture. Tliis plan

Mrs. Noah opposed, for she guesso I how lit-
tle (Uiy would care for the change; but
Agnes was resolved, and as she hail great
faith 111 Maddy's tate, she insisted that she
should go to Aikenside, and pass iier judg-
ment upon the improvements. It would do
her good, she said — little dreaming how
much it cost Mnddy to comply with lier
wishes, or liow fe.uTully tlie poor, crushed
l.eai't ai'hed. as Mad<ly Wiiit thiouLrli the
handsome rooms inteudeil for Guy's young
bride ; but Mrs. Noah guessed it all, and
jiitii'd the white-faced girl, whose deep
mourning robes told the loss of dear (Jiies l)v
death, but gave no token of that great loss,
tenfold worse than death.

' It was wicked in her to fetch you here,'
she said to Maddj- one day when in Lucy's
room she found her sitting upon the floor,
with her liead bowed down upon the win-
dow-sill. 'But she's a triflin' thing, and
didn't know 'twould kill you, jioor child,
poor Maddv !' and Mrs. N'oah liid her hand
kindly on Maddy's hair. ' Mayl)e you'd
better go home, ' slie continued, as Maddy
made no rep'y ; ' it must be hard, to be here
in the rooms, and among the things wiiich by
good rights should be yours.'

■ \o, Mrs. Noah," and MaiMy's voice was
straiigcdy uiinatural,as she lifted up her head,
I'evealing a face so iiaggard and white tliat
Mr-, \oili was friul.tencd, and asked in
much ;ilai!ii if anything new had happ:'neil.

' No. notliing : 1 w.is going to say tliat I'll
rather stay a little longer M'here there are
signs ami souiids of life. 1 should dieti) be
alone at lionedale to-morrow. 1 may die
here. 1 don't know. Do you know that to-
morrow will i>e the bridal ?'

Ves, Mrs. N lah knew it ; but she hoped it
might have cscaiK'd "vladily's njiU.l.

• poor child,' slu! .said a'jrain. ' poor child, I
ini.«1ru3t you did wrong to t' il him \o !'

'Oil, Mrs. Xoah, don't say that; don't
make it harder for me to bear. The tciniiter
lias been tel ing me so, all da\ .and my heart is
so hard and wicked, I cannot pray as I would.
Oh, you don't know how wretched 1 am !'
and 'Maddy hid her face in the bjoad,
motherly lap, sobbing so wild'y that Mrs.
Xoah wa -^ greatly perplexed how to act, or
what to ay.

^'ears ago, she would have spurned the
thoiigl.t that the I'Tandchihl of tlie old man
who hail bowed to his own picr.iire, sh.iuld be
mistiess of Aikensiiic ; but now, could she
have had her way. she would have stopped
the mairi ige, and. bringing her bf)y home,
have given him to the younu gir' wi-eping so
bi'terly in her lap. llut .Mrs. Xoah could
not have her way. The bridai ^>' .ts were,
even then, a.-.sembling in that home beyond

■* I

«4

MADKLFNE.

the sea. Se could not call (!uy back, and so
she pitied and oai'essed the wretched Maddy,
.saying to ht'f, at hist :

'I'll tell you what is impressed on my
mind; this Lucy's got the coiisiiiii))tion, with-
out any kind ot (hjuht, and if you've no ob-
jeotions to a \\i(U)wer, you may— — '

She did not iini^li the sentcnee, for Maddy
started in lion or. To her there was some-
tliiutr murderous in tlie very idea, and slie
tlirust It '[ liekly aside. (Juy Remington \\as
not for her, slie said, and itei' %vish was
to forget him. If she could get tlirougli the
dreaded to-morrow, she could do better.
There liad been a load u]) >n her the whole
day, a nightmare slie eoulil not shake ofr,
and she liad eome to Luey's room, in the
hope of leaving he* burden tliere,of jiraying
her pain away. Would Mrs. Noah leave iier
awliile, and .see tliat no one eaine ?

The good woman eould not refuse, and
going out, .«he lelt Maddy liy the window,
watclihig the sun as it went down, and then
M'ati'hing the wintry twili'.'lit dee])e:iingover
the iandsi ape, until all things were bh-mh d
together in one great darkiujss, and .lessie,
seeking for her, found liei' at last fainting
upon tlie floor.

