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The Sentinel, 1882-04-14, Page 6It - • • . -'•••• . - .11nR14.:113011r AT, LAST. lA SOCIETY NOVEL. . •- - -tbe author of "Edith " thildred Forrestlheutieh hOhateatt troth:etc:1 "Then, Mr. Remington, oh, please send me. I shall die at Alkenside, wall drive me, I know- He . used to like me. Ffl ask him," and Maddy was going in tweet of the Aikenside coaohnian, when Guy held her back, and said: aim will go if I bid him. But you, Maddy, if tthotight-it was safe." s "It is. Oh, let me go," and Middy grasped both his hands beseechingly. If there was a man_ who could resist the eloquent appeal. of Maddy's eyes at, that !moment, the man was not Guy Remington, and leaving her alone he went to John, asking ham if it would be possible to ge through to lhonedale that night; . John shook his head decidedly, but when 'Guy explained Maddy's distress and ' anxiety, the negro began to relent, potion , laxly as he gam his . young master too was interested: ' - “ Ithl kill them home," he. sihd ; h but mabbythat'a nothin' to please the girl." "1! we only had .runners now, instead of wheels,- John," Guy said, ater. a moment's reflection. "Drive beck to Aikenside as fast as possible, and change the carriage for t covered sleigh. Leave the grays at home and take a pair of farra horses, They can endure more. Tell Flora to send my trav- elling shawl.—Blies Clyde may need itand. an extricailishe robe, and a bottle Of wine, and my buckskin gloves, and bring Tom . with you; and a snow -shovel, we May have to dig." "Yes, yes, 4 know," and tying his Muffler about his throat, john started off through the storm, his mind a, confused medley of ideas, the main points of whitth Were, bottles of . wine, snow -shovels, and • the fact that his master was either crazy or in love: ' Meanwhile, with the prospects ofi going home, Maddy had grown child-, ad did not refuse the supper of buttered ast, muffins, steak and . hot coffee, which uy ordered from the email hotel just in reef' of . the depot. Tired, nervous and almost help- less,she_allewehGay himself to prepare the coffee, taking it from his hand and drihking it at his bidding as obediently as: a child. There - was - e feeling of. delicious rest in being cared for thus, and but for., the. dying • one of Honedale she would have enjoyed it vastly. As it was, however, she never for a moment forgot her grandmother—though shedid.forget, in a measure, her anxiety, and was able to think how exceedingly kind Guy was. He was like what he used to be, she thought, only kinder; and thinking it. was because she was in trouble she accepted t " all his little tttentionewillinglh, feeling how pleasant it was to hay° hirn there, and thinking made with a_ half shudder of the long, cold ride before_ her, when Guy would no longer be present, and also of the dreary home whelps* death !night possibly be, e. guest ere she could reach it. - : . . - It- was after nine when John appeared, his crisp wool powdered with snow/which Olying to his outer ghrmehts, and litetaIly coveted hisdarkcloth cap. . "The snow was mighty deep" he said, bowing to Maddy, "and the wind was getting Colder. It was a, hard time Miss Clyde would have,. and hit -diet she better wait ?" No, Maddy could not wait, ..and standing up she znifferectGuy to wrap her cloak about, her, and fasten more securely- the long, warm fustrf she wine around her neck.• , " Drive close to the platform," he said to John and the covered sleighwassoon brought to the point designated. "Now 'thee; Maddy, I won't let you run the risk ofcovering your feet With snow. ' I shell catty you myself," Guy said, and before' Maddy was fully aware of his intentions, he the low window that thew red cottage was reached. Grandma Markham Was dying, but she knew Middy, and the palsied lips worked painfully as they attempted_ to utter the loved neime4 while her wasted face lighted uPwith eager joy as Maddy's arms were twined about herneok, and she felt Maddy's kisaes on her cheek and brow. Could she not speak? Would she never speak