Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-11-28

| IOIkS ATE ulnner AT HVe instead OF IWelNe
she should surely starve to death-she
couldn't carve-she could not eat mud
turtle soup. and she did not know which
dress to wear for dinner-would the doc
tor tell her? There they were, and she
pointed to the bed only five; she knew
Jessie thought it mean.
Such was the substance of Maddy's
passionate outpouring of her griefs to the
highly perplexed doctor, who, after quiet
ing her somewhat. ascertained that the
greatest present trouble was the deciding
what dress 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 the one most likely
to be becoming.
THAT !" and Maddy looked confounded.
why, grandma never let me wear that,
except on Sunday; that's my very best
dress"
Poor child; I'm not sure it was right
for you to come here where the life is
so different from the quiet, unpretentious
one you have led" the doctor thought, but
he merely said: IT'S my impression they
wear their best dresses here, all the
time"
But what will I do when that's worn
out? Oh, dear, dear, l wish | had not
come !" and another impetuous fit of weep
ing ensued, in the midst of which Jessie
came back, greatly disturbed on Maddy's
account, and asking eagerly what was the
| matter.
Very adroitly the doctor managed to
draw Jessie aside while as well as he
was able he gave her few hints with re-
! gard to her intercourse with Maddy, and
Jessie, who seemed intuitively to under
stand him. went back to the weeping girl,
| soothing her much as a little mother
would have soothed her child. They would
have such nice times, when Maddy got
used to their ways, which would not take
long, and nobody would laugh at her, she
said, when Maddy expressed her fears on
that point. You are too pretty, even
if you do make mistakes" and then she
went into ecstases over the blue muslin,
which was becoming to Maddy, and great
ly enhanced her girlish beauty. The tear
stains were all washed away, Jessie using
very freely her mothers eau de cologne,
and making Maddys cheeks very red
with rubbing; the nut-brown hair was
brushed until it shone like satin, little
narrow band of black velvet ribbon was
pinned about Maddy's snowy neck, and
then she was ready for that terrible or
deal, her first dinner at Aikenside. The
doctor was going to stay. and this helped
to relieve her somewhat.
The dinner was a success, so far as
Maddy was concerned. Not a single mis-
take did she perpetrate, though her cheeks
burned painfully as she felt the eyes Of
the polite walters fixed so often upon her.
After dinner, feeling that she must be
homesick, Mrs. Noah suggested that she
try the fine piano in the little music
room.
Music was a delight to Maddy, and sit
ting down upon the stool. she touched the
soft-toned instrument, ascertainlng by her
ear several sweet chords, and greatly as
tonishng Jessie, who wondered at her
skill. Twice each week teacher came
up from Devonshire to give lessons to
Jessie, but as yet she could only play
one scale and a few simple bars. These
she attempted to teach to Maddy, who
caught them so quickly and executed
them so we'll that Jessie was delighted.
Maddv ought to take lessons, she said,
and some time during the next day she
took to Mrs. Noah letter which she had
written to Guy. 1t was several days be-
fore an answer came to this letter, and
when it did it brought Guys consent for
Maddy to take lessons, together with
note for Mr. Simons, requesting him to
Miss Clyde his pupil, as we'll as
Jessie.
Though greatly pleased with Aigenside,
and greatly attached to Jessie, Maddy
had had many hours of loneliness when
her heart was back in the humble cottage
where she knew they were missing her
so much, but now a new world, world or
music, was suddenly opened before her,
and the homesickness all disappeared. 1t
had been arranged with Mrs. Noah, by
Agnes, that Jessie should only study for
two hours each day, consequently Maddy
had nearly all the time to herself and
well did she improve it, making so rapid
nropress that Simons looked on amazed,
declaring her case to be without a par
allel, while Jessie was left far behind.
Indeed, after a short time Maddy might
have been her teacher, and was OF much
service to her in practicing.
Meanwhile the doctor came often to
Aikenside, prasng Maddy's progress In
music. and though he did not know a
single note, compelling himself to listen
while with chldlike satisfaction she play
ed him her last lesson. She was very
happy now at Aikenside, where all were
so kind to her, and half wished that the
family would always remain as 1t was
then. that Agnes and Guy would not
come home, for with their coming she
felt there would be change. 1t was
nearly time now to expect them. Indeed,
Guy had written on one Saturday that
they should probably be home the next,
and during the ensuing week Aikenside
presented that most uncomfortable phase
of a house being cleaned. Everything
must be in order for Mr.. Guy, Mrs.
Noah said, taking more pains with his
rooms than with the remaining portion OF
the building. Guy was her idol nothing
was too good for him, few things quite
good enough, and she said so much in his
praise that Maddy began to shrink from
meeting him. What would he think Of
her? Perhaps he might not notice her
in the least, and that would be terrible.
But, no, a man as kind as he had shown
himself to her would at least pay her
some attention, and so at last she began
to anticipate his coming home, wondering
what their first meeting would be, what
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