Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Sentinel, 1882-04-07, Page 60-01It 'A.T LASIT.:. • ISIQOIETIt NOVEL-. " a. • • . eBy the. Authq of "With Lylet" "Mildred < "Tomer Emmet- "chatejiu. crer:/eto.i e already bowed, and streak into&spirited Which. Mt Many of the youngpeo I to whrligin circkie and produced th result:which; Marie so Mach •desired, taz ititook GUYaway from the plane, for he -could-not; mistake her evident wiah to have hine as -a partner, and with bis arm around •. her wallet, he was soon moving rapidly fromthat part of the room„leavingeelythe • doctor to wateh„: Maddy's fingers •as they Hew over the kaaedt'Maddy 'lever thought being tiredt Slatenjoya the excitement, - aid was. glad she coulZ- do something • towards entertaining Guy's guests. But • Guy did not, :forget her for an instant. - Through All the mazes of the giddy &Moe •_ _hithed_herbefOre-hiseeyee- seeniguotethe oloudsoflace-anderauslineenoiroledlatehis atm; but the little figure in Kim sitting so • patiently at the; piano until he knew she Must betited, and determined to release her. . ohenced, ?farm was on his arm, and-ctrayangliortneitzeer WMaily,ehe said, "Your fingers ache by this tinee,I am sure. It is wrong to trouble you longer. Apes will take your. .place while you teir eve - drilla -I shalt tint youapArthert - "Ch, thank von," ?faddy answered.. . I • p am not eki ed' n- thee least. I had as lief lay till morning, provided they are satisfied with • -my tune, end my stoch of mUstaholde Outat "Bait is not fair forone to do all the ' playing; besides, I shall ask youto dantie. with reeltemed-bte" Maddy'a face crimsoned. for an instant, and then in a-lOW VOIOG she said, a Ithank you, but I mutat decline." "Maddy!"Guy exolaimedt in tonesmore_indicative of reproach, than expostulation. Therewere tears in Middy's- eyes, and - Marie Cutler watching her; was vexed. to •- see bow beautiful was the expression of • hetface as late- answered frankly, "I have steYeetold 1Pu-that grandpa o-htle*cIto my taking• danoing *sons wheu 1 wrote,' to him about it. He does not like me to - diettea" . "A saint!" mane: uttered under her • breathismilingoontemptuciusly seethe Made - &movement to leavethe plane, hopingGuyWeald follow her.• • . But he did not at once. Standing for a momentirresoliete while he loOkedeuriously • at Maddy, he said at last: • - • Of course I interfere with no one's "e scruples of that kind, but I cannot alio* you to wear yourself out for our AMUSe- ment." . ' " I like to play -please let me," WWI " Maddy'sreply; and, as the set upon the 'floor were Waiting for her, she turned to the instrument, while Guy Mechanically • Offered his arm to Maria, who was waitingfOr him, and ,stmeteredtoward the green. obliged to appear again in the parlors =lathe chose. The doctor knew Middy did not require his presence after the . first lialf hour, but he hasisted'upon her being sent to bed, and then went frequently to her door, until assured by Mrs. Noah that she was Weeping soundly, and -would, if .left alone, as well as ever on the morrow; a prediction e whioh roved true, for when at a late hour e next- morning the family met at the breakfast table, Wadded -8 was the brightest, fieshest face of the Whole, not even except- ing Jessie's. ?faddy, too, Was 'delighted with the petty, declaring that nothing but pleasurable excitement and heat had made her faint; and then, ,with all the interest which young girls usually attach to fainting fits, she asked how she looked and how she acted, and if she didn't appear very ridicu- lous, and how she got reit of the root's, saying the only thing she felt after failing was a seneation . asif she were being torn in two. - ; -etThateritta cried jessiteewlite volunteered the desired intormation. "Brother Gey was 'way off with Maria Cutler, and &toter was with mamma, but both ran BO fast, and both tried to take- pee up. think -2.1i-se Cathie real- baleful,' for she eiaid mean hke, "Do you see them pull her, if it. was of the slightest consequence wh, carried her out?' ' etadeiteleat Gay interpoied sternly ;_wh -the debtor, wile had spent the - night Aikensicle, looked disapprovingly at t _ 4 _tee_ tort e engaged to Guy, I should may it was proper; but if not why, I don't know; the fat is, Maddy, r am not quite certain w tit I'm saying. :so you must excuse -me. I iihnost hated you that day you sent the note, telling me you were coming to be eiiintined- but -I had not. seen you then. I di I not -know