again, Maddy asked despairingly, and her greed - father replied: " Ziever, most likely. The only thing she'esaid since the shock was to call your name. She's missed you desperately this winter back; more than ever before, I think. So- have we all, but we would ,not send for you—Mr. Guy said you were learn- ing so fast." "Oh, grandpa, why didn't you? I would have come sq willingly," and for an instant t Milady's eyes . flashed reproachfully upo the recreant Guy. standing aloof from th little group gathered about the bed, hi arras folded together, and a Moody too upon his face. , - • He was thinking of what had not ye entered Middy's mind, thinking of the future—.Maddy's future, . when the age form upon the bed should be gone, and hi two comparatively helpless men be lef -alone. : . "_But it shall not be. _ The sacrifice I far too great. Ihan prevent it, and I will,' -he muttered to himself, . as he turned to watch the gray dawn breaking in the east Guy was a puzzle to himself. He woul not admit that during the past year hi 'liking for Maddy 'Clyde had grown to b something stronger than more friendship nor yet that his feelings. toward Lucy had .undergone a change. prompthighim not to .go to her when she was sick,. and not to b as sort/ as be ought that the marriage was again deferred. Lucy' had no -suspicion o the change, and her child -like trust in hihn was the Which held him still true to her in intentions at least, if not in reality He knew from her :letters -how much she - aillearned_ to like_ Madhy__Clydehan&_80 he argued, theta was no harm in his. liking , her, too: • She was i epleridid-gitl, and i - seemehs, pity that her lot should have been se humbly cast. This was usuallythe drift '. of his thoughtfiln connection with her ; and - now, as he stood. there in that cottage; Maddy's home, they recurred to him with - ten -fold Intensity, for he foresaw that a :struggle was before: him if he ' iiiscueil Middy as he meant to do from her _approaching fate. . . • : No such thoughts; however, intruded themselves on Maddy's roind. She did not look away fromthe present, except it were at tha past, in which she feared she had erred by 'eating her grandmothertoo much atone. But to her passionate appeals. for forgiveness, if ever she had negiected the dying OWN there came hack only loving looks and Mute caresses, the aged h hand smoothing lovingly the bowed head, or _pressing fondly the girlish cheeks. - ,. With the comieg of daylight, however; there was a change ; and Maddy, listening ihtently, heard what sounded like her name. he tied tongue was -loosed for * little, and in tones scarcely articulate, the disciple who for tong years had served her Heavenly Father faithfully, bore testimony to the blessed truth that Gochia promises to - those who love Him Are not mete promises —that He will go with thein- through the river of death, disarming the fainting soul of every fear, and vitaking the dying bed the gate of heaven. This tribute to the Saviour was her first thought, While the second was a blessing for her darling, a charge to seek the narrow Way now in life's -early morning. :Disjointed sentences they were, but Maddy understood them ' all; treasuring up every word even to the last, the words to paizifully ,uttet,ed ; ", You— itill—care-hand—comfort-- ' ' She did not say Whom, but Maddy knew. who she meant s and without then' realiz- ing the . magnitude of the act, virtually accepted the burden from which Guy with so anxious to have her. • ' ' . CHAPTER NVIll. ' THE BURDEN. Grandma Markham was dead, and the covered sleigh which late in the afternocai ploughed its way heavily back to Aikenside minted only Mrs. Noah, who, with her fore- head tied up in knots, sat back among the cushions, thinking not Of the peaceful dead, gone forever to therest which . remains for the people of God; but of the wayward Guy, who had resisted all her efforts to persuade hilt/ to return with her, instead. of staying where he was not needed, and where his presence was a restraint to all save one, and that one Maddy, - for wham sake lee stayed,. -. . "She'd be vummed," the indignant - old lady said, "if she would not write, to Lucy herself if Guy did not quit such &ha's ;" and thus resolving she kept on her way, while the object of her wrath ' was, it may be, more than half repenting of his decision to stay, inasmuch as he began ' to have an unpleasant consciousness of being in every- body's way.. ' .