Maddy was glad of tlie racking headache
which kept her in bed the whole of (lie next
day, glad of any excuse to stav away from
the family, talking of (.niy and \\ hat was
transpiring in Eimland. 'lli'^y had failed to
remember the dirt'erence in the longitude of
the two places ; but ]\laddy forgot nothing,
and when the clock struck iiiue she called
Mrs. Noah to her and Mliisper faintly :

' Tliey were to be married before twelve,
yor. know, so it was over two hour.s ago.and
Guy is lost forever ! '

Mrs. Noah had no consolation to offer,and
only presse<l the hot, feverish hands, while
Maddy turned her face to tiie wail, and did
not .speak again, excejit to whisT>er incoher-
ently, as she half slumbered, half woke :

' Did Guy think of me, when he promised
to love her. ami does lie, can he see how
•n ? •

miseralde 1

Maddy -(.i- '"dec^
wat^'i's, and t.:e (" i,-
fourtii of Decern! >• v

pn.'^sing through deep
nd t) e night of the
ore tti<' longest, ilreari-
est slie ever kjiew a;td eould never be fc^r-
gotteu. <hi:i; [wsi, tue A'avt \.-as over, ami
as the ra.eHt in.'r,\i i-< pti;i!i< d liyfiie, so
Maddy cam ' \iii lir. .Ireiidful ordeal
strengthened! tor vhac vas before ! er.
lijth Agnes and Mi- N ih /lutieed the
strangely beautilui i,xpvi,i--ioa ' her face
v.hen she ewinc li'-w.i tc t^:e breaii fast-room,
Avhile .Jessie, as she Lt^o^u her ^ pale cheek,
Mhispered ;

' You look as if you had been with the
angels. '

Guy was not expected with his bride for
two or three weeks, and as tlie days dragged
on, Maihly felt that the waiting for him was
more intolerable than the seeing him with
Lucy would be. Kcstless and impatient,
she could not remain quietly at the cottage —
aiid when at Aikeiiside.siie longed to return
1 again to iier own lionie ; and in *his w>y the
' time wore on, until theiinuiversary of that day
I when she had come from. New York, and
found (hiy found waiting for heratthestation.
To stay that day in the house so rife with
menioiies of the dead was impossible, and
I'^lora was surprised and delighted to hear
that both were going up to Aikenside in the
vehicle hired of Farmer (Jreen, whose son
ofli<'iated as driver. It was nearly noon
when the}' reached their destination, meet-
ing at the gate with Flora's brother Tom,
who said to them ;

' We've heard from Mr. Guy ; the ship is
in : they'll be here to-niulit, and Mrs. Noah
is turuin' tilings upside down with the din-
ner. '

Leaning back in the buggy, Maddy felt
for a moment as if she were dying. Never
until then had she I'eali/ed how, all the
while, slie had been elingiiig to an indefin-
able hope, a presentiment that something
might yet occur to spare her from a lone
lifetime of pain, such as lay before her, if
f!uy were really lost ; but the bubble had
burst, leaving her nothing to hope, nothing
to eling to, nothing but black despair ; and
half bewildered, she received the noi.sy greet-
ing of .Jessie, who met her at the door, and
dfiigged her into the drawmg-rooin, decorat-
ed \;ith flowers from the hot-house, andiold
her to guess who was coming.

' I know . Tom told me ; Guy is coming
M'ith Luiy, ' Maddy answered, and relieving
herself from Jessie, she turned to Agnes,
asking where ]\lrs. Noah was, and if she
might go to her for a moment.

' Oh, Maddy, child, I'm sorry you've
come to-day,' ^Irs. Noah said, as she chafed
Madd^'s c<dd hands, anil holding her to the
tire, made her sit down, while she untied her
hood, and removed her cloak and furs.

' 1 did not know it, or I should not have
come, ' Ma'idy replied; I sliall not stay, as
it is. I canuut see them to-day. Charlie
vill di'ive me back before t!io train is due.
But what did he say ? And how is Lucy ?"

