Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-12-22
she heard Of the engagement.


no uss specializing any further ia that
direction. The thing was done; but Dr..
Graham did not find his landlady $
daughter looking after his comforts as Of
yore, nor the vase Of fresh flowers on the
stand in bis room, as he used to do.
1t was quite late that night when DR..
Graham reached home in the company
Of his bet-othed time had slipped away
lie was very tired now be had gone
through pretty hard days work, visit
ing his patients; it was long ride to
Farmer Thorntou's. He threw himself
into an armchair, and. lighting cigar,
gave himself Up to thought A young
man, engaged to a beautiful girl we can
easily guess the direction his thoughts
took as he lay back watching the curling
smoke from the cigar.
t'This will never do p he exclaimed,
.rousing himself from the reveris which
had been long and profound. Il had al
most forgotten my promise" and, draw
ing his desk towards him, commenced
writing letter.
lie had not been thus engaged many
minutes, when there was loud ringi
at his night bell. and he was summoned
10 attend the butchers wife without a
moments delay.
Lucky | had gone to bed," thought
the doctor, as he hurriedly put on his ha t
and left the honse.
The next morning, when Miss Sophy
Brown entered the Doctors room to ar
range it, she found he had not returned.
Things wera just as he left them the u ght
previous, and the letter he had eommenc-
ed was lying Oh the desk
Sophy's curiosity got the better Of her;
peep sAe must take and she dll
Alter reading the first few words, she
sank into the nearest chair, quite over
come, and the letter fell 90 the floor.
"Who would have thought it?' muir
INJURED she. Il must have made some
mistake. Let mo read it again, to make
sure. L is perfectly shocking,"
She stopped, picked up the letter, anu
read as follows:
BY DEAR WIFE: Knowing you would
be anxious on my account, l hasten to let
you know that l am getting on quite as we'll
rs can be expected. DoB't tLink Of com,
ing to nae on any account. Kiss little
Benny for his papa.
That was ALL Dir. Graham had been
called away IN the middle Of it.
Sophy sat staring at the unfinished let
ter, then shook her head solemnly.
The nasty decetfui man passing
himself OF among honest folks as single
man, A child, too! he ought to be
ashamed Of himself Kiss little Benny,
indeed A lot he thinks of little Benny,
passing nearly all his time with Laura
Brooke. All my dno lady, you will not
hold your head quite as high now. En-
gagged to d marrid man, ELI % and a look
Of triumph passed over the girls face.
''Somehow," she continued, ''4here al
ways seemed to me something strange
about that Dr. Graham. But what must
| doY
Sopby was not long making up her
mind, however, for in few minutes she
left the house and FASTENED in the direc-
ton of Lawyer Brooke's.
1t was not until late in the afternoon
that Doctor Graham found himself olsen
gagged for a few minutes He then call
cd at the lawyers office to inquire after
Laura; be had 10 time to go and see af-
ter Laura herself
He found Mr.. Brooke sitting in his
private room, looking very grave. He
hardly replied to the DOCTORS courteous
salutation. Wondering what could posi-
bly, be the matter with his future father
in-law, DR.. Graham's first thoughts were
of Laura. He therefore fastened to in
quire after her.
Laura | trust"
How dare you mention my daughters
name ? How can you look me in the
faco after all your villiany and deceit?'
''Mr. Brooke, what is the meaning of
all this What is the meaning of this
treatment? If you were not Lauga's
father"
Enough. sir :" interrupted the other,
trembling with rage, and drawing a pa
per from his pocket. Garry your du-
plicity 20 further. Look at that paper,
sis. Perhaps you will deny yous own
handwriting"
mo, sir, I will not," replied DR..
Graham, looking over the paper, and
with difficulty roprcssirg smile. ''That
is my handwriting; bu: how it got into
your possession, can't con ceive."
You admit that writing to be
yours. than?' replied the other more fu-
rious than ever.
Certainly do. That is he COM
mencement Of letter that was writing
for Farmer Thornton to his wife, [ prom
ised him l would; he has broken his
arm, and cannot write himself.
1t was ludicroas to watch the look Of
astonshment gradually stealing over
Lawyer Brooke's face, as this explanation
was being giving.
Forgive me, Ned said he. He
could get no further. Both men were
convulsed with loud fits of laughter
"Ned," said Mr. Brooke, on their way
to the house, shortly afterwards, mot a
word of this to Laura"
':Not for the world" replied Dr.. Ora
ham, with comic look at his future
father-in law
Aud DR.. Graham kept his word; at
least he did up to the time of his mar
riage with Laura Brooke, which event
happened soon after.
Cease, rude Bolus. clustering railsr y