-• -, - In the first hour of Maddy's bereavement . . he had not spoken with her, but had kept himself aloof from the robin where, with her grandfather and_Unole Joseph, she sat, holding the poor aching head of the latter in her lap and trying: to speak A word of consolation to the old, broken-hearted maxi, whose hand was grasped in here. But Maddy knew he was there. She could hear a voce each time he 'spoke to Mrs. Noah, andthat made the desolatihrh easier o bear. She did not look fOrviard to the ime when be would be gone; and when at last he told her he wasgoing, she started quickly, and with A gush of '- teeth xolaireed : "No, no! oh, no I" h.Maddyi".11-iig whispered,- bending over he • strange trio,-" would you rather q. heuld stay? _ Will it be pleasanter for !shit I do 2" • .' • ' "Yea—I delft knot's. I guess it would ot be So lonely. h Oh, it's terrible to have randmothei dead Ir,wat Maddy's response, after whihohrGuy would have stayed if -a hole regiment of Mrs. _Noafis , had con- tented him instead of one. . • Middy wished it; that was reason enough et shim ; and gihing- a few directions to 6 n, he stayed, thereby _diseonherting-the ei,, 12 boring women who danietin to perform h Jest offices for the,Act dead, tud ' wished he -young trian _from. Aikenside was any., here that there,. cnitioising all their Move-. ' ehts, as they vainly fancied he Was.. BLit uy- thought only of Noddy, Watching her o carefully that More' that One meaning lince Willi exchanged between the women, ho, even over :the inanimate- terra of the had her in his arms, and ,was bearing her to the sleigh, - Very carefully he drew the soft, warm robe about her, shielding her is Well as he thualroin the uoia--; then ptillitih his own fur collar about his ears, he sprang in beside her and closing the door behind him, bade John drive on. "But, Mr. Rerhirigton,'" Maddy exclaimed in much surprise, "surely you. are not going, too ? You must not! It is asking too mhch. It is more than I expected. Praise don't.go- !" ' • 'Would yorather I should not—that haside froth, any inconvenience it may be tomeviottld you rather go alone?" Gay asked ; and 'Middy replied' : h Oh, no. I was dreading the long tide, but did not dream of your going. You will • shorten it he Much." " Then I shall be paid for going," • was Guy's response, as he drew still more • closely around her the fancy robe. • The road, though. badly drifted in some places, werenotas bad as Guy had feared, and the strong horses kept steadily on; while Maddy, growing More :and mere fatigued, at last fell away to sleep; and ceased to anther' Guy. For a time he Watched her drooping head, and then, carefully drawing it to him, made. it rest hpon.his shoulder, while he wound his erre around her slight figure, and ,.so supported her. He knew she was sleeping by her • gentle breathings h and once or twice he • involuntarily passed his hand _caressingly over her -soft, round- cheek, feeling the blood tingle to his finger tips,- s8. he thought of his position there; .With Maddy Clyde _sleeping - his arms. What would Ludy -say could she see 'him 2 And the 'hector, with. his strict ideas of right and wrong, t _would he object? Guy did not know, and, t with his usual indepehhehce, he did not care. At least he said 'to himself he did not hare ; and sohbenishing both the doctor- e and Lucy from his mind, he abandOned, himself to the happiness . of the moment—t a, singular -Mph of happiness, inasmuch. as it merely consisted in the fact that Maddy y • Clyde's young head was pillowed on his. • bosom, and - that„ by bending down,' he ii could feel her sweet breath on his face. g • Occasionally there flitted through Guy's