Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-01-30
HIKENSID BE
MRS. MARY J. HOLMES
h
CHAPTER XvIII.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER (Continued.l
How cbatty and social he was, trying
10 cheer Maddy up and make her forget
that such a thing as death had so lately
found entrance there; talking of Jessie.
of Aikenside, Of the pleasant little time
they would have during the vacation, and
Of the next term at school. when Maddy
as one of the graduating class, would not
he kept in as strictly as heretofore, but
allowed to see more of the city. Maddy
felt as II she should die for the pain
tugging at her heart. while she listened to
him and knew that the pictures he was
drawing were not for her. Her place
was there and after the breakfast was
over and Flora had cleared the dishes
away. she shut the door, so that they
might be alone, and then standing before
Guy. she told him of her resolution, beg
g,ng of him to help her and not make 1t
harder to bear by devising means for
her to escape what she felt 10 be an i'm
prrative duty. Guy had expected some
thing like this and was prepared. as he
thought, to combat all her arguments
so when she had finished he replied that
of course he did not wish to interfere
with her duty, but there might be ques-
ton as to what really was her duty. and
II seemed to him he was better able to
jndge of that than herself 1t was not
right for her to bury herself there While
her education vas unfinished. when an
other could do as well. Her superior
talents were given to her to improve. and
how could she improve them in Hone
dale; besides her grandfather did not ex-
pect her to stay. Guy had talked with
him while she was asleep, and the matter
was all arranged; competent woman
was to be hired to take charge OF the do
mestic arrangements, and il it seemed de-
srabe. two should be procured anything
to leave Maddy free.
And grandpa consented to this will
ingly?" Maddy said. feeling a throb OF
pleasure at thoughts of release. But
Guv could not answer that the grand
father consented willingly.
He thinks it best. When he comes
back you can ask him Yourself he SAID.
At this point Grandpa Markham came
IN, and to him Guy appealed at once to
know if he were not willing for Maddy
to return to school.
II said she might if she thought best.
was the reply, spoken so sadly that Mad
dy's arms were at once twined around
the old mans neck, while she said to
him:
Tell me honestly which you prefer.
I'd like so much to go to school. but
am not sure | should be happy there,
knowing how lonely you were here at
home. Say, grandpa. which would you
hr;r rbt
tried to speak playfully. though her
heart beats were almost audible as she
waited for the answer.
Grandpa could not deceive. He want
ed his darling sorely. and he wanted her
to be happy. he said. Perhaps they
would get on just as well without her
When Mr. Guy was talking it looked as
If they might, he made it all so plain,
but the sight of Maddy was comfort
She was all he had left. Maybe be
shouldn't live long to poster her, and If
he didn't wouldn't she always feel better
for having stayed with her grandpa"
He looked very pale and thin. and his
hair was white as snow. He could n>.
live many years, and turning resolutely
from Guy, who, so long as he held her
eyes, controlled her, Maddy SAID:
I've chosen once for all. III stay
with grandpa till he dies" and with
ronvulsive sob she clung tightly to his
neck, as if fearful that without such hold
her resolution would give way
1t was in vain that Guy strove to
change Maddy's resolution. She was
wholly decided, and late in the afternoon
he rode back to Aikenside. a disappointed
man, with, however. the feeling that
Maddy had done right, and that he re-
spected her all the more for withstanding
the temptation.