bow, after A while -a very li tie while -I should in all probability -ea well, laid; I changed my mind, and I -I •guass you have not the elightest idea what I man." And stopping suddenly, he con: fr aited the astonished Maddy, who replied: 'Not the slightest, unless you -are going ieta" • 3he could in no other way account for hi strange conduct, .and she sat staring at hixa while he continued: I told you once that when I wanted my b' I I'd let you know. I'd ask for pay. I want it now. I present my bill." grandfather -to -miss it, arid how -much , -With a soared, zniserable feeling, ?faddy lig tend to him, wondering where she could getthe money,--ifit-were possible for her he . entire wardrobe would bring, suppose shE should -sell it. The billhad not troubled her latterly, for she had 'fallen into a wey of believing that the doctor would wait al-sheewes gracItemUd and could earn it by teaching.. - Nothing could be it 4aeae inopportune than for him to present now wa an ' with a half -stifled sob she began to e. , but he silenced her by a gesture, - and sitting down beside her said, 111 a voice at -1 he More natural that:111e one with which he ha 1 at firstaddressed her : little girl, who subsided into silence af :saying an under -tone, el: &think she's hateful, and that feel all she - (Aid either ;about ?faddy I ' • _ It Was rather uncomfortable it the table 'after that, and- rather quiet too, as ?faddy did not care to ask any more con - tinning her faint, while the others were net disposed to talk. . . Breakfast over, the two - young: (men repaired to the library, where Guy indulged fields cigar, whilellatt doctor- fidgeted for: a time, andthen broils out abruptly: tFI say, Gay, have you said anything to -well,-well, about me, you know?" "'Rhea-, no, Itre hardly had a 'chance; and then, again, I concluded it better for each one to Revak for himself;" and tmocle mg he ashes trete his halfamoked. cigar, Guy leaned backbehisehairtivith his eyes, and to all appearance, thoughts, wholly intent upon the owls of smokerising above his head. - "Guy, if you were not engaged I should be tempted to think you -wanted Maddy Clyde yourself," the doctor suddenly xclantaed, confronting Guy, who still watching :the rings of smoke, :answered with the most prevoking coolness, You shoteld?" - "Yes, I should; and am not certain ut you do as it is. Guy," and the doctor grew very earnest his manner, eif you do care for Middy Clyde, and she for you, pray tell Me so- before . make a feel of myself." "Dootor,a returned Guy, throwing the mains of his Cigar- Into the grate, and 'ding his halide on his head, " you 'desire at I be frank and I win. I like Maddy lyde, very Much -more, indeed, than Ii113r ter • Middy, I knowyou have no money. It is tot that I want, ?daddy I want -I want • • oue, • . , He befit down over her now, for her face vya hidden in her hands, all sense Of sight t sh outrall sense of hearing too, save the wh room. ' "What a blue old i,enoremous that . grandfather must be to object to dancin don't- you thinleso?" lateria saide laughing 0 0 little spitefully, and feeling secretly glad _re to th t at Muddy had refused, and secretly angry at Guy for eeeining, to care so much. 44 Say," she continued as Guy did not answer her, "Don't you think it. sign that - something is lacking, in brains or • education, when a person sets bp that claim- • kg is wicked?" • Guy would • have taken tdaddrit side - then, whatever he Might have thought and he replied: . "Not lack -of brains., certainly. Educe, • tem and eircumstances have much to do with one's views upon. that subject. For ; my part, like to see people consistent. Now, thiaoldigeoramous; yOuteell him, lays greet stress on-aontp- and vanities-, and • when I asked him once what ha meant by them, hiamenlioneddencingin particular as one .of the things which you church raembera premolar to renouncer and Guy hawed, toward Maria, whatahnowfne that she was one of the churohMemberareferrecl t04, winced perocitatiblye girl -this Middy.