' He did not nieution her. There's the
dispatch,' and Mrs. Noali handed to Maddy
the telegram, received that morning, aad
which wa.s simply as follows :

MADELINE,

th the

•idc for
ragged
im was
ni with
latient,
ttage —
1 return
vpy the
hat day
rk, and
station,
ife with
»le, and
to hear
e in the
lose son
y noon
I, meet-
3r Tom,

ship ia
s. Noah
the din-

ddy felt

Never

all the

iiulefin-

iniething

ti a lone
her, if
hie had
nothing

air ; and
sy greet-
oor, and
decorat-
and iold

coming
relieving

Aj^'ues,
if she

you've

|e chafed

jr to the

litiod her

Irs.

Iiot have

I stay, as
Charlie

II i;, due.
|.iicy ?■

[•rft's the
I, Maddy
]ng, aad

' The stcaniur i.s in. Sliall he at tlio .station
;..t iivc o'clock jj. m.

'GvY lwi:Mrxi;T0N.'

Twice Ma'ldy )ead it over, cxntTif.'iicing
I'liich tlie same fccliiiL; she would' liave ( x-
'niriencod h.id it \)w \ her d,'at)i warrant she
was roadinu'.

• At tivi.; o'clock. I must go lieforo that,'
vie .said, sighing as slic nMiicuilKU'cd Iid'a.
'jui.' year ago that day. ,■ !i • v\,i-' travt llin,^'
')ver the very route wht-re (aiy was now
travelling with liia bride, Did lie tliiidi of
itV think of lii.s Imig waiting at the depot,
'H-of that mcuiorahic ride to Honedale, tlie
•vtiits (jf wliich grew more and more dis-
T.inct in her memory, making h.-r cheeks
'nn-n even now, as she recalled his many
:ijtsof tendeiii' ss and care.

Laying th;. telegram ou the table, she
went with .Mr.s. Noah througii the rooms,
ivurmed and made ready fo.' the bride, lin-
t,t;riug longest in Liu^y's, which the bridal
decorations, and the bright iire l)lazii)g in
the grate, made singularly inviting. As yet,
theie were no flowers there, and Maddy
c'iiimed tlie privilege of arranging them for
this 100:11 herself. Agnes had almost strip-
ped the conservatory ; but Maddv found
onoufrh to form a most tasteful bou.juet,
Nwhich she placed upon a marble dressing
table ; then within a slip of paper which
slie folded across th ; top, slie wrote ;
' Welcome to the bride.'
■ riiey botii will recugaize my handwrit-
ing; they'll know I've been here.' she
thought, as with one long, last, sad look at
the room, she walked away.

They were laying the table for dinner
now, and with a kind of dizzy, uncertain
feeling, Maddy watched the servants hurry-
ing to and fro, bringing out the choicest
china, and tlie glittering silver, in honour of
the bride. Comparatively, it was not long
since, a little friglitene<l, homesick girl, she
Hrst sat down witli (iuy at that table, from
which the proud Agnes would have ban-
ished her: but it seemed to her an age, so
much of happiness and pain had come to
her since then. There was a place fur her
there now, near Guy : but she should not
iill it. kShe could not stay ; and she aston-
ished Agues ami Jessie, just as they were
going to make their dinner toilet, by an-
nouncing her intention of going home. She
was not tlrcjssed to meet Mrs. Remington,
?lie said, shmldering as for the first time she
(.ronouuced a name sviiich the servants had
ire(inently used, and wliich jarred 011 her ear
ever\ time she heard it. >She was not
dre.>sed appropriately to meet an PJnglish
lady. Klora of coiir.se would stay, she said,

as it was natural she should, to greet her
n';\\ mistress ; iuit she must go ; und Ond-
ing (Jharlie (Jreen she bade him bring round
tlie buggy.

Agues was not particularly surprise 1,

for

a vague susjueioii of sume^^liin"

likt! the truth had gradually b(>eii creeping
into her brain, asshe m.ticed .Madly's p;illid
face, and the chant'cs which pa.>-sed over it
whenever Guv was meiitiiiii.d. Agnea
])itied Maddy, for in her .ami iieart there
was a little burning sjxjt, when she remem-
bered who was to accompany Dr. Holbrook.
So she did not urge her to remain, and she
tried to liusli .lessie's Ia;ni;ntitions when she
heard Maddie was going.

One l(.>ng, sad, wistful look at Guy's and
Lucy's hoiue, and MatUly followed Charlie
to the buggy waiting for her, and bade him
diive rapidly, as there was every indication
of a coming ssorm.

