figure was lying upon the office floor, white, stiff, and insensible.

Little Jessie Remington, tired of sitting still and listening to what
her mamma and Mrs. Conner were saying, had strayed off into the
garden, and after filling her chubby hands with daffodils and early
violets, wended her way to the office, the door of which was partially
ajar. Peering curiously in, she saw the crumpled bonnet, with its
ribbons of blue, and, attracted by this, advanced into the room, until
she came where Madeline was lying. With a feeling that something was
wrong, Jessie bent over the prostrate girl, asking if she were asleep,
and lifting next the long, fringed lashes drooping on the colorless
cheek. The dull, dead expression of the eyes sent a chill through
Jessie's frame, and hurrying to the house she cried: "Oh, Brother Guy,
somebody's dead in the office, and her bonnet is all jammed!"

Scarcely were the words uttered ere Guy and the doctor both were with
Madeline, the former holding her tenderly in his arms, while he
smoothed the short hair, thinking even then how soft and luxuriant it
was, and how fair was the face which never moved a muscle beneath his
scrutiny. The doctor was wholly self-possessed. Maddy had no terrors
for him now. She needed his services, and he rendered them willingly,
applying restoratives which soon brought back signs of life in the
rigid form. With a shiver and a moan Madeline whispered: "Oh, grandma,
I'm so tired," and nestled closer to the bosom where she had never
dreamed of lying.

By this time both Mrs. Conner and Agnes had come out, asking in much
surprise who the stranger could be, and what was the cause of her
illness. As if there had been a previous understanding between them,
the doctor and Guy were silent with regard to the recent farce enacted