Aikenside

n to tea, rode back with him to Aikenside, Mrs. Agnes would have gone off into a

r," she said to Dr. Holbrook, as she clasped and unclasped

isease Jessie caught at Mr. M

" Agnes asked, the bright color on he

lives in Honedale. You n

w the secret she guarded so carefully? Impossible, she said to herself; but still the white fingers trembled as she h

name?" she asked, "the

de. She's so pretty. I'm go

ssie thought so funny, slanting away back, she said, so that the roof on one side almost touched the

eary of hearing of the cottage whose humble exterior a

d not visit Maddy on the morrow, she answered decidedly: "No, daughter, no. I do not wish you to associate with such people," and when Jessie insisted on knowing why she must not associate with such people as Maddy Clyde, the answer was: "Because you are a Remington," and as if this of itself were of an unanswerable objection, Agnes

visit to her sick room seemed so much like a dream. From her grandfather she had heard the good news of Guy Remington's generosity, a

s to the administering of sundry powders and pills, he left her, feeling that the next three days would be long ones to him. Dr. Holbrook did not stop to analyze the nature of his interest in Maddy Clyde-an interest so different from any he had ever felt before for his patients; and even if he had sought to solve the riddle, he would have said that the knowing how he had wronged her was the sole cause of his thinking far more of her and of her case than of the thirty other patients on his list. Dr. Holbrook was a handsome man, a thorough scholar, and a most skillful physician; but ladies who expected fr

ust not eat such trash as that," and he set himself to think again, just as Guy Remington rode up, bearing in his hand a most exquisite bouquet, whos

, so I brought these flowers for your patient with my compliments, or if you pref

is own awkwardness and want of tact. "Here I have been cudgeling my head this half hour trying to think what I could take her as a peace offering, and could think of nothing, while you-Well, you and I are different entirely. You know just what is proper-just what to say, and when

his toilet, that the collar was fresh from the laundry, and the new cravat tied in a most unexceptiona

y was completed, "how old are

with an expression so wholly innocent of Guy's real m

is more than half in love with you; but, on the whole, I would not like to be your son; so I

that to do with Madeline? I thought we were talking of her." "Innocent as the newly-born babe,"

ny emotion save a perfectly proper one had a lodgment in his breast as he drove down to Honedale, g

Guy's bouquet, was riding rapidly toward Honedale, she was feeling so much better that in view of his coming she asked if she could not be permitted

s nightgown? Can't I have

de her rather nervous. Dim remembrances she had of some one gliding in and out, and when the pain and noise in her head was at its highest, a hand, large, and, oh! so cool had been laid upon her temples, quieting their throbbings and making the blood course less madly

ham wrapper, and which became her well, with its daintily-crimped ruffles about the neck and wrists. Those wrists and hands! Ho

" she said. "Are my che

ess. Still there was much of childish beauty in the young, eager fac

of a horse's gallop was heard, and in a m

how much better she was; also how "she has been reckoni

er paid. Depositing his hat and gloves upon the table, he followed Mrs. Markham up the stairs, vaguely conscious of wishing she would stay down, and very conscious of feeling glad; when just at Maddy's door and opposite a little window, she espied the hens busily engaged

really was coming near her, it oozed out upon her forehead in big, round drops, while her cheeks glowed with a feverish heat. Thi

little pati

e slight, while she had not been deceived in the dark brown eyes which, even while they seemed to be mocking her, had worn a strange fascination for the maiden of fourteen and a half. The doctor fancie

k?" Maddy did not try to withdraw her hand, but raising h

e one who-asked me-those dreadful ques

e doctor was not prepared, and with a fee

me? Please don't grow excited. Compose yourself, and I will explain all by and by. This is wrong.

ty, as he termed it; but composing herself at last, she answered all his questions, and then, as he saw her eyes wand

I know, and these

ink to bring them? I've wanted flowers so badly; but I could not have them, because I was sick and did not

enthusiastically given; but he was too truthful for that, and so

and so will Mr. Remington be. He sen

sie's brother?" and Maddy's eyes now fair

with her. He is interested in you, a

them," Maddy suggested, but the

m with his compliments. He t

lmost make me well. Tell him how much I thank

ged his mind ere the words were uttered. She might not think as w

but she hoped she would some time, so as to thank him for his generosity to her grandfather and his kindness to herself. Th

at I thank him. He would think it queer for a poor girl like me to send

e, and everybody likes him.

and you've been to Aikenside often? There's nothing in the world I

ride," the doctor answered, thinking of his light buggy at home, and w

wondering how long it would be before Maddy would be able to ride a little distance, just over the hill and back. He was tiring her all out talking to her; but somehow it was very delightful there in that sick room, with the summer sunshine stealing through the window and falling upon the soft reddish-brown head resting on the pillows

to sick girls like Maddy Clyde. Had he been asked the question, he could not have told whether his other patients were habited in buff, or brown, or tan color; but he knew all about Maddy's garb, and thought the dainty frill around her slender throat the prettiest "puckered piece" that he

t becoming riding habit, sat by the window looking as unconcerned at his arrival as if it were not the very event for which she had been impatiently waiting,

ked for you, and why you do not

nswered. "She says they are not

he doctor, who by this time was in the room. As if determined to monopolize the conversation, and keep it from turning on the Markhams, Agnes rattled on for nearl

aid, adding: "You ought to have seen he

t Guy was in the habit of sending bouquets to such as this

nd while a cloud overspread his fine

ing about this Clyde girl is that she aspire

and set her to beating her French gaiter on the carpet; wh

pleased

afforded almost as much satisfaction as the bouquet itself. She evidently regards you as a superior

her tone indicative of sarcasm, though she was gr

s mother was a beautiful woman, and a

er," Agnes said, laughing merrily and appearing more at ease than s

ttage, always brought by Guy's man, Duncan, and always accompanied with Mr. Remington's compliments. Once, hidden among the

as fo

u ever so much, and so does Guy, I guess, for he sends you lots of things. Guy is a nice brother, and is most as old as mamma. Ain't that funny? You know my

AGNES RE

n just for fun, right among the

he doctor, too." His attentions and concern she took as a matter of course, so quietly and so constantly had they been given. The day was very long now which did not bring him to the cottage; but she missed him much as she would have missed her brother, if she had had one, though her pulse always quickened and her cheeks glowed when she heard him at the gate. The

knew was enshrined in the little maiden