Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-02-06

came to sleep so long. For while sh
lay thinking. and as she thought, a sa
scene came back to her, a night when he
hot hands had been embodied in those O
the dead, and that dead her grandfather
Maddy sank upon the bed, moaning t
herself. Yes, grandpa is dead. l re
member now. But Uncle Joseph, wher
Is he! Can he, too, have died withou
my knowledge?" and she looked arount
in vain for the lunatic, not trace o
whom was to be found. His room wa
in perfect order, as was everything abou
the house showing that Flora was still
the domestic goddess, while Maddy alst
detected various things which she recog
nized as having come from Aikenside
Who sent them? Did Guy. and had hi
been there, too. while she was sick? The
thought brought throb of joy to Maddy's
| heart, but it soon passed away as she be
gan again to wonder if Uncle Joseph, too
had died. and where Flora was. 1t was
not far to the Honedale burying ground
Maddy could see the headstones from
where she sat cleaning through the Au-
gust sunlight; could discern her mothers s,
and knew that two fresh mounds at least
were made beside it. But were there
| three? Was Uncle Joseph there? By
stealing across the meadow in the rear
| of the house the distance to the grave
| yard was shortened more than half, and
| could not be more than the eighth part of
a mile. She could walk so far, she knew.
The fresh air would do her good, and
hunting up her long unused hat. the inn
patient girl started, stopping once or
twice to rest as dizzy fantness came
over her, and then continued on until the
spot she sought was reached. Three
graves, one old and sunken. one made
when last winters snow was on the hills,
the other fresh and new. That was all
Uncle Joseph was not there. and vague
terror entered Maddys heart lest he had
been taken back to the asylum.
Il will get hin. out" she said II will
take care of him. l should die with
nothing to do; and l promised grand
pa"
She could get no farther, for the rush
of memories which came over her, and
sea ting herself upon the ground close to
the new grave. she laid her face upon it,
and sobbed piteously:
"Oh. grandpa. I'm so lonely without
you all | almost wish l was lying here
in the quiet yard"
Then a storm of tears ensued. after
which Maddy grew calm, and with her
head still bent down. did not hear the
rapid step approaching. the manly step
coming down the grassy road. coming past
the marble tombstones. on to where that
wasted figure was crouching upon the
ground. There it stopped and in half
whisper called. "Maddy! Maddy!"
Then, indeed, she started, and lifting
up her head, saw before her Guy Rem
ington. For a moment she regarded him
intently. while he said to her, oh, so
kindly so pityingly;
Poor child, you have suffered so much
and | never knew of it till few days
ago"
Maddy stretched her hands toward him.
out:
"Oh, Guy, Guy, where have you been.
when | wanted you so much?'
Maddy did not know what she was say
ing. or half comprehend the effect it had
on Guy. who forgot everything save that
she wanted him, had missed him. had |
turned to him in her trouble, and it was |
not in his nature to resist her appeal. |
With a spring he was at her side, and |
lifting her in his arms, seated himself |
lpon her mothers grave; then straining |
lgain and again. Hot, burning, passion
tie kisses they were, which took from
Maddy all the power of resistance. even
lad she wished it, which she did not. Too
weak to reason, or see the harm. if harm
here were, in being loved by Guy, she
bandoned herself for a brief interval
0 the bliss of knowing that she was be-
owed. and of hearing him tell her so.
Darling Maddy." he said. II went
way because you sent me, but now |
ave come back and nothing shall part us
gain. You are mine; | claim you here
t your mothers grave. Precious Maddy.
did not know of all this till three days
go. when Agnes letter found me almost
t the Rocky Mountains. | wish | had
ONE before. now that | know you want
d me. Say that again, Maddy. Tell me
hat you missed me-
He was smoothing her hair now. as
er head still lay pillowed upon his
reast. so he could not see the spasm of
ain which contorted her features as he
hus appealed to her. Half bewildered
daddy could not at first make out wheth-
r it were a blissful dream or reality,
er lying there in Guys arms with his
isses on her forehead lips, and cheeks,
is words of devotion in her ear, and the
oft summer sky smiling down upon her.
las. it was a dream from which she was
by the thought of one across the
"a. whose place she had usurped, and
lis it was which brought the grieved ex-
ression to her face as she answered
Il did want you, Guy, when l forgot
ut now-oh, Guy-Lucy Atherstone ~
With a gesture of impatience Guy was
bout TO answer. when something in the
eavy fall of the little hand from his
boulder alarmed him, and lifting up the
rooping head, he saw that Maddy had |
iinted. Then back across the meadow
uy bore her to the cottage. where Flora.
Ist returned from a neighbor's, whittier
ne had gone upon an errand. was look
~ for her in much alright.
Up again into her little chamber Mad
' was carried and laid upon the bed,
hich she never left until the golden
aryest sheaves were gathered in, and the
OF September sun was ripening the fruits !
{ autumn. But now she had new
urse, a constant attendant, who during
ne day seldom left her except to talk