mind a* vague, Upeash consciousness that w • though: the act was, under the oiroura- f stances, well enough, the feelings which • prompted itwerenot . such as either the f doctor or Lucy would approve,. But they j were far away; they Would never know• nialesethe told them, ,- as be probably should, t of this ride on that. wintryhight this ride, t which- seemed to him oo shed that he w scarcely believed hiseenies when, without in once baying been overturned or called Upon G • to UBB the shovels. BP thoughtfully provided, s the carriage suddenly came toa halt, and g • he knew by the dim light shining through hir ead, spoke together of what might possij ltly. 'occur, and wondering what would be the effect en Grandpa Markham and Uncle ''.osepli. Who would like dare of them? Ind then, in 01189 Maddy ehouldsfeel it her duty to ;hey there, is they half-hopet, she *mild, they fell to pitying - theyoung girl; ho seemed now so wholly unfitted for the burden. , • . . - .1 To Maddy there oat= no definite thought of the future during the two -days that white, rigid -forth ley _in the cottage;- but , hen, at last, the deep grave -made for Grandma Markham waeoectipied, and the lounge in the little frcintroomwas-enspty- +hen the Aikenside carriage, .whioh had been sent down- for the mourners,' had hriven away, taking both, Gay and Mrs. Noah—when the neighbors, too; had 'Vine, leaving only herself and the little girl who had been hilted, BB help sitting by the 'fire, With the grandfather and imbecile Uncle oseph—then it was that she firatbegan to eel the.pressure of the burden—began to ok herself if she could live thug' always, hr at least for as long as eitliet of . the two helpless then. were spared. Maddy was young, and the world as she had seen it 'wee very bright and fair, brighter far than - I, life of laborious toil, and fora while the ea that the litter alternative must he accepted ' Made her dizzy and faint: As if divining. her thoughts, the - poor Id. grandfather, in his prayers : that night, asked 'hi trembling tones,whit& showed how - much ' be felt what he was saying, that God would guide his darling in tit she did, and give her wisdom to make fihe proper decision; that if it were hest she Might be happy therewith them, but if not, " Oh, -Father, Paths; 1" _he sobbed, h help me ' and Joseph to bear it." He iloulcl pray ne •more :aloud, and the 'hug head remained bowed deem upon his chair, *bile Uncle Joseph, in his crazy Way; took hp the 'theme, . begginglikea very,'ehild that Maddy might be ipolined to stay—that . no young man With oiling hair, A diamond, -Oross and smell of musk, Might be - permit- iledlticenienear_her with enticing looks, but that she 'Might -stay as she was and die -ha old nisihicirevet t This was the eub- &shoe of Uncle Joseph?s prayer, Which set - the littlehiredgirl to tittering, and, would have wrung seraile froth. Maddyhherself - had she not felt all the strange petition implied. . • :. - • - With the waywardness natural topeople in -his condition, • Thiele . josephthat night turned to Maddy for:the little services his ihster had formerly rendered, and which, hum -her illness, Grandpa -Markham had Ione, and would Willingly do still.' But ioseph refused to let hint. -Maddy must iiitie his -orehet, unbutton his hest and take iff his shoes, and after, lid was hi bed, raddy. must- sit by . his side holding, his land until he fell away to Bleep. And *eddy did it cheerfully,. soothing him into- tuiet and _keeping batik her own choking iiorrow for the sake Of comforting': him. Then, when this task was dope; she sought her grandfithet, still sitting before the kitchen fire and evidently waiting for her. 'rhe Attie hired girl had retired,. and thus: !here was no barrier to free • conversation Oetween them. - • . "Maddy," the old. man said, ', come sit lose by me, where I can look into your face, while we talk over what ,Must be lone," . 