- There's no reason Why she should decline," she said; and Guy replied: _ - alteseect for her 'grandfather, tee her case, •seems to • be stronger thee respect for A higher power iu- some other Caliefr: " pit as Wicked: to play for deeding as 'tis to dance," Marie remarked lamas tetatly ; while Guy rejoined: " That is very possible; but 1, Presume Maddy has never seen itinvrItich • makes a difference and the two retraced their steps to the room where the gay xevellets were pita- tripping to Maddy's . • After sevetat ineffectealeefferta Agnes , had, succeeded in enticing the doctor "away from the piano, ,and7 thus there was no one tha . near te see how at last the bright- color. kt e' began to fade from Maddy's ebeeka as the, -and Mites before her ran together, and the keys who assumed the forre of One huge key which eD she could not manage. .There was, blur sad before her eyes, buzzing in her ears, and ilia t lust as the dancetewere entering heart and ta-ke idat into the merits of popular pelkse awe there was a sudden raise- 111 the leuelet a' thin Mash pricing the keys, and a faint cry"; thin which, Hounded very much like "Mr. Gity, girt I ever met, except -Lucy. Had I never Been her--Luoy, I meaue-I cermet tell how I should fed toward Middy. The chances) arethowever, that much as I admire her, I should not make her my .wife, even if she. Were willing. But I have seen Luoy, . I am engaged to be Married. I shall keep AO engagement, and if you have feared me at all BO Evrival;: you. may feat me no longer. I do not stand between you and Maddy Clyde." • • Guy believed Alit he Was saying the truth, notwithstanding that, his heart beat fester than its wont and his -voice was a littIe thick. It was doubtful whether the would marry ?faddy Clyde, if he could: By nature and -education he was very ‘proud, and the inmates of the red cottage would have been An obstacle - to lbe euranountect by his pride. He knew they were far, far better than himself; from his earliest remerahrantee lie had been. tenight, that blood and , family and position were allimportent ; that by virtue them Remington was a name of which be proud; that this father's foolish mar - 'age with A pretty governess, was the first salliance ever known in the family, and t was net 'likely to follow that mple was a paint fully established in own mind. He might admire ?daddy much, and, perhaps, build. castles of at might possibly. have been, had she n_ in his sphere of life; but, sherd& he ver think of znaking her his wife, the en pride world certainly comeup as a er between athem. Guy could not "sin all this to the doctor;* who would a been tempted to knook him down, if had; but be succeeded in quieting his and even auggeeted. bringing Illaddy e, if the doctor wisleedte know his fate t- morning. I hear her ziow-T11 call her," he said- openingthe dotty, he spoke to Middy was ' just passing through the hall. r. Holbrook wishes to see you," he as Maddy °eine up to him; and, 'he deer, for hoz. to enter, he SEW: her the gest- he bad justvacatedThine ng it upon them, he walked away king that last night's party', or some - g, had produced a bad effect ozi him, she felt ;gliel the dootor would tell Guy. ,Shedid notanalyzeany of her feelingeor• stop to ask why she should care to have Guy Remington know the answer she had given Dr. Holbrook., He was going ,to him now, she was sure, for he arose to leave her, saying he Might not see her again "b,afgre she returned to. New York. She did _ notmention-hie hilt! "That Was among the bye-gones, a thing -never again to be talked about; and offering hita her hand, she looked for an instant earnestly into his face, and then without a word, hurried from the room, while the doctor with a sad, heavy heart, went in quest Of Guy: -"Refined you, did you say ?" and Ge cbfatielyfoedrece.esrintaino;hyo llooeftketude,bdriooghtoterrivith.rmitadhdas„d "Tee, refused me, as I mighthave known she would," was the "dodoes reply, spoken so naturally that Guy looked. up midday to, see if he really did not care. - - • But_theexpression-of the lacebelied-the calmness of the voice; and,. touched with genuine pity, Guy Asked the cause of the refusal-" Preference for any one else, or enough to be my wife, that was all," the Ne, there was no one -whom she ere - ferret'. She merely did not like me well doctor said, and then he tried to talk of something else.; but it -wctuld not do. The wound was yet too fresh .and sore to cot- aredup, and in spite of himselfthe bearded Chin quivered and the manly voice shook as he bade good-bye to Guy, and then ' went . _ — galloping down the avenue. • Great was the consternation among the doctor's patients when it was known. that heir tea physician -the one in whose skill hey had se much confidence -Was going to eters, where in Paris he could perfect imself in his profession. Some cried, and mong them Agnes; seine -said he knew nough already; some tried to dissuade im from his