Aikenside

hed; the former was standing quietly in the chip-yard behind the low red house, while the latter with his nose over the barnyard fence, neighing occasionally, as if he missed the lit

s something like indignation mingling with the sorrow gnawing at the hearts of the old couple as they watched by their fever-stricken darling. Farmer Green, too, shared the feeling, and numerous at first were hi

though he would have preferred some one else should have been called, c

and with his usual bluntness, he said to the

adge t'other day, when you refused the st

on explained his meaning, making out a most aggravate

Catechism, as if such like was 'lowed in our school. I s'pose you didn't

need, and stowed them carefully away. He had expected to hear from that examination, but not in th

and he on his way to the cottage, he had arrived at the conclusion that of all the villainous

ge better of her condition. They took the shawl away, and the sunlight came streaming in, disclosing to the doctor's view the face never before seen distinctly, or thought about, if seen. It was ghastly pale, save where the hot blood seemed bursting through the cheeks, while the beautiful brown hair was brushed back from the brow where the veins were swollen and full. The lips were slightly apart, and the hot breath came in quick, panting gasps, while occasionally a faint moan escaped them,

whispered; and thus entreated, the doctor took the soft hand in his own, its touch

only an intense desire to help, if possible, the young girl whose finger

and softly down and placing his other upon h

ther she should think of him as some one come to cure her, for cure her he would, he said to himself, as he gazed into her childish face and thought how sad it was for such as she to die. When first he entered the cottage he had been struck with the extreme plai

red, as he folded up the bits of paper whose content

ician's mind dwelling upon the little, low-walled chamber where Maddy Clyde was lying. As night closed in she knew them all, and heard that Dr. Holbrook had been there prescr

was not in the room all the time, she said. "He ha

estions, and how kind he was to her now. The sight of her grandfather awakened a new train of ideas, and bidding him to sit beside her, she asked if their home must be sold. Maddy was not to be put

now, but of the mortgage and the foreclosure, begging the doctor to see that the house was not sold, to tell them she was earning thirty-six dollars by teaching school, that Beauty should be sold to save their dear old home. All this was strange at first to the doctor

age gate, he hated himself doubly now as he went dashing down the road, de

to officiate again, assuring them that if any more candidates came he should eit

he said; "anybody but Guy Remington.

his other patients waited many times in vain for his coming, while he sat by Maddy's side watching every change, whether for the worse or better. Even Agnes Remington was totally neglected; and so one day she sent Guy down to Devonshire to say that as Jes

next died on his lips as he noticed the strange look of excitement and anxie

it. I'd give it to him out and out. But that's nothing to do with the girl-Maddy they call her. The disappointment killed her, and she's dying-is raving crazy-and keeps talking of that confounded examination. I tell you, Guy, my inward parts get terribly mixed up when I hear her talk, and my heart thumps like a trip-hammer. That's the reason I have not been up to Aikenside. I wouldn't leave Maddy so long as there was hope. I did not tell them this morning. I couldn't make that poor couple feel worse than they are feeling; but when I

ctor's office had said about being poor and wanting the money for grandpa, while Mrs. Noah had given him a rather exaggerated account of Mr. Markham's visit; but he had not assoc

who refused the money. I met the old man going home that day, and he asked me for help. You sa

for her. I never thought much of these things until I heard him pray; not that she should live anyway, but that if it were right Madd

her. Starting suddenly from his chair, he exclaimed, "I'm going down there. It will look queerly, too, to go alone. Ah, I have it! I'll drive back to Aikenside for Jessie, who has talked so much of the girl that her lady mother, forgetting th

, and the little girl was soon seated by her brother's side, chatting merrily of the different things they passed upon the road. But when Guy told

," she said, "and she looked so

Had he heard that Maddy was that kind of good which lets folks in heaven? Because, Brother Guy," and the little preacher nestled closely to the young man, fingering his co

that childish yearning for knowledg

his, little one?-not

in Boston. She told me about it, and taught me to p

n spoke to him just then, asking if he should drive through D

ent and almost fatal illness. They found the doctor at home and willing to go with them. Indeed, so impatient had he become listening for the first stroke of the bell which was to herald the death he deemed so sure, that he was on the point of mounting his horse and galloping off alone, when Guy's invitation came.

ut there were no tears in the eyes of the young men, as with beating hearts they sat listening to the slow, solemn sounds which came echoing up the hill. Ther

loud, while every stroke fell like a heavy blow upon the hearts of the young men

e last, when again the dull, muffled sound came floating on the air, and Dr. Holbrook's

listenings to catch another note. Fifteen years, and o

remembering distinctly to have hea

se it's she," the doctor rejoined. "Poor chil

ed Guy, if it was very far to heaven, and if

the hill, across the meadow-land, and past a low-roofed house whose walls inclosed the stiffened form of him fo

arriage like that from Aikenside stopped at that humble cottage, but the neighbors thought it came merely to bring the doctor, whom they welcomed with a glad smile, making a way for him to pass to Maddy's bedside. Guy preferred

ly; but the doctor shook his head, and holding in one hand his watch he

" and in his singular, authoritative way, he cleared the crowded room of

yed for their darling, asking that if possible she might be spared, and God heard their prayers, lifting, at last, the heavy fog from Maddy's brain, and waking her to life an

onfused recollection of where they had met befor

ever come home, and is th

l," Jessie cried, bending over the bewildered girl. "D

said, gently pulling Jessie away, an

was a burst of thanksgiving for the life restored, and then Grandpa Markham tottered from the room, out into the open air, which had never fallen so refreshingly on his tried frame as it fell now, when he first knew that Maddy would live. He did not care

im pleasantly, and then walked with him to the garden, where, on a rustic bench, built for Maddy beneath the cherry trees, Grandpa Markham sat dow

to-day was to say that my purse is at your disposal. You can have as much as you wish, paying me whenever you like, and th

hite head upon his bosom, the big tears dropped like rain upon the turf, while his lips quivered, first

making me so happy. You are worthy of

of its guests in imminent danger from the locality of his room, and his own nervous fear which made him powerless to act, another guest braved fea

iled his own life to save that of another. There was a doubly warm pressure now of the old man's hand, as Guy replied, "I'

ight-too much like begging, and I s'pose I felt too proud

taloons faded and short, his coat worn threadbare and shabby, his shoes both patched at the toes, his cotton shirt mi

en Jessie was not permitted to stay, though Maddy clung to her as to a dear friend. In a few whispered words Jessie had told her name, saying she came from Aikenside, and that her Brother Guy was there, too, outdoors, in the carriage. "He

thrill of pride in knowing that Guy Remington, from Aikenside, was interested in her, and had brought his sister to see h

will let me. I don't mind

n by the children, had all the while been standing near,

ssie's reply: "Because the plastering comes down so low, and Maddy's pillows ar

impelled him to lay his cool, broad hand on her forehead, as he replied, "I love all my