1 With a half shudder, Maddy drew a stool Lo her grandfather's feet, and testing her head upon his knee, listened while he talked to her of the future, and told her all her grandmother had done; told of his own helplessness; of the trialit was to care for „Uncle Joseph, and then in faltering tones asked who Was -going to look after _them bow. • “ We can't liveheieh alone, Maddy. We can't. We're old and weak, and want some one to lean on. . Oh, Why didn't God Lake us Witn • her, Joseph and me, and that , Would leave you free to go back to the sohool, i - and the life which I- know is pleasanter than -to stag here With UB. Oh, Madd 1 it comforts me to look it you—to hear our voice, to him* that though I don't See ou every minute, you are somewhere, and by and by you'll Come in. .1 shan't live long; and maybe.hoseph won't. God's pro: mise is to thein who honor father and ether. It'll be hard for '' you to stay, harder than it was once; but, Maddy! stay with me, stay with me !—stay with. I) your old grandpa lh In his earnestness he grasped her arm, as if he thus would hold her, while the tears - rained over his :wrinkled fece., For a Moment Maddy Made no response. - She had no intention :of leaving him, butthe ,burden was - press - ling heavily and her. tongue,' refused to move. Maddy then was a stranger to the religion Which was sustaining her grand. :father in his great trouble; but the teach- ings of her childhood had .: not been a ' vain. : She was God's covenant child. His 'protecting presence Was over and around her, moving her in the right. New York, with its gay'eights ; her school, where in another year she was to graduate; repromised Mts. Agnes, Jessie and himself; trip to the °staking which Guy ' had :Aikenside, with its luxurious hease—all these must be given up while worse: than all the rest, Guy, too, Must be given up. He would- not come to Honehale often;: the place was not to his taste, and in time he would cease to gate for her as he 'coed for her now.. "Oh, that would be dread- ul," she groaned aloud, while her thoughts went back to that :night -ride -in the anew' Corm, and the --- numberless'-- attentions .he 't had _paid. her. She .- should never hide with - him again—never; s and tiMaddy moaned bitterly, as she began to ,realize for the -hist. time how much she liked Guy Remington, and how -the' giving hitia up and his society was the hardest 'part of all. But Maddy had a brave young Iheart; and at lad; winding her arms around toehgrandfather's neck,- she whispered: :".I will not leave you, grandpa., - I'll- stahhiti grandmother's place." 1 ` Surely Heaven would answer the bleach. mga ,whiohhhe delighted old meal whispered over the young girl; taking BO -cheerfully the harden frem. which many. Would have &tank. 1 With her grandfather's hand- over her bead, Noddy could ,e,lmost. feel the' blgri8;,_.: ;lithe descending; but in her own - little oom, *here she had lain Sick forso.many Weary weeks,' her courage 'began to give. way,' and theburden, magnified tenfold. by Her nervous weakness, looked- heavier than gibe 'could bear.- How could -she stay thexei going threugh each day with the game tau' tuie of literal drudgerydrudgery-which would not end until the two for. whom she made the sacrifice were dead. ! ' i "Oh, is there no 'hil.y . of esaiihe, no help" she moaned, as she teased from side '- . • 1 = 1 • to mide. "Must my life be wasted- here Surelyh Vaddydid. not - finish the sentence, f something . checked the -Wordsof tepinin and 0e-seemedto beet again her gran father's ioiceithalt'repeated ..the hromige those who keep with their whole souls th fifth commandment. h • - I "1 will, I- will,",.she Otied, while .illt0 h heart there crept an -intense longing forth love of him who alone could make her tee a light one. "If h were geed, like grandra I could hear everything," she. thought, an turning Upon herpillow.Maddy prayed a eatTiefit, ohildish .tiT*Srert that -God, Woh 'help. her to do right.; that He would- tak frOm..Iter the pica& .epirit :which rehelle against her lot because ofitslonelitiesi,th pride .and kite of herciwn ease and advane tient in preference' to :other'sgoOd. mig al/ be subdued ; in short, that She might b God's