purpose ; some wondered at he sudden start, while Only two knew audit? why he was going -Guy and Maddy; lie- former ap,proving his decision and wo de he was paining into her ear -words, a it oh burned their way into her 'lig it throb for A shigle moment ified , pride," and, then grow as h lead as she. knew- how. %hurt as for her to pay the debt in the tvli eh he desired. "1 MIN. dootor ; oh, I can't!" she bed. . "1 never dreamed of this; 'supposed. you would want me for your I an only a little , girl -only sixteen October -but 'I'm so gorry for you, have been so hind. If I could - love y 1 yo deserve! I do love you, too; Itt ehe way you mein. , I cannot be your no. doctor, Icannet.". . S te was .sobbing piteously, and in con ern for her ;the doctor forgot' 110 hears with eavy ssible way sob - never lending his influence to make his tour wife abroad as pleasant as possible and the ease atter weeping,bitterly as she thought how ;rho , she had sent him away, and that, if aught ou ae. befell WM on the sea or in distant lane, t not she Would be held responsible. Once there wife, came over her the wild impulse to bid him ' stay, tosay that ,she would be his wife; he, but before the rash Act was done, Guy -came me: down to the cottage, and ?daddy's resole- wh t the stunning blow he had received. Don't, Maddy !" he said, drawing her tre fornt olcsiely to "him. "Don't be ce distressed: I did- not much think you d tell me yes, and I: was A fob' to ask I am too old ;but, Maddy, Guy is as I'am." , . ; • . T e &dot did not know why he said this unless in the first keenness of diss, tpointment-there was a.satisfaction telli -her that the 'objection • to his wou 4, apply alga to Guy. Put it did effe t Reddy in the feast, or give her ulig test inkling of his meaning. He se d ot and the pain was leis to bear. Still he would know certainly_ if he had a rive., and he said to. her : , "Do you love some one else, Maddy? Is a other" preferred before me, and is that the reason why you cannot love me 2 • le," "Maady answered, through her tear. There- is no one else. Whom should I love, unlesset were you? I 'Mow . • - 110 dy but Mr. Remington.' •. 'I' et name touched a sore, aching chord in t e doctor's heart, but he gave no sign of t jealousy which had troubled him, and or a moment. -there was a silenoe. in the tion gave way at once. ' It Would be difficult to tell the exact nature of Maddy's liking for Guy at that tiine. Had be offered himself to her she would probably have refused him even .more promptlythan she did the doctor; for, toaltintents and purpcies, he was; in her estimation, the husband of Lucy Ather- hie stone: As such, there was no harm in in Making him her paragon of all male excel - age knee ; and Guy would have felt flattered me could he have known how much he was in the that young girl's mind. But now for a few iv it daYfit he had aerival, for Maddy's thoughts were all given to the doctor, who came before starting for, tate to call him 'CT088, while Jessie com- . Named that he never romped or played with her now, but sat all day long in a deep reverie of some kind. y On this account, Middy did not look forward to the coming vacation as joyfully as she would otherwise have done. I Still, it was always pleasant going home,And she sat talking with her young friends 1 of all they expected to do, when a servant entered the room, and glancing over the group of girls, singled Maddy out, saying, hand, " A telegram for Miss Clyde." as he placed an unsealed envelope in her There was A blur before Maddy's eyes, so that at first she could not see olearlY, and Jessie, climbing on the 1 bench besid her, tt read aloud: Your grandniother is dying. Come at once:- _Agnes and Jessie ' will say till next week. - - • GUT REMINGTON." , - It was impossible to go that__afternoon, • but with the earliest dawn Maddy was -up, and Unmindful of. the snow falling so at rapidly, started on that sad journey It was the first • genuine 401131 of the season, and it seemed resolved on *thing . Amends for past neglect, gweeping in f-leriotis gusts against the Windows, sifting da*il - in thick Masses from the leaden sky, and so impending the progress -of the - train- that the chill Wintry night had closed gloomily ' in ere the Sommervillestation was reached, ' and ?faddy, weary and dispirited, stepped out upon the platform, glancing for the usual omnibus, :which she had little hope would be there on such Atli -gild :al! -_ not what -would she do? This had I been. theburdee of her thoughts for the laid few - hours, for she could not expect Guy to send , Out his hems, in this fearful storm; *tech , less to be there "laniself. But guy was, , there, and it : was his -TOiCe WhiChl first greeted her as she etoodhalf-blinded by the sweet uncertain whatshemust do 11111ft. 1 " Ah.'Mr: Rezeington, I didn't expect this. - I am so glad, and heiv kind it was. • - of you to wait Lor me ?" she exclaimed, her rveopicalinegx-ftrhee8stiiondeg g4eterandiewlihgbOiLand -ndOat beePlia35 with Maddy's hand- in his, and pressihg it in Very patient or happy through the six long - hours of waiting he had endured.