The gray, wintry aft'-rnoon was drawing
to a clo.se, and the December night was
shutting down upon the Honedale hills in
sleety rain, when the cott,'ige was reached,
and Madily, passing up the narrow, slippery
walk, entered the cold, dreary room, where
there was neitlui tire nor light, nor friendly
voice to iireet her. No sound save the tick-
ing of the clock ; no welcome save the purr-
ing of the house-cat. who came crawling at
her feet as she kie It before the stove and
tri(.d to kindle the tire. Charlie (Jrcen had
oli'ered to go in and do this for her, as indeed
he had ottered to return and stay all night
but she liad declined iireferring to be alone,

rs ^ho. laid the kind-

d, and the'i applying

olue tlame as it gradu

and with stitiened fi
luid pi'ep

lings Flora

a match, watclied th
ally licked up the
cheerful blaze.

' 1 shall feel h. ■ '
said, crouching ov

Moke and burst into a

r when it's warm," she
the fire, and shivering
with more than bo Uly cold.

There was a 1 i d" nameless terror steal-
ing over her as it thinking of the years
ago when the inmates of three graves across
tlie meadows were tliere beneath that very
roof where she now sat alone.

'I'll strike a lijht,' she .sidd, rising lo
her feet, and try in u not to glance at tho
shadowy corners lilmig her with fear.

The lamp was found, anu its friendly
beams soon disperv-.'. the darkness from the
corners and the i d from Maddy 's heart,
but it could not dri\ e from her miud thoughts
of what might at that moment be transpir-
ing at Aikenside. If the liride .und gruoni
came at all that night, she knew they must
have been there :or an hour or more, and in
fancy she s w vhe fired, 1>ut happy Lucy, as
in liei- p! asant room she nnde 1. r loi'i^ fir

MADELINE.

ilinner, with Guy standing by and looking
on. Did he Biiiilc approvingly upon liis
young wife ? Did liis eye. wlicii it rested on
her, light up with the same expreasion she
had seen so often when it looked at
her ? Did he conunond her tasto and say
his little wife was beautiful, as he kissed her
fair white elieek, or was there a cloud upon
his handst)iiie face, a sliadciW on his heart,
heavy with thouglits of her, and would lie
rather it Mere Maddy there in the l)ridal
room? If so, his burden Wiis hard indeed,
but not so hard as hei'.s, and Iviu-eiiug on the
floor, poor Maddy la'd her head in the chair,
and, 'mid })iteuus ui aiis, asked (!od, iier
Father, to help them both to bear -liclj) her
ami (iuy — ni:'.liiiig the latter love as he
ought tlie geiith) girl who had left home and
friendg to live with liin\ in a far dist.i.t
land ; asked, too, tiiat she mi^rlit tear Ircm
her heart evt^ry sinful thouglit, loving ' !uy
only as she might love the husbaud ol an-
other.

The prayer ended, Maihly still sat upon
the floor, while over iier pale face the lamp-
light faintly fliekered, showing the dark
lines beneath her eyes and the toar-stains on
her cheek. Witlion .le stoim still was
raging, and the wintry rain, mingled witli
sleet and snow, beat pileously against the
curtained windows, while the wind howled
mournfully as it shook the door, and sweep-
ing past the cottage went screaming over
the liill. lint Maddy heard nothing of the
tumult. 8he had brouglit a j)il!ow from
tiic bed-room, and placing it u )ou the chair,
sat ;lown again upon the tlucr and rested
licr licad upon it. Slie did not even know
that her pet cat had crept up 'beside her,
purring contentedly, and occasionally lick-
ing her hair, mui;h less did she hear above
tiie storm the sw'ft tread of horses' feet as
some one f;anie dashing down the road, the
rido^r pausing an instant as he cauglit a
glirn)ise of the cottage lamp, and then liurry-
ing on to the publie-liouse beyond, where
t'!' 'lostler frowned moodily at being called
out to care for the horse of a stranger, wiio
went back on foot to where tiic cottage
lamp shone a beacon light through the inky
darkness.

The stranger reached the little gate, and
undoing the fastening, went hurryi;.g up the
walk, his step upon the crackling .snow
catching .Maddy's car at last and making her
wonder who could be coming there uu such
a nigiit as tiiis. It was probably Charlie
(Jreen, she said, and with a feeling of im-
patience at being intruded upon she rose to
her feet just as the door turned upon its
h.:ig''S. K;ttiiig in a powerful draught of

wind which extinguished the light, and Ic.
her in total darknes».