child, walking *here He eppointe her to. walk without a• Marmot; and doin cheerfully His Will. - - Aikenside, anctschool, and the Cataki Mountains wereeasier to abandon aft that prayer but when she thought of GA the fiercest, Oat/teeth hang she had eve felt Shot through her heart, making her or out BO quickly that the littlelilted girl wh hared her bed moved as if about to waken but Maddy lay -very 'quiet until all -wa etilLagain, when, taming a second time t God, she tried to pray, tried to give u what to her Was the dearefit idol, but eh -could not say the words, and die she khe What the was doing she found -hoed! --As ing that .Guy Should not forsake her. " Le hint come," she sobbed, *",let Guy com eonifithnes to see me."- .1 • Once the tempter Whispered to her -the had she accepted Dr.: Holbrook she woul have t been • spared all I this, but _ Mad. d turned a deaf ear to that suggestion. p Holbrook Was too noble a- :Men to have a unloving Wife, and: not for e moment di sherepeat of her deg:ikon with 'regard him: . She almost knew he would say no. that she was right in refusing him, an tightsin• : etithing_ there, as -shemus - Thoughts. of the --deist= quieted. her, _sli believed; not knowing • that heaven w already owning :its submissive - child, an ibreathing upon it e- soothing .benediotion The moan of the 'Winter mind'. and th sound of the few* beating ,against he little window ceased to annoy her: Heaven happiness, Aikenside and Guy, all seethe blended into onegreatgeed; just within he -reach, and when the long chick below. their struck three she did not limn it; but wit .the tear -stains - Upon her :face She la nestled among the piliows, dreaming tlis her grandmother had come- back from th i?bhriigkih.t tvOk4cf-g:l.ory. to blesa ',her darliu It was broad noon ere Middy awoke and, starting up, She looked -- about her i bewilderment; wondering ,where she '-tVe and what agetieg had been at work in he tooth, transforming it from the. cold, -coin fortless.apartment she had entered the pre *Min night, into the cheery looking chard her; with a watni 'fire, blazing ie- the tin fire -place, e rug spread 'ho-Wn upon th hearth, a rocking -chair drawn hp before it and. alt tract* of the little hired girl a completely obliteratedas if she had neve been., During her grandmother's itlness theddy't room had been left tothe care o the hired girl Nettie, and it were a neglected rude aspect, which had grated on Maddy' finer feelings, and made everything so Main viting.. But this morning all was Changed Some skilful hand . bad been busy ther while she -slept, and Middy Was wondering who it could be, when the door h opened cautiously and _Voices good-humored face looked in—Flora from Aikenside. Middy knew not to whom she was indebted for all this comfort, and with a cry of joy she welcomed the gift, Whose • very presence brought back something of the life With which she had parted forever. . "Flora," she exclaimed, "how. chmehou here, and hid you makethisfite and arrange the room for me ?" • _ "Yes, I made the lire," Flora -replied, "andfixedup the things a little,Jaustliie that young ontee goodsout of here-; because it was not fit for you to be sleeping with her. : Mr.. ReMingten. WRB angry enough when he found it out:" • - - "Mr. Remington, I Flop.? Howshould he know Of our etching, arrangements?" Maddy asked, but Flora .evaded a direct reply, saying,- "There were enough Wage for things to get to Aikenside;"then con- tinuing,. How tired you must he; Mies Maddy, to sleep 'BO sound as neverto hear me at all,thoughto be. flute I tried to be as still - as . a nitOUBB. - But let me help you dress. It's nearly no:Mould you mast :he ..110-gry. I've -.got your„ breakfast all ready." • - - "Thank you, Flora, I ban dress myself," Milady said, stepping out on the floor, - and feeling that 'the world was not so dark as a- bed seemed to herwhen last night she came up to her. chamber. -God Was comforting her already, and as she made- her - Simple toilet . she tried to thaJW:Him for His goodness and ask for grace to Make her what