- - But he was both happy and patient now, very gently he ;ledher into the ladies'remn; - then making her sit down before the fire, - he brushed her snoiey gatmentathimself; . and dashing a few fielres from her disoidered, : hair, told her what she BO eagerly wished to know. ' kriow, Her grandmother had. had a paralytic stroke, and the only word shehad uttered since was" Middy." Gay had not " • been down himself, but had sent- Mts. • -Noah assoon as Punier Green hadbroiight the news. - She was there yet, the storm. . you hiving prevented her return. I" - old • "And grandma ?" Muddy gasped, fixing her eyes wistfully upon him. .. "Youdo not think her dead?" • . I - No, Guy did hot. god stooping he asked . •if he should not remove from the little teat testing on the stove hearth - the ever-sh ea ed fell of melting" snow. • Maddy cared` nothing for her shoes or • herself just then.. id She hardly knew that Gey was takinoillem off, -much less_that as he bent beside her, et , heed lay "ightly upon his shoulders As he continued her questionings. - "Sheis not dead you say; but . you do. . thinkdoes anybody .think She'll -die? Your telegram said 'dying.' Maddy was not to be deceived, and think. - ing it best to be frank with her, .Guy -told • her that the physician, whom he -had taken ranee! see on his way to the depot, had said there was hope. 1 Old age and an :impaired - constitution Precluded he ' possibility of recovery, but he trustee he. realite that Maddy had refused hita; there was in earnest; and Much against his will didl ever leave her ?" and burying her f . il mother did not wish her to keep there, and Might lite till the young lady carne. " room; then, as ,the doctor began to he meet take them back. _ Guy gavot she "'She must -she will! Olegrancima, why awoke within him a moreintense desire to he received' again the .ornaments" he itee in: her heads- Maddy cried passionately, : effort and he pleaded again -ter aer. 'eveolder a Milady said& 'Mt Guy thought it 'hie -Italie had spent in luxurious.ease wie her thin he hadeverielt before. He been - so hippy 111 purchasing , - while the last three years of her life passed . -would not give her up without another "They will do for Jessie when sliewas, in rapid review before her mind -years gale , over the past, taid telling of theiner- down to see her once Europe. She did not cry While he was there, but her VOille was strange and hoarse as she gave him messages for Lucy Ather- storie; and all that day her face was -white and sad as are the tapes of those who cornelaok from burying their dead. , Only once after the, party did she go up to Aikenside, and then, BUM.170011i13g all her fortitude, she gave back to Guy the brace- lets and the necklace, telling him she ought not to wear them; that ornaments as rich as these were not for her; that her grand - of to ri me tha exa his eery wh bee ye old bird' exp hay he fear ther addy fell forward with dter face upon making him blue and wretched, .just as, be should suppose a Miming would feel when about to be„executed. - CHAPTER XVI TEM DOCTOR Alm Now that they were alone, the doctor courage forsook him-, and be aould only e .mano. It was hard telling which carried her from the room, the doctor' or Guy, or which face of the three was the whitest, Guy's -was the most frightened, for the doctor knew she had only fainted, While Guy, struck with the marble rigidity of the face so recently 'flushed with excate- ineut, said at "She's dead. !a while stammer out comrcrozeplace remarks over him there flashed a -feeling that life' about the party, asking how she had with Maddy dead would be desolate indeed. But Middy was not dead, and Guy, when he went back. to his guests, , carried the news that he had recovered from her faint, ,which she kindly ascribed to the heat of theaoom, instead. of fatigue