Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-11-07

CHAPTER VI.-(Continuedl

dld not refuse to let Jessie 80 tor rlue
particularly as she had no suspicion
where he intended taking her, and th
little girl was soon seated by her broth
er's side, chatting merrily of the differ
ent things they passed upon the road. Bu
when Guy told her where they were going
and why they were going there, the tear,
came at once into her eyes, and hiding
her face in Guys lap, she so5bed bitterly
Il did like her so much that day" she
said, and she looked so sorry, too. Its
terrible to de-
Then she piled Guy with questions con
cerning Maddy'S probable 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
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. | wish
l did"
Guy drew her nearer to him, but to
that childish yearning for knowledge he
could not respond, so he said:
Who taught you all this, little one l.?
hot your mother, surely"
NO, 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 go direct
to Honedale by a 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. and when they reached hill which
lay half way between, they stopped for
a few minutes to rest the tired horses.
Suddenly, as they sat waiting, a 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
was a pause; the sections dirgelike task
was done, and now it only remained for
him to strike the age, and tell how many
years the departed one had numbered.
One, two, three, four five, six, seven
eight. nine. ten Jessie counted it
aloud while every stroke fell like a
heavy blow upon the hearts of the young
men, who few weeks ago knew not that
such as Maddy Clyde had ever had exist.
ence.
How long it seemed before another |
stroke, and Guy was beginning to hope |
they'd heard the last, when again the |
dull, muttied sound came floating on tho
air, and DR.. Holbrook's black, bearded |
lip half quivered as he now counted aloud,
zone, two, three, four, FIVE"
That was ALL there it stopped and
vain We're all their listenings to catch an
other note. Fifteen years, and only fif-
teen had passed over the form now for
ever still.
she was fifteen" Guy whispered re-
distinctly to have heard that
number from Maddy herself.
Il thought they told me fourteen. but
Of course it's she,' the doctor rejoined
Poor child l would have given much
to have saved her"
Jessie did not talk only once, when
she asked. Guy if it was very far to
heaven, and if be supposed Maddy had
got there by this time.
We'll go just the same" said Guy. Il
will do what | can for the old man."
and so the carriage drove on, down the
hill, across the meadow land, and past a
owroofed house whose walls inclosed the
form of him for whom the bell
had tolled, the boy, fifteen years of age,
who had been the patient of another than
Dr. Holbrook.
Maddy was not dead. but the paroxysm
Of restlessness had passed, and she lay
now in a heavy sleep SO nearly resembling
death that they who watched, waited ex-
to see the going out of her last
breath. Never before had a carriage like
that from Aikenside stopped at that hum
bic cottage, but the neighbors thought it
came merely to bring the doctor, whom
they welcomed with glad smile, making
a way for him to pass to Maddy's bedside.
Guy preferred waiting in the carriage un-
til 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 won
der who the richly dressed child could
be.
Dying DOCTOR" said one of IL. wom-
En- affirmatively, not interrogatively: but
the doctor shook his head, and holding
In one hand his watch, he counted the
faint pulse beats as with his eye he meas
lred off the minute.
There are too many here" he said
'She needs the air you are breathing"
and in his singular, authoritative way,
ne cleared the crowded room of the mis-
aken friends who were unwittingly
breathing up Maddy's very life.
All but the grandparents and Jessie:
hese he suffered to remain, and sitting
lown by Maddy, watched till the long
deep ended. Silently and earnestly the
Iged couple prayed for their darling, ask
ng that. if possible, she might be spared,
md God heard their prayers. lifting. at