The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-12-07
HIKENSIDE
MRS. MARY j. HOLMES
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CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.)
MRS. MARY J. HOLMES

QlQ not fe1uSe TO let Jessie go lot Il rue,
particularly as she had no suspicion
where he intended taking her, and the
little girl was soon seated by her broth
er's side, chatting merrily of the differ
emit things they passed upon the road. But
when Guy told her where they were going. |
and why they were going there, the tears |
came at once into her eyes, and hiding |
her face in Guys lap, she sobbed bitterly. |
IL did like her so much that day." she |!
said, land she looked so sorry, too. It's
terrible to die!"
Then she piled Guy with questions con-
corning Maddy's probable future. ''Woud
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 let's
folks in heaven? Because, Brother Guy"
and the little preacher nestled closely to
the young man, lingering his coat buttons
as she talked, because, Brother Guy,
folks can be good-that is, not do naugh-
ty things-and still God won't love them
unless they-I don't know what, l wish
/ did"
Guy drew her nearer to him, but to
that childish yearning for knowledge he
"Who taught you all this, little one?
not your mother, surely"
mo, not mamma, but Miriam, the
waiting maid we left in Boston. She
told me about it, and taught me to pray
different from mamma. Do you pray,
Brother Guy"
The question startled the young man,
who was glad his coachman spoke to him
just then, asking if he should drive
through Devonshire village, or 60 direct
to Honedale by shorte rroute.
They would go to the village Guy said,
hoping that thus the doctor might be per-
suaded to accompany them. They found
the doctor at home and willing to go
with them. Indeed, so unnerved had he
become listening for the first stroke of
the bell which was to herald the death he
deemed so sure, that he was on the point
of mounting his horse and galloping off
alone, when Guys invitation came. 1t
was five miles from Devonshire to Hone
dale, andSwhen they reached hill which
lay half way between, they stopped for
q few minutes to rest the tired horses.
Suddenly, as they sat waiting, sharp,
ringing sound fell on their ears, and
grasping Guys knee, the doctor said, Il
told you so Madeline Clyde is dead"
1t was the village bell, and its twice
three strokes betokened that it tolled for
, somebody youthful, somebody young, like
Maddy Clyde. Jessie wept silently, but
there were no tears in the eyes of the
young men, as with beating hearts they
sat listening to the slow, solemn sounds
which came echoing up the hill. There
he M q
was done, and now it only remained fol
him to strike the age, and tell how man.
years the departed one had numbered.
Zone, two, three, four, five, six, seven
eight. nine, ten." Jessie counted i
aloud, while every stroke fell like
heavy blow upon the hearts. of the youn
men who few weeks ago knew not tina
such as Maddy Clyde had ever had exist
ence.
How long it seemed before anothe
stroke, and Guy was beginning to hop
they'd heard the. last, when again tn
dull, mufied sound came floating on th
air. and DIR. Holbrook's black bearde
lin half quivered as he now counted alout
"One two, three, four, 6ve."
That was all there it stopped; an
vain were all their listenings to catch al
other note. Fifteen years, and only fl
teen had passed over the form now fol-
ever still.
"She was fifteen" Guy whispered, r.
membering distinctly to have heard thf
number from Maddy herself.
81 thought they told me fourteen, bt
OF course it's she," the doctor rejone
"Poor child, | would have given niue
to have saved her."
Jessie did not talk; only once, whe
she asked Guy, If it was very far
heaven, and If he supposed Maddy ha
got there by this time.
"We'll go just the same" said Guy.
will do what / can for the old man
and so the carriage drove on, down Il
hill, across the meadow land, and past
low-roofed house whose walls inclosed Il
stiffened form of him for whom the b.
had tolled, the boy, fifteen years of az
who had been the patient of another th'
DIR. Holbrook.
Maddy was not Dead but the paroxys
of restlessness had passed, and she Il
now In heavy sleep so nearly resemble
death that they who watched, waited q
pectantly to see the going out of her Ia
breath. Never before had a carriage Ii
that from Aikenside stopped at that hui
BILE cottage, but the neighbors thought
came merely to bring the doctor, who
they welcomed with glad smile. maxi
way for him to pass to Maddy's bedsi,
Guy preferred waiting in the carriage u
Ill such time as Grandpa Markham col
speak with him, but Jessie went with I
doctor into the sick room, startling ev
the grandmother, and causing her to We
der who the richly dressed child CO,
be.
Dying, DOCTOR" said one of tho wo
On afirmatively, not interrogatively
the doctor shook his head, and hold
In one hand his watch, he counted
faint pulse beats as with his eye he me
ured off the minute.
'There are too many here" he sa
'She needs the air you are breathin
and in his singular, authoritative W
he cleared the crowded room of the n
taken friends who were unwittin
breathing up Maddy's very life.
All but the grandparents and Jess
these he suffered to remain, and slit
down by Maddy, watched till the !,