The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-11-16

OAA<hA L EN- IL.
Madge her schoolmates called her, be-
cause the name suited her, they said
but Maddy they called her at home and
there was world of unutterable tender
ness in the voices of the old couple, her
grandparents, when they said that name.
while their dim eyes lighted up with
pride and joy when they rested upon the
young girl who answered to the name of
Maddy. Their only daughters only child
she had lived with them since her moth
er's death, for her father was a sea cap-
tain, who never returned from his last
voyage to China, made two months before
she was born. Very lonely and desolate
would the home Of Grandfather Mark
ham have been without the presence of
Madeline, but with her there, the old
red farm house seemed to the aged couple
like a paradise.
Forty years they had lived there, till
Ing the rather barren soil of the rocky
homestead, and, saving the sad night
when they heard that Richard Clyde was
lost at, sea, and the far sadder morning
when their daughter died, bitter sorrow
had not come to them; and, truly thank
full for the blessings so long vouchsafed
them, they had retired each night in peace
with God and man, and risen each morn
ing to pray. But a change was coming
over them. In an evil hour Grandpa
Markham had signed a note for a neigh
Dor and friend, who failed to pay, and
80 1t fell on Mr.. Markham, who, to meet
the demand, mortgaged his homestead /;
the recreant neighbor still insisting that
long before the mortgage should be due,
he certainly would be able himself to
meet it. This, however, he had not done,
and, after twice begging off a foreclos-
ure, poor old Grandfather Markham found
himself at the mercy of a grasping, re-
morseless man, into whose hands the
mortgage had passed. 1t was vain to
hope that Silas Slocum would wait. The
money must either be forthcoming, or the
red farm house be sold, with it's few
acres Of land. Among his neighbors there
was not one who had the money to spare,
even IL he had been willing to do SO.
And so he must look among strangers.
IF I could only help" Madeline had
said one evening when they sat talking
over their troubles; "but there's nothing |
can do, unless l apply for our school
this summer. Mr.. Green is committee
man; he likes us, and don't believe but
what he'll let me have 1t. l mean to go
and see;" and, ere the old people had
recovered from their establishment, Made
line had caught her bonnet and shawl,
and was flying down the road.
Madeline was a favorite with all, es-
pecially with Mr.. Green, and as the
school would be small that summer, the
plan struck him favorably. Her age
however, was an objection, and he must
take time to see what others thought OF
child like her becoming school mistress
Others thought well of 1t, and SO before
the close Of the next day 1t was gener
all, known through Honedale that pretty
little Madge Clyde had been engaged as
teacher, she receiving three dollars g
week. with the understanding that she
must board herself. 1t did not take
Madeline long to calculate that twelve
times three were thirty-six, more than
tenth of what her grandfather must Dor
row. 1t seemed like little fortune, ant
blithe as a singing bird she fitted abou
the house, now stopping moment to fon
die her pet kitten, while she whispered
the good news in its very appreciatlv'
ear. and then stroking her grandfather
silyery hair, as she said:
"You can tell them that you are sur
of paying thirty-six dollars in the fall
and IL I do well. ayhe theX1 a116