fronie_playhig so long. The dootor was with her, and she was doing as well . as could be expected he said, thinking within himeelf hew -he wishadtheywoula go home, and wondering What attraction there was - there, now that ?daddy's place, was vacant. Guy was. a very enterable man by the time the last guest bed bidden him gooa- ialbeehadheatclfor the hmdred-ancl- - Ild41ightf al evening it "ad that he I enjoyed it, andea she was sure she had entirely recovered from the effects- of her feintieg fit.' He was not gettina on af. all, and at was impossible for him to say anything as he had "meant to say it. Why couldn't she help him, instead of looking so unsuspiciously at him with those large, Might eyes? Didn't she know how dear she was to laze? He should think she might. She 'night to have divined it ere prom this ; audit so, why didn't she blush, or do URN something? - she et At last she came to his aid by saying, that "You-proniised to tell-zne about the brace- n lets and necklace, whether I ought to keep them." • i -'I est awakened when first she ostrie to him that April afternoon, almost two years ago; thee of ehe littlesick girl who hadegrown so -in the bleat -never -Wore affected in the 16tist by womankind--; and lastly, of the heaed woman, as he called her, sitting beside him now in all the freehness of her yen, womanhood. Middy, as She list- ened felt for. him a strange kind of a pity, a wish to dochis bidding if she only Could; andwhy shouldn't she? Girls had Married thos whom they did not love, and been tolerably- happy • with them toe. Perhaps - a a house . on Madison Square; and she ould be so with the doctor. There was -Maddy to her bocikst -which ' ere bong everything about him to respect, and much obliterated,in a measure, the bittetenemory whic she weld love. - Should she try? of all that had transpired during her winter There wage great lump in ;11daddy s throat vacation-. - - very oubtful . whether Jessie -would ever mg her grandmother to toil that humble ; have them. They Were gomething. he . had „cottage, And die without one parting, Word - bought for Maddy, sontething she had for her. worn, and as such they were ton to Thefeeling that perhaps she had been gate to another: So lie' laid them away. guilty of neglect was the bitterest of all, beside the picture guarded se -carefully and Maddy wept on, unmindful of Guy's from every one. - _ < attempts to tieothe her. At lest, as she 4 Two Weeks afterward. Aikenside presented heard a clock in the adjoining room strike :a desolate, shut -up appearance, for Agnes, eight, she started up, exclaiming, " I -.Iters'' Middy and Jessie had returned to Nis* stayed too long. I retest go now. 'Is there York; Agnes to continue the siege Which; any conveyance here ?" in desPair of winning the debtor, she had "But, Maddy," Guy rejoined, "you can. commenced against ail& Old bachelor, who not go tenight. The roads between here : _ _ ncl Henedele are one unbroken snow -ban - It would take hours to break through ;.- ' besides, you are too tired. You need Test, And Must :come with me to „Aikensidec where -you are expected for .: W bee I f , as s 8 tried tiepeak, but .it ()leered away, tweed: !lie said very sadly, but very earnestly, r.. "-pr. Holbrook, would yeti like me to say yes *th my lips when all the time there This was not et all *hat Ma.ddy meant vi Was something at my heart tugging to ans ar no." " --r to say, but the words were barn of her extreare truthfulness, and the doctor thus learned the nature of the struggle, which he sa* was going on. ,, „ , . ... Maddy,1 would not have you say yes anion your heart was in it," . he answ 'red, while he tried to smile upon the teed . face looking up so sorrowfully at him- i ' ' • - But i the .amile " was a forlorn one and there came instead at tear as he thought how dear was this girl who never could be his. Maddy saw the tear, and, as if she were '9J child, wiped it from -his -cheek ; then, in tomes which never faltered, she told him would think of hint always as her . promised it rai ht be that in time she should learn, to lo et him. She world try so hard,- husbencle and by. that means- should learn at la I not to shrink from . taking him for ; . . such. ;It might be ever so long, and perhaps she. should be twenty or Moroi but some time n the -future she . should feet - differ- ently Was he satisfied, and would he wait? t_ He little -hand waerestifig- 011 hi B .13110111; der, but be did not mind its soft -pressure or ow