But it did not matter. Maddy l\i><t
caught a sound, a peculiar cough, whicii
froze the blood in her veins, and made hei
(juake witii teiTorcjuite as much aa if the foot-
steps hurrying towards her had been the foot-
steps of the dead, instead of belonging, as
she knew tiny did, tolJiiy Remington — who,
with garnienls saturated witli rain, felt lor
her in the darkness, and found her wdieic
from faintness slu; had crouched again beside
the chair, and drawing her closidy to him in
a passi(jnate, almost })ainful embrace, sai<l.
so tenderly, so lovingly :

' Maddy, my darling, my own ! We siia^
never be parted again.'

CHAPTER XXIII.

L(7CY.

Hoi.rs went by, anil the hands of the clock
pointed to twelve, ere Maddy compelled her-
self to hear the story Cuy had come to teU.
She had tiirust him from her at first, speak-
ing to him of Lucy, his wife, and Guy had
ansvvtied her, 'I have no wife — I never hail
one. Lucy is in Heaven ;' and that was all
Maddy knew until the great shock had spent
icselt in tears an<l sobs, wliich became almost
convulsions as she tried to realize the fact
that l^uey Atherstone was dead ; that the
bridal robe about which she had written
with girlish frankness proved to be her
shroud, and that her head that night was not
pillowed on Guy's arm, but resting under
English turf and beneath an English sky.
She couhl listen at last, but her breath
came in panting gasps ; while Guy told
her how, on the very morning of the bridal,
Lucy had greeted him with her usual
bright smile, appearing and looking better
than he had seen her look since he
reached her mother's home ; how for
an hour they sat totn:ther alone in a
little room sacred to her, l>ecauee years it
was thera he confes.«ed his love.

Seated on a low ottoman, M'ith her golden
head lyirg on his lap, she had tliis morning
told him, in her arth'ss way, how much she
loved him, and how hard it sometimes was
to make her love for tlie creature second to
her love for the Creator, told 'inn she was
not faultless, and asked that when he found
how errina ami weak she was, he would hear
with lit r frailties as she would bear with his;
talked with him, too, of Maddy Clyde, con-
fessing, ill a soft, low tone, how once or
twice a pang of jealousy iiad wrung her
heart when she reail his praises of his pupil.
But she had coiu|uered that; she had prayed
it all away, ard now, next to her own siecer,
she loved Maddy Clyde.

arms.

MADELINE.

Other words, too, were spoken- words of
.oiilelesH, piu'ii atl'crtion, too f-acrid e\ on for
aiy to Wioatlin to .Muddy ; iiiul Unm Ia\c\
iiud left him, her l)ouniling stop fcduiiny
:hrough tho hall and up tlie winding,' stairs,
town which slu; never came again alive, for
wlien Cruy next looked upon her, she was
lying white and still, her neck and dress and
.y.iilen hair stained with the pale life-blood
oozing from her livid lips. ^\ hlood-vesscd
had been anddcnly ruptured, the physicians
said, adding that it was what he had been
fearing for some time, and now it had come
— and there was no hope. Tiiey ti>ld her she
must die, for the motlier woiihl liave them
toll her. Once for a few moments, tliercwas
on her face a frightened look, such as a
harmless bird might wear when suddenly
caught in a anare. But that soon ])assed
away as from ber.eaJi the closed eyehds the
great tears came gushing, and the stained
lips whispered faintly :

' God knows liest what is right. Poor
Guy ! — break it gently to him.'

At this point in the story Guy broke
down entirely, sobbing as only strong men
can sob.

