Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-12-12

tried so hard to be reconcled to feel thai
If God will have it so, | am willing tc
die before you have ever called me your
little wife, or | have ever called you hus
band. Heaven is better than earth.
know, and | am sure of going there,
think. but oh, dear Guy, a life with you
looks SO very sweet that sometimes your
little Lucy shrinks from the dark grave
which would hide her forever from you
Guy, you once said you never prayed, and
it made me feel so badly, but you will
when you get this, won't you? You will
ask God to make me we'll, and maybe He
will hear you. Do, Guy, please do pray
for your Lucy, far away over the sea-
Guy could not resist that touching ap-
peal. ito pray for his little Lucy" and
though his lips were all unused to prayer,
bowing his head upon his hands he did ask
that she might live, beseeching the Father
to send upon him any calamity save this
one-Lucy must be spared. Guy felt bet
ter for having prayed, it was something
to tell Lucy, something that would please
her WELL and though his heart yet was
very sad, part of the load was lifted,
and he could think of Lucy now without
the bitter pain her letter first had cost
him. Was there nothing that would save
her, nobody who could cure her? Her
disease was not hereditary; surely it
might be made to yield; had English
physicians no skill, would not an Ameri-
can do better? 1t was possible, and if
that mother of Lucy's would let her come
where doctors knew something. she might
get we'll but she wouldn't; she was de-
termined that no husband should be bur-
dened with an ailing wife, and so if the
mountain would not come to Mahomet
why Mahomet must go to the mountain
and Guy fairly leaped from his chair as
he excla lined II have it-doc he's the
most skillful man | ever knew, I'll send
him to England; send him to the Ather-
stones he shall go to Naples with them
as their family physician; he can cure
Lucy III speak to him the very next time
he comes here; and with another bur
den lifted from his mind, Guy began to
wonder where Maddy was.
He knew she had returned, for Flora
had said she brought the letter. and he
was about going out. in hopes of finding
her and Jessie, when he heard her in the
hall, as she answered some question of
Mrs. Noah's; stepping to the door, he ask
ed her to come in. Then he told her that
the time had come when he could give
those promised lessons, asking if she
would Commence tomorrow. after she
was through with Jessie. and what she
would prefer to take up first.
"Oh. Mr. Remington" and Maddy be-
gan to cry, Il am afraid | cannot stay
They need me at home, or may. Grandpa
said so and | don't want to go, though |
know it's wicked not to. Oh, dear dear y
Here Maddy broke down entirely, sob
bing so convuIsively that Guy became
alarmed, and wondered what he ought
to do to quiet her.
Controlling her voice as well as she was
able, Maddy told him how the physician
at the asylum had written that as Uncle
Joseph would in all human probability
never be perfectly sane, and as change
of scene would do him good, Mr.. Mark
ham had better try taking him while;
that having been spoken with upon the
subject he seemed as anxious as little
child. even crying when the night came
around and he was not at home as he
expressed it. They have kept him so
long" Maddy said, that grandpa thought
it his duty to relieve them, though he
can't we'll afford it, and so he's coming
next week, and grandma will need some
one to help, and | must go. | know it's
wrong, but l do not want to go, try as |
will"
1t was a gloomy prospect to exchange
Aikensde for the humble home where
poverty had its abode, and it was not
very strange that Maddy should shrink
from it at first. She did not stop to ask
what was her duty, or think how much
happiness her presence might give her
grandparents. or how much she might
cheer and amuse the weak imbecie, her
uncle. She was but human, and so, when
Guy began TO devise ways 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 tomorrow, he said, and see what
could be done.
As Guy had half expected, the doctor
came around that evening, and inviting |
him into his private room, Guy proceeded |
at once to unfold his scheme, asking him
first:
How much he probably received a
year for his services as physician"
The doctor could not tell at once, but |
after q little thought, made an estimate, |
and then inquired why Guy had asked the |
question.
Because doc, have a project on foot. |
Lucy Atherstone is dying with what they |
call consumption. | don't believe those |
old fogies understand her disease, and if |
you will go over to England and under
take her cure, I'll give you just double |
what you'll get by remaining here. They |
are going to Naples for the winter, and,
undoubtedly, will spend some time in
Paris. 1t will be just the thing for you.
Lucy and her mother will be glad of your
services when they know l sent you. Lucy
likes you now. Will you go? You can
trust Maddy to me. I'll take good care
that she is worthy of you when you come
back"
At the mention of Maddy's name the
Doctors brow darkened. He was sure that |
Guy meant kindly, but it grated on his
feelings TO be thus joked about what he
knew was a stern reality. Guys project
appeared TO him at first a most insane
one. but as he continued to enlarge upon
it, and the advantage it would be to the
DOCTOR TO travel in the Old World. a feel
ing of enthusiasm was kindled in his own
breast; a desire to visit Naples and