Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-01-02
CHAPTER XIV.

The summer vacation had been spent
by the Remingtons and Maddy at the
seaside, the latter coming to the cottage
for a week before returning to her school
in New York, and as the doctor was then
absent from home, she did not meet him
at all. Consequently, he had not seen
! her since she left Aikenside for New
| York. But she was at home now for the
| Christmas holidays-was down at the cot
tage, too; and unusually nervous for him,
the doctor stood before the little square
| glass in his back office, trying to make
himself look as we'll as possible, for he
was going that very afternoon to call up
! on Miss Clyde.
The doctor was seriously in love. He
| acknowledged that now to himself, con-
| Tossing, too. that with his love was
mingled a spice of jealousy, lest Guy
Remington should be expending more
thought on Maddy Clyde than was consis-
| tent with the promised husband of Lucy
Atherstone. He wished so much to talk
with Guy about her, and yet dreaded it;
for If the talk should confirm his suspi-
cions there would be no hope for him. No
girl in her right mind would prefer him
to Guy Remington, and with little sigh
the doctor was turning away from the
glass, when Guy himself drove up in a
most dashing equipage.
Guy was in the best of spipits. For
an entire halliday he had tried to devise
some means for getting Maddy up to
Aikenside. There was to be a party at
Aikenside-the very first since Guy was
| it's master The neighbors had said he
was too proud to invite them, but they
| should say so no more. The house was
to be thrown open in honor of Guys
twentysixth birthday, and all who were
at all desirable as guests were to be bid
den to the festival. First on the list was
the doctor. Guy was all engaged in the
matter, and after telling who were to be
invited, added rather indifferently: I'm
going now down to Honedale after Mad
dy: It's better for her to be with us a
day or two before. You've seen her, of
course
No, the doctor had not he was just
going there, he said, in a tone so full of
sad disappointment that Guy detected it
at once.
Il have not seen Maddy since last
spring, you know. Is she very much i'm
proved?' asked the the doctor.
.'Yes, very much. There is no more
stylish-lo looking girl to be seen on Broad
way than Maddy Clyde. l took her to
the opera once, last month, and the many
admiring gances cast at our box proved
pretty positively that Maddys beauty was
not of the ordinary kind"
The opera :" the doctor exclaimed
"Maddy Clyde at the opera What would
her grandfather say! He is very puritan
ical. you know
Eyes. | know. and so is Maddy too
She wrote and obtained his consent be-
fore she'd go with me-
Here an interval of silence ensued, and
then the doctor began again.
Guy. you told me once you were edu-
eating Maddy Clyde for me, and | tried
to make you think I didn't care; but |
did, oh, so much, Guy, laugh at me, if
you please. | cannot blame you if you
do; but the fact is, believe I've loved
Maddy Clyde ever since that time she
was so sick. At all events, | love her
now, and | was going down there this
very afternoon to tell her so. She's old
enough She was sixteen last October, the
the"
Tenth day." Guy responded, thus
showing that he, too, was keeping Maddy's
age.
"Yes, the tenth day." resumed the doc
tor. There's most eleven years diff
ference between US, but if she feels at all
as / do, she will not care, Guy" and the
doctor began to talk earnestly: III be
candid with you, and say that you have
sometimes made my heart ache a little"
ME ~ and Guys face was crimson,
while the doctor continued:
"Yes, and beg your pardon for It but
let me ask you one question, and upon its
answer will depend my future course with |
regard to Maddy: You are true to Lucyf" |
Guy felt the blood trickling at the roots |
OF his hair, but he answered truthfully |
as be believed:
Yes, true as steel" while the generous
thought came over him that he would |
further the doctors plans all be possibly |
could.
Then 1 am satisfied" the doctor re-
Joined "and as you have rather assumed |
the position of her guardian or brother, l |
ssk your permission to offer her the lovs |