she onght to be, "You have not yet told Me why you came here," she said to Flors,Who wasbiaSy making her bed ;:and who 'replied, It's Mr. Remington's hiforh.. He thought_ I'd bettercome,as you need help to get things set to tights, so 'you could go back to school." Maddy felt her heart coining up in her throat, but she answered -calmly, "Mr. Remington is very kind—so are you all ; but; Flora, I am not going back to !wheel," • Net going beak!" and Flora stoppedher- bed-making,- While she stared. blankly at Maddy. "What are yougoing to do ?" "Stay here and take earn of grandpa," 'Maddy said bathing her face . and nook.itt the. cold whter,:tvhtelt could -not cool the feverish heetthefeltsprethihgell over them. ."Stay betel You are. Crazy, Mise Maddy!' • ',Whet- -no Place for a girl like you, and li;hrhhtemitigteit thilVneyet euffer it, 1 know," Flora hthhhied,it she resumed her *hilts- thinking she ,,nlithilithlie to be hhohehhp.jiti ,thtkiihtithhell of a house." • Oh* ,ltttlemgh'.v--IstieF foresaw the opposition :she shettihhhielffitlY meet with from hihy,hatahhhttent onwith her toilet, thhiolv_hitasiseeen 4eompictpdoraetit Aid not take lung tstatTai*::the dark calico dress hilti.Plainliheitholar Which she wore. She was not hihtteehheoliingaii hsheh that moths fcip.ezeitement and tttgOil had lent a•lialenessiwbekolieek: and a lehgtiMehto her whole appearance, but Flora, who glanced anxiously after : her tot wat„iiiiiit out, muttered to herselfh She was never more beautiful, ilia h. don't milder . an: attita that Mi. Guy ;thinks so Much, of her." - . • . • • The Ititcilien was in petted order, for - - Flora had Wen busy there :as - elsewhere. The kettle Was the stove, while two or thief, little covered -"dishes were. rangedikniinuerrita_lzhaenia4perMarkham a fmwhaistilagg-otntOr i out, hut thole Joseph set 'hi -his ahouiatenied. - Corner, rubbing his hands when he ,sair, .Maddy, and nodding mysteriously :toward. the front room, the 'door of whit* was open,. so that Meddy could hear the -hire crackbng On the hearth. "Go :in, go in," Undo - Joseph said, waving his hand in :that direction. - h My - Lord Governor is in there watt!** for you. He won't let me spit On the floor :any mote: as. Martha- did; and I've swallowed sO muck .that I'm shiest choked." Continual '.spitting was one .of lhndle Joseph's werst,habitihAnd as his sister. had - indulgeditinhin it, it had .become a source . , of great annoyance to every one. -1-Thinking •.: that Uncle Joseph referred to her grand- father, and feeling his& the./ the letter had , attempted eieforth; she entered the teem -known at the hottsge as the parlor, where the rig carpet and the six cane -seated : chairs and the 'Boston -rocker were kept, and where now the little round table was nicely laid for two,while cosily seated in the rocking -chair, reading . last _ night's paper, and looking very handsome ,and happy, was Guy! : • - - ' When Maddy prayed that. he Might oOMe and see her she did not expect ah fineviet • to soon; and she started badk in- much sur- prise, while Guy came- easily forward to greet her, waking IOW shewas, and- telling her she looked tired said thin; then Making: her take the chitin he. had vacated, he stood. over her, while he continued: "1 have taken some liberties, , you fiee,:i and have Made myself -finite at home. knew how hnaceustonted you wee to the duties of abolish and as I savithat girl .Was wholly iricomp_eteht, I denied ; Myself at least twe hours' sleep this morning for - the .sake of . getting here. early; -bringing Flats withme and a few things which_ I -, thought Would be. for your;' _comfort. • You hihet - excuse s -ine; 'but- -Flora looked to cold when the - came down - from your chef:ill:ter; where- I sent her to seehoW you were, that with: your grand. '- father's • -permission 1 :ordered a- fire to be. -kindled there. I "hive you found it com. fortable,- This house is Very : He kept talking, and Maddy, in a deli - aloha kuid, of bewhilertheht, listened- to. him, wondering if ever before there was person so kind and geed as Guy. And Guy was doing great violence to .12is pride - by 'being _there as he was, but he could - do ' • anything for. Maddy, and so he had forced down his pride, trying for her sake to Make' thecottageas hleasaet es possible. With . Flora to assist, he had eucceededwonder-, fuljy, and Was really , enjoying it himself.' . 