Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-11-14
MRS. MARY J. HOLMES
CHAPTER VII.-(Continuedl \


he said, glancing ruelully around his of
flee. Now, if she were Jessie nuts and
raisins might answer-but she must not
eat such trash as that" and he set him
self to think again. just as Guy Rem
ington rode up, bearing in his hand a
most exquisite bouquet.
Il thought you might be going down
TO Honedale, as | knew you returned last
night so brought these flowers for your
patient with my compliments, or if you
prefer l give them to you, and you can
thus present them as if coming from
Yourself"
"As if l would do that" the doctor
answered. did you arrange it, or your
eardener?' he asked and when Guy re-
piled that the merit of arrangement, if
merit there were, belonged to himself, he
began to deprecate his own awkward
ness and want of tact. Here | have
been cudgeing my head this half hour
trying to think what | could take her as
a peace offering, and could think of moth
ing, while you-- Well, you and | are
different entirely. You know just what
is proper-just what to say, and when
to say it-whle | am a perfect bore.
Guy regarded his friend attentively,
noticing that extra care had been bestow-
ed upon his toilet, that the collar was
fresh from the laundry, and the new
cravat tied in a most unexceptionable
manner, instead of being twisted into
hard knot, with the ends looking as If
they had been chewed.
Doe" he said, when his survey was
completed, ''how old are you-twenty-
five or twenty-six?"
Twenty y-ive-just your age-why?'
and the doctor looked with an expression
SO wholly innocent of Guys real meaning
that the latter, instead of telling why.
replied:
"Oh. nothing; only l was wondering
If you would do to be my father. Agnes,
l verify believe is more than half in love
with you but, on the whole, | would not
like to be your son so | guess you d bet
ter take someone younger-say jessie.
You are only eighteen years her senior.
The doctor stared at him amazed, and
when he had finished said with the ut
most candor What has that to do with
Madeline? / thought we were talking
of her.
Innocent as the newly born babe,
was Guys mental comment, as he con-
gra atulated himself on his larger and more
varied experience.
, And truly DR.. Holbrook was as simple
hearted as a child, never dreaming of
Guys meaning, or that any emotion save
q perfectly proper one had lodgment IN
his breast as he drove down to Hone
dale, guarding carefully Guys bouquet,
and wishing he knew just what he ought
to say when he presented it.
The perspiration was standing under
Maddy's hair, and when the doctor step
ped across the threshold. and she knew
he really was coming near her. it oozed
out upon her forehead in big, round
drops. while her cheeks glowed with a
feverish heat. Thinking he should get
along with it better if he treated her just
as he would Jessie, the doctor confronted
her at once, and asked:
How is my little patient to-day!'
A faint scream broke from Maddy's
Inns and she involuntarly raised her
hands to thrust the stranger away. This
black-eyed. black haired. thick-set man
was not DR.. Holbrook, for he was taller
and more slight, while she had not been
deceived In the dark brown eyes which,
even while they seemed to be mocklng |
her. had worn a strange fascination for |
the maiden of fourteen and half. The
doctor fancied her delirious again, and
this reassured him at once. Dropping |
the bouquet upon the bed. he clasped one
of her hands in his, and without the |
slightest idea that she comprehended him,
said, soothngly:
Poor child, are you afraid of me-the |
doctor. DIR. HolbrookF'
Maddy did not try to withdraw her |
hand, but raising her eyes. swimming in |
tears. to his face she stammered ont;
What does it mean, and where is he
the one who-asked me-those dread
full questions? '. thought that, was Dr.:
Here was a misunderstanding for
which the doctor was not prepared, and
with a feeling that he would not be-
tray Guy, he said:
No: that was someone else-a friend
Of mine-but | was there in the back
office. Don't you remember me? Please
don't grow excited. Compose yourself,
and | will explain all by and by
Maddy was disappointed. and it took
her some time to rally sufficiently to CON
vince the doctor that she was not f1ghty,
as he termed it; but composing herself at
last. she answered all his questions, and
hen. as he saw her eyes wandering to-
ward the bouquet he suddenly remember
ID that it was not yet presented, and
placing it in her hands, he said
You like flowers, | know, and these
are for you. I"
'Oh thank you, thank you, doctor;
am so glad | love them much, and
YOU are so kind. What made you think
to bring them? | wanted flowers so
BADLY: but | could not have them. be-
,ause | was sick and did not work in the
"a rden. 1t was so good in you and in
ler delight Maddy's tears dropped upon
he fair blossoms.
For a moment the doctor was sorely
empted to keep the credit thus enthu-
,iastically given but be was too truth
,uI for that, and so watching her as her
Eyes glistened with pleasure, he said:
Il am glad you like them, Miss Clyde,
md so will Mr.. Remington be- He sent
hem to you from his cOnserya tory"
Not Mr. Remington from Aikenside-
Tot Jessie's brother?" and Maddys eyes
low fairly danced as they sought the
ioctor's face.
"ves. Jessie's brother. He came here