' Maddy,' he said, ' I felt like a heartless
wretch — a most consummate hypocrite — as,
standing by Lucy's .side, I met the fond,
pitying glance of her bine eyes, and suffered
the' poor little hand to part ;.)iy hair as she
trieil to. comfort ine. evfii tiiough e\ery word
slie uttered was shorterun;.; her life ; tried to
comfort me, the wretch who was there so
unwillingly, and who at this prospect .'f re-
.ease hardly knew at first whether he was
more sorry th »ia glad. You may well sta;t
from me iji li^rror, Maddy. I was just the
wretch I describe ; but I overcame it,
MaiMy, ami Heaven is my witness that
no thoiiglit of you intruded it?^elf upon me
afterwarils as I i«t.»od by my dying
Lucy. I saw how gootl, how .sweet she was,
and something f>i tlie old love came l)acl< to
me, as I htild her ii» my arms, where she
wisiied to be. I wouhl have saved Ikt if I
couM : and when 1 oalhd her *' my darling
Lucy," they were notiille words. I kissed
her many timesfor myself, and once, Maddy,
for you. She told me to do so. She tv liis-
jiereil, " Ki.ss me, Guy, for M;;diiy Clyde.
Tell her I'd rather she should t.nke my place
than anybody else — rather 'ay (ruy should
call her wife — for I know slio m ould not be
jealous if yon sometimes talked of your
dead Lucy, and I know she will help lead
you to* that blessed hf me where sorrow
never conies." That was the last she ever
spoke, and when the sun went down dx?ath
had claimed my bride. She died in n.y
arms, Maddy. " I felt tlie last fluttering of

liT pnl.se, the last beat of her heart. I laid
lier back n]>on her pil'ows. 1 wiped the
blood from lier U[)s and from her golden
ciul.s. I followed lier to her early grave. I
saw iier buried from my sight, and then,
Maddy, I started home ; thoughts of you
and thoughts of Lucy blendeil equally to-
gether until Aikenside was reached. I
talked with Mrs. Xoah ; I heard all of you
there was to tell, and then I talked with
Agnes, who was not greatly surprised, and
did not oppose my coming here to-night. I
could t\ot remain there, knowing you were
h( "e alone, even though somp old fogie.s
miglit say it was not proper — God knows
what is in my heart. In the bridal chamber
1 found your bouquet, with its "Welcome
to the Bride." Maddy, you muot be that
bride. Lucy sanctiftned it, and the doctor,
too, for I told him all. His own wedding
was, of course, deferred, and he did not
come with me, but he said " Tell Maddy not
to wait. Life is too hort to waste any hap-

piness. '>he has iav
Maddy, it nnist be so.

i'lessing. " And,
Aikenside needs a
mistress ; you are all alone. You are mine
— mine f' r. •. -r. '

The s / iT I, ad died away, and the moon-
beams st. aiitig through the window told
that morning was breaking, but neither (iluy
nor Maddy heeded the lapse of time. Theirs
was a ,sad kind of happini'ss as they sat
talking together, and eould Lucy have lis-
tened to them she wonhl have felt satislied
that .she was not forgotten. One long bright
curl, cut ♦'rom her head by his own hand,
was all that Avas left of her to (!uy save the
liallowed memories of her parity and good-
ness — memories which would yet mould the
pr'^ud, impulsive man into the earnest, con-
sistent riiristian which Lucy in her life had
desired that he should be, and which Maddy
rejoiced to see him.

CHAPTER XXIV.

KIN ALE.

It is the close of a calm September after-
noon, and the autunnial sunlight falls softly
upon Aikenside, where a gay party is now
assembled. For four years Maddy Clyde
has been n\istresR tie re, ai\d in looking back
upon them she wonders lenv so much happi-
ness as she has known eould be experienced
in so short a time. Ts'ever but once has the
sliglitestripple of sorrow shadowed her heart,
and that was when her noble husband, Guy,
said to her, in a voice she knew was earnest
and determined, f'.at he could no longer re-
main deaf to his country's c.all — that where
the luittle SM.rni was racing he was neeled,
and he mu<t not stay at iionie. Then for a
brief season her bright fiiee was overcast, and

MADELINE.