'At -first Maddy boulhh not thank him,- her heart was BO fel!, - but Guy was fiatisted with the expression of .her face, and billing 'Flora he bade her serve the breakfast, - . "You know my habits," he said, emit, ingly, as he.took,a -roast at the -.. table, -"and breakfasting at daylight, • as I hid, . has - given Me an -appetite-; so, with your per- mission, 111 carve this 'hen bit of steak for . you, while -YOU pour thea cup of coffee—'' - .0onift of -Mrs. 'Noah's beat. She" --Gay was going to. say, "sent it," - but as no .f stretch Or the imagination could Construe her "calling him' a fool" into sending , Maddy coffee, he iddedinstead,-" I brought it from Aikenside, together With this straw- berry jelly, of which Lreanembei you were : fond ;" and he helped Maddy laviehly from,.' 4the fandifUl..-jelly-jar Which yesterday was - adorning the sweetrimat closet at Aiken - How chatty and- social he was, trying to - cheer Maddy up atid -Make her forget that - Binh a thing As death had so lately found entrance -there. He talked of Jessie, of Aikenside, Of the pleasant time they would have during the vacation,and of the nett . term at school, when_ Maddy, se one of the graduating cleat, would not be kept hn -se etrichly- as heretofore. but allowed to saes more of tlio *city. _ Middy few as if she .. Should die for the pain tugging at her heart while she listened to him, and knew . that - the l pictures he was • drawing Were not for I-. her. 1Her :place was there; 'and after, the breakfast. VMS 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, begging of him to help her and not make it harder to bear by 'devising meansfor her to esCape what she: kilt to be an - imperative duty. : Guy had expected something likethig and was parekAS . hethought, to combat ail argument; So when she had .finished he - replied_that of . course he did not hviali to interfere with her duty, but theremighthe questionAB to What was teeny her and it 'seemed to him. he was better able to judge of that than . herself. It Was not - right for her to bury lierielf there, Where_ • another ceiald -.do as well. Her superior _ _ . - talents' were given to her to improve, and how_ could she improve them in Honedale? '- Beside's; her grandfather did not expect her to Stay. Guy had. talked with•• him - • While he Was asleep. and -the:matter-was. , all'arranged ; „a competent woman I was to be hired to take 'charge " of the dhinestitt - .Ittrengeraents; and if it seemed desirable, two should be procined haeything to leihrth Maddy free.. - _ - "And grandpa consented to this will, . ingly 2 . Middy said, feeling a , ihr-Wet pleasure at thoughts ef release. could hot answer that the grandfather .con- - heisted willingly. _ "He thinks it best. When he heroes . beck hou can ask 'him' yourself," he said, hitt as Uncle .Joseph opened the door and brought their interview to a close by asking very meekly; ." If would please the Loth Governer toletlstin spit!" s (To be coritaineah —An English journal pokes fun at young „ lady wha offers herself as a kitch'en. Maid, saying that she has had kitchen experience from her 10.tlitolier-20th_year. The great trouble in this country. is With the large number of kitchen maids of about 20 years who have had no experience at ell. - The death is announced of John Cad- walader Erskine, Baron iErskine, in the - 79th year of Itis age.- Deceased was a: grandam( of the -great Advocate on whom the title was first conferred, and a ten of the ziehehd Lord Erskine, by his wife; Mies Vehah hhedWillo;derh-htf Philadelphia,. an auntofthe late judge Cadwalader And the, r late General George CadWale.der, of that city; He is succeeded by :his only -son, the Hon. William- Erskine, who is Married and has alamt!y: : .