The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-12-14
CHAPTER vII.-(Continued.)

IL could only take her something,
ne said, glancing ruefully around his Of
nee. Now, If she were Jessie, nuts and |
raisins might answer-but she must not |
eat such trash as that" and he set him
sell 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 l brought these flowers for your
patient with my compliments, or If you
prefer I give them to you, and you can
thus present them as if coming from
yourself"
"As If 1 would do that" the doctor
answered. did you arrange it, or your
gardenerw 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 l have
been cudgeling my head this half hour
trying to think what l could take her as
. peace offering, and could think Of moth
ing, while you Well, you and l are
different entirely. You know just what
Is proper-just what to say, and when
to say it-while am 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 II
they had been chewed.
"Doc," he said, when his survey was
completed, how old are you-twenty-
Eve or twenty-six?"
''Twenty-fve--iust your age-why?"
and the doctor looked with an expression
10 wholly innocent of Guys real meaning
that the latter, instead of telling why,
replied:
"Ohl nothing; only 1 was wondering
II you would do to be my father. Agnes,
I verify believe, is more than half In love
with you; but, on the whole, would not
like to be your son SO I 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-
graduated himself on his larger and more
varied experience.
And truly DIR. Holbrook was as simple
hearted as a child, never dreaming OF
GUYS meaning, or that any emotion save
n perfectly proper one had a lodgment In
his breast as he drove down to Hone
dale. guarding carefully Guys bouquet
and wishing he knew just what he ought
10 say when he presented 1t.
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, 1t oozec
out upon her forehead In big, round
drops, while her cheeks glowed with
fsverish heat. Thinking he should gel
along with 1t better if he treated her JUS
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'
lips, and she involuntarily raised ne
hands to thrust the stranger away. Ihl
black-eyed, black-haired, thick-set mai
was not DIR. Holbrook, for he was taiie
and more slight, while she had not beel
deceived In the dark brown eyes which
sven while they seemed to be mockin
her. had worn a strange fascination TO
the maiden of fourteen and half. Til
doctor fancied her delirious again, an
this treasured him at once. Droppin
the bouquet upon the bed, he clasped on
~ her hands In his, and without tn
sl,9btest idea that she comprehended hin
said, soothingly:
"Poor child, are you afraid OF me-th
doctor, DR.. Holbrook"
Maddy did not try to withdraw he
hand, but raising her eyes, swimming
tears to his face, she stammered out
"What does 1t mean, and where Is
the one who-asked me-those drea'
full ouestions2 J thought that was ID
Holbrook."
Here was misunderstanding II
which the doctor was not prepared, ar
with feeling that he would not b
tray Guy, he said;
"No; that was someone elisa frier
Of mine-but was there In the ba'
ofice. Don't you remember me? Plea
don't grow excited. Compose yoursel
and l will explain all by and by"
Maddy was disappointed, and 1t too
hsr some time to rally sufficiently to CO
vince the doctor that she was not flight
"A he termed 1t but composing herself
last, she answered all his questions, al
then. as he saw her eyes wandering I
ward the bouquet, he suddenly remembe
ed that 1t was not yet presented. al
nlacing Il in her hands, he said:
.You like flowers, ! know, and the
ara for YOU. l."
"Oh! thank you, thank you, doctor;
am 40 glad. | love them so much, Al
Won are SO kind. What made you thil
TO bring themf l wanted flowers
badly; but / could not have them,
cause / was sick and did not work In t
nrden. 1t was so good in you," and
her delight Maddy's tears dropped up
the fair blossoms.
For a moment the doctor was sore
tampted to keep the credit thus entf
siastically given; but he was too trui
full for that, and so watching her as
eyes glistened with pleasure, he said ;
ST am glad you like them. Miss ely
and 30 will Mr.. Remington be. He 81
them to you from his conservatory"
"Not Mr.. Remington from Aikenside
NOT Jessie's brotherY and Maddy's e,
Ia