Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-10-24
CHAPTER III-(Continued.l

Thus far she had answered nothin
correctly, and feeling puzzled to know
how TO proceed, Guy stepped into tn
adjoining room to consult with the doc
tor, but he was gone. So, returning
Guy piled her with questions phioshoph
ical, questions alge5raical, and question.
geometrical, until in an agony of distress
Maddy raised her hands deprecatingly a
if she would ward of any similar ques
tions. and sobbed out
"Oh, sir, no more. 1t makes my heat
so dizzy. They don't teach that in com
mon schools. Ask me something l dc
know"
Suddenly it occurred to Guy that he
had gone entirely wrong and mentally
censuring himself for the blockhead the
doctor had called him, he asked kindly
What do they teach? Perhaps you
can enlighten me-
Geography, arithmetic, grammar, his
tory and spelling book" Madeline re-
piled, untying and throwing off her bon
net, in the vain hope that it might bring
relief to her poor, giddy head which
throbbed so fearfully that all her ideas
seemed for the time TO have left her.
This was natural consequence of the
high excitement under which she was
laboring, and so, when Guy did ask her
concerning the books designated, she an
swered but little better than before. and
Guy was wondering what he should dc
next, when the doctors welcome step
was heard and leaving Madeline 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 cor
rectly."
This was what poor Maddy heard
though it was spoken in a low whisper
but every word was distinctly understood
and burned into her hearts 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 in
crease the torpor stealing over her. Still
she did not lose a syllable of what was
saying in the back Office, and her lips
curled scornfully when she heard Guy
remark: Il pity her; she is so young,
she's as good as they average. Suppose
we give her the certificate
Then DR.. Holbrook spoke, but to poor,
dazed Maddy his words were all a riddle.
1t was nothing to him-who was he thai
he should be debating thus? There
seemed to be a difference of opinion be-
tween the young men, Guy insisting that
out of pity she should not be rejected :;
and the doctor demurring on the ground
that he ought to be more strict. AS
usual, Guy overruled, and seating himself
at the table, the doctor was just COM
mencing: II hereby certify while
Guy was bending over him, when the
latter was startled by a hand laid firmly
on his arm, and turning quickly he con-
fronted Madeline Clyde, who, with her
short hair pushed from her blue-veined
forehead, her face as pale as ashes, save
where a round spot of purplish red burn
ed upon her cheeks, and her eyes gleam-
ing like Goals of fire, stood before him.
. He need not write that" she said,
huskily, pointing to the doctor. 1T would
be a lie, and l could not take it. You
do not think me qualified. | heard you
say SO. l do not want to be pitied. l
do not want certificate because l am so
young, and you think I'll feel badly. l
do not want"
Her voice failed her, her bosom heaved,
and the choking sobs came thick and fas,
but still she shed no tear and in her
bright, dry eyes there was look which
made both those young men turn away in
voluntarily. Once Guy tried to excuse
her failure, saying she no doubt was
frightened She would probably do bet
ter again, and might as well accept the
certificate, but Madeline still said no,
so decidedly that further remonstrance
was useless. She would not take what
she had no right to- she said, but if they
pleased she would wait there in the back
Office until her grandfather came back;
it would not be long, and she should not
trouble them.
Guy brought her the easy chair from
the front room and placed it for her by
the window. With faint smile she
thanked him and said: You are very
kind" but the smile hurt Guy cruelty, it
was SO sad, so full of unintentional re-
proach, while the eyes she lifted to his
looked so grieved and weary that he in
sensibly murmured to himself: Poor
child ~ as be left her and with the doc
tor repaired to the house, where Agnes
was impatiently waiting for them. Poor,
poor little Madge, Let those smile who
may at her distress it was the first keen
disa ppointment she had ever had, and it
crushed her as completely 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 | hold up my head again
at home where nobody will understand
just how it was-nobody but grandpa
and grandma. Oh, grandpa, | can't earn
that thirty-six dollars now. | most wish
! was dead, and | am am dying Some
body-come ~
CHAPTER ".