her brown eyes dim with weeping. Giving
him to the war seemed like giving him up to
death. But women can be »s true heroes as
men ; and stdhng her own grief, Maddy sent
him away with smiles and prayerH.and cheer-
ing words of encouragement, turning herself
for consolation to the source from wnich she
never sued for peace in vain ; and, save that
she missed her hu8bfin(i terribly, she was not
lonely, for her beautiful dark-eyed boy, whom
they called Guy, junior, kept her busy, while
not many weeks after her departure, Guy
read with moistened eyes of a little golden-
haired daughter, whom Maddy had named
Lucy Atherstone, and gazed upon a curl of
hair she enclosed, asking if it were not like
some other hair now moiddering back to
dust within an English churchyard. 'Maggie
says it is,' slie wrote, alluding to the wife of
Dr. Holbrook, who had come to Aikenside
to stay, while her husband also did duty as
surgeon in the army. Tiiat little daughter
is a year-old baby now, and in her short
white dress and coral braoelt ta sits neglected
on the nursery floor, whi'e her mother and
Jessie and Maggie Holbrook hasten out
into the yard, to welcome the returning
*'.ii''.ier, Major Guy, whoso arm is in a sling,
and who.«e face is very pale fium the effects
of wound < 1 .eivedatiiettysbiirg, where liis
daring courage had weil-nii,'b won for Maddy
a widow's heritage. For tin? present the ."vrm
is disiibled, and so he has been ilischarged,
and I>a3 come back to the home where warm
Words of welcome greet him, from the lowest
servant up to his (larling <\\fe, who can only
look her joy as he folds he.- in hi well arm,
and kisses her beautiful tt.ce. Only Mar-

faret Holbrook seems a little sad, for she had
oped her husband would come with Guy,
but his humanity would not permit him to
leave the sufFering beings who needed his
care. Loving messages '.le sent to her, and
her tears were dried when she heard from
Guy how greatly he wa3 beloved by the pale
occupants of the beds of pain, and how much
he was doing to relieve their anguish.

Jessie, grown to be a most beautiful girl of
nearly sixteen, is still a child in actions, and,
wild with delight at seeing her brother again,
throws her arms around his neck, telling, in
almost the same breath, how proud she is of
him, and how much she wished she could go
to him when she heard he was wounded, iiow
she wished she was a boy, so she could enlist,
how nicely Flora is, married and setth d at
the cottage in Honeilale, and then asks if he
knows anything of the Confederate Colonel
to whom just before the war broke out her
mother was married, and whose home was in
Bichmond.

Guy knows riothing of him, e' ce >t that h*-
is still fighting for the Confederac.v, butfroni
exchanged prisoners who had tome in from
Richmond, ho has heard of a beautiful lady,
an otlieer's wife, and as rumour said, i
Northern woman, who visited thoni i i
prison, speaking kind words of synijiathy to
all, and once binding up a diummer boy's
aching head with a liandkcrehief, which he
still retained as a memento of her, and on
whose corner could be faintly traoe<l the
name of 'Agnes Keinington.'

Jessie'.-? eyes are full of tears as she says .

' Dear mamma, it's months since I heard
from her direct. Of course it was she who
was 80 good to the drummer boy. Shrt can-
not be so very bad,' and Jessie glancen
triumphantly at Mrs. Noah, who, never
having quite overcome her dislike of Agnes,
had sorely tried .lessie by declaring that her
mother ' had found her level at last, and wim
just where she wanted to be.'

Good Mrs. Noah I The ancient man, whose
name she bore, would as soon h.ave thougl.tot
leaving tiie Ark, as she of turning traitor to
her country, .and when she luai'l of tlie
riotous mob raised against the ilraft, she talk-
ed seriously ot going in [ersou to New York,
' to give 'em a yiece of her mind,' and fof
one whole day refused to speak to Flora's
husband, because he was a 'dum dimocrat. '
and she presumed wanted the soutli to beat.

With the exception of Maddy, no one
Was more pleased to see Guy than herself.,
He was her boy, the one she brought up, and
with a mother's fervor she kissed ins branded
cheek, and told him how glad she was to
have him back.

Witli his boy on his sound arm, Guy dis-
engaged himself from the noisy group and
went with Maddy to where the child he had
never seen was just beginning to show signs
of resentment at being left so long alone.

' Lulu, sissy, papa's come ; this is papa, '
the little boy cried, assuming the honour of
the introduction.

Lulu, as they called her, was not afraid of
the tall soldisr, and stretching out her fat,
white hands, went to him readily. Blue-
eyed and golden-haired, she bore but little
resemblance to either father or mother, but
there was a sweet, beautiful face, of which
Maddy had often dreamed, but nev^er seen,
and whether it were fancy or not, Guy
thought it beamed upon him again in the in-
fantile features of his little eirl. Parting
lovingly her yellow curls and kissing her
fair cheek, he said to Maddy softly, just os
he always spoke of that dead one : ,

' Yes, darling, Margaret Holbrook is right
— our baby daughter is very much like our
dear lost Lmcy Atherstone. '