that it was there, so strong was . . the - mptation to accept the .halfenade ite. - But the doctor Was too noble, too llish, to bind *eddy to himself unless pre wholly grilling, and he said to her ii! she did net love him now she probe - ver would. ,She could not Make love. P. She need not try, as it . would _Only - , , resul in her,own unhappiness. They would be fri was jest as they always had been, Iola one need, know of what had passed en them, except Guy. "1 must -tell athe doctor said, "because he knew was going to ask you," • . e - dy meld not explain why it was that , . . , t h "Yes, oh, yes, I believe I did." " Andget- -ling up from his chair, the doctor began to near, the better to hide his con- .betwe tee--ftelette Youelooked hiin ' • ! I ; but you that If yeti 11 cHotEri 'WOMANHOOD. - Two years pass quickly, particularly at school, and to Maddy Clyde, talking with her companions of the coming holidays, it seemed hardly possible- that two whole years were gone since the eventfel vacation „ y how late the train would he, I sent to have your room and the parlors wet and se nice het supper ready for us: Toed' surely go with me; if I think' best.". ' Guy's manner was more like a lover than a friend; but Maddy was -nit state . to retiaterk it. She Only felt -811 latelDle desire to 'go home, and -turning a deet -eat to all he could urge,replied: - OU dOUI know how dear grandma is , or you would not ask me to stay. ell the mother -I ever knew. - Think, you stay if the one. you heed best -7 ying 2" • - ut the'oneI love best is net dying, so reason (dearly, Middy." - e Gay checked himself, and listened While *eddy asked- again if: there was -110 - 00I1Vey&I1Ce there as usual. "None but mine," said Guy, while ?faddy continued faintly': "And you are afraid it will kille o horses ?" . "No, it would only fatigue , there greatly. - It's for you I fear. Yottie • borne enough toelay."-. (To he continued). , when Dr.' Holbrook bad so startled her b,y offering her hie. hand._ He wasin,Europe She's to me still, and . another name than his was on viaida the little office in Mrs.. Connor's yard. To A Maddy now wrote frequently; friendly, .-71fainitiar 1; betters, such - as _ A-broeher might et: write, never referring to the Vast, but telling her Whatever he thought would Her interest and please her. .0coaitionally, at first, and more. frequently afterwards, he spoke of Margaret Atherstene, Limy's plunger Sister, brillitiet, beautiful • girl who reminded,him; he said, et Maddy, only she was saucier, and more of - a -tease; not at all like Lucy, whore_ he described as soznethingperfeotly _angelie. , Her twenty- fifth birthday foepd.,dierem a sick bed, with Dr. Holbrook in attendance, and this Was the reason given'whythemarriege between herself and Gut, was again deferred.- There had beet' many week' • of pain, succeeded her as the family physician, while Margaret sit up ail data and even wela also had been constantly in attendance. - ibnYg331uacmItl:thwuieed:rwtrmasme:tilii:::: sdbee°ofteil languor, , e_gedu°srhe'll'aetnendewddiuitsrh: tter now. Sheeould wtahnooseetassisted bady :the doctor and Margaret, come to be aletost as fan:tiller to . Maddy as was - that of Lucy. And Maddy, in thinking of Minaret, some, - any further than t times ' wondered "1!--,"hab*Nbeuitihnerevedirdwsehnet ask Guy i Word . shim; her, though she knew he mist have seen her. She did- net say much to him of Lucy, but she wondered -why he did not go for her, and wanted to talk with him about it, but he was so changed that she dared not. He was not sociable as of old and Aguesdid ' ' The Laugh of a Child. The laugh of a child will make the holiest day more sacred still. Strike with the - hand of fire, _0 weird musician, thy harp strung with Apollo's golden hair; fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies sweet and dim, deft touches of the organ keys; blow, bugler, Mow, until thy silver notes, do touch and kiss the moonlit waves , and charm the lovers wandering 'mid vine - clad bills! But know your sweetest strains ; are discords all compared with childhood's happy laugh -the laugh that fills the eyes with lightund every heart with joy. Oh;t rippling river of laughter! thou art the , boundary line between the beasts and men, and every wayward wave of thine doth drown sonie fretfulfiencl of pare. 0, Laugh- ter! rose -lipped daughter of Joy! there are dimples enough in thy cheeks to catoh and hold and glorify all the tears of Grief. - ,•• A