Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-02-20
HIKENS SIDE
MRS. MARY J. HOLMES
"Aeaaowt Tempest, nd Sunhn "CousnA Aaude"


| her intention of going home. She was
not dressed to meet Mrs. Remington, she
said, shuddering as for the first time she
pronounced a name which the servants
| had frequently used, and which Jared
on her ear every time she heard 1t. She
was not dressed appropriately to meet
an English lady Flora Of course would
| stay, she said, as 1t was natural she
should, to greet her new mistress but
she must go, and she babe Charlie Green
bring around the buggy.
One long, sad wistful look at Guys
and Lucy's home, and Maddy followed
Charlie to the buggy waiting for her,
bidding him drive rapidly, as there was
every indication of a coming storm.
The gray, wintry afternoon was draw
ing to close, and the December night
was shutting down upon the Honedale
hills in sleety rain, when the cottage was
reached, and Maddy, passing up the mar
row. slippery walk. entered the cold,
dreary room, where there was neither fire
nor light. nor friendly voice to greet her.
No sound save the ticking of the clock ;
no welcome save the purring Of the house
cat, who came crawling at her feet as
she knelt before the stove and tried to
kindle the fire. Charlie Green had Of
fered to go in and do this for her, as in
deed he had offered to return and stay all
night, but she had declined, preferring to
be alone, and with stifened fingers she
laid the kindlings Flora had prepared, and
then applying the match, watched the blue
flame as it gradually licked up the smoke
and burst into a cheerful blaze.
Il shall feel better when it's warm"
she said, crouchng over the fire. and shiv
ering with more than bodily cold.
There was kind of nameless terror
stealing over her as she sat thinking of
the year ago when the inmates of three
graves across the meadow were there be-
meath that very roof where she now sat
alon.
III strike light" she said, rising to
her feet and trying not to glance at the
shadowy corners filling her with fear.
The lamp was found. and its friendly
beams soon dispersed the darkness from
the corners and the fear from Maddy's
heart. but it could not drive from her
mind thoughts of what might at that mo-
AiANAb pO u ing dl tIhpuSlup. IL the
bride and groom came at all that night.
she knew they must have been there for
an hour or more, and in fancy she saw the
tired, but happy. Lucy, as up in her pleas
ant room she made her toilet for dinner,
with Guy standing by and looking on just
as he had a right to do Did he smile
approvingly upon his young wife? Did
his eye, when it rested on her, light I'D
with the same expression she had seen
so often when it looked at her? Did he
commend her taste and say his little
wife was beautiful, as he kissed her fair,
white cheek, or was there cloud upon
his handsome face. a shadow on his heart,
heavy with thoughts of her, and would he
rather it were Maddy there in the bridal
room? If so, his burden was hard indeed,
but not so hard as hers. and kneelng on
the floor, poor Maddy laid her head in the
chair, and, mid piteous means. asked God
to help them both to bear their lot.
The prayer ended. Maddy still sat upon
the floor, while over her pale face the
lamplight family flickered, showing the
dark lines beneath her eyes and the tears
stains on her cheek. Without, the storm
sum W a. Ing. anu the w lull ram, Hill
gled with sleet and snow, beat piteously
a gainst the curtained windows, while the
wind howled mournfully as it shook the
door and sweeping past the cottage went
screaming over the hill. But Maddy heard
nothing of the tumult. She had brought
a pillow from the bedroom, and placing
it upon the chair, sat down again upon
the floor and rested her head upon it.
She did not even know that her pet cat
had crept Up beside her, purring content
adly and occasionally licking her hair,
much less did she hear above the storm
he swift tread of horses feet as some
,ne came dashing down the road, the rider
)ausing an instant as he caught glimpse
If the cottage lamp and then .hurrying
m to the public house beyond, where the
lostler frowned moOdily at being called
,ut to care for a strangers horse, the
tranger meanwhile turning back afoot
O where the cottage lamp shone, bea-
on light through the inky darkness The
tranger reached the little gate and, un-
oing the fastening, went hurrying up the
alk. his step upon the cracking snow
atching Maddy's ear at last and making
or wonder who could be coming there
n such night as this. 1t was probably
,harlie Green, she said. and with feel
ny of impatience at being intruded upon |
he arose to her feet just as the door
,rned upon its hinges, letting in pow
rful draught of wind, which extinguished |
he lamp and left her in total darkness.
But it did not matter. Maddy had |
aught a sound a peculiar cough, which |
roze the blood in her veins and made her
uake with terror quite as much as If the
ootsteps hurrying toward her had been
he footsteps of the dead, instead of be-
1ugjng. as she knew they did, to Guy |
who, with garments sat
rated with rain. felt for her in the dark
ess. found her where from faintness she
ad crouched again beside the chair, drew
or closely to him. in a passionatef almost
,ainful. hug and said, oh . so tenderly:
"Maddy. my darling, my own We
yill never be parted again"
TII DVED WIFI