Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-01-11

worked, and you ought to take a rest. "
''Do appear to be at DEATHS doors
he inquired, Strengthening up and sQuar-
ing his shoulders, as if proud of his pro-
portions. ''No, Matty," he continued,
solemnly, though with merry twinkle
in the honest eyes, ''work, as Mrs.
Bowers frequently remarks, is a pam
naky." Matty understood him and
colored crimson.
At last Tom was pronounced out OF
danger, and now the doctor felt that he
must remove himself and his belongings
from Mrs. Kellicott's house to his own.
Matty, hidden by the honeysuckle vines
over the piazza, watched him go, and
cried little.
The morning after, Tom and Matty
sat on the piazza; he reading, or pre-
tending to read, while she sewed dill
gently. Neither uttered word fol
more than a half on hnnr.
Presently Matty shook out the mus
lin cap she was making, and laid it on
her workbox, put her little silver thin
Bile aside, and dropped her hands, one
over the other, into her lap. Then she
looked up.
Tom was staring straight ather. She
colored violently, and SO. for that mat
ter, did he.
'sTom," she began, don't be angry
Oh, do forgive mel" She paused, try
ing to think how she could tell hin
softly; but she went on bluntly, 4
want to end our engagement"
80 do l." rejoined he, with Difficult
tv SURPRISING whistle. Then bott
burst into hearty laugh.
You see, Mat" said Tom, when he
could speak, II love some ore else"
Matty appeared 20 be taken quite BY
surprise at this declaration.
but couldn't help it, indeed
couldn't. She is"
''she is young lady whose name Is
Kate. and her eyes are the blacklist,
and her cheeks the reddest, and she
sings Under the Star with guitar ac-
commandment" ratified Matty all in q
breath.
It was Toms turn to stare. "Where
did YOU find all this out?" he asked.
My dear little bird, etc. 1 think
I'll 20 and write to my future cousin >
and of she ran, glad to escape the CUES
tons which she feared he might pro-
pound.
but YOU haven't told me" he call
ed after her.
And never shall" she returned
whisking into her own room.
In less than an hour she had reooHciled
her mother to Fate's decree, aud written
to Miss Kate Spencer and persuaded
Tom to write also, and had done mucE
toward informing the whole village o
her altered prospects.
In due time Tom was married, MattJ
officiating as first bridesmaid.
Matty. after the excitement OF Tom
wedding bethousht herself what sh'
sbould do. There were her summer
dresses to be made up, her music scholars
to attend to, the sewing circle and TIT
flowers but these occupied neither a,
her time nor thoughts. There ought t.
have been DR.. Gibson, too, she coult
not help thinking; but that gentleman
instead of falling at her feet as soon a;
he heard she was free, paid her no more
attention than before. She waited fol
him, in growing wonder and worry, ar
eternity-two weeks-and then tool
measures to bring him to his senses.
She employed only recognized ant
lady-like means, however. She began
by flirting little with other gentlemen
There was VIII Ellis. This youns
gentleman had offered himself to ou
heroine, on an average four times a year
ever since she was fifteen. She hat
invariably refused him, decidedly ant
emphatically but they were the best o
friends in the world. She now told hin
in so many words, that she would accep
all the attention he would offer he
during the next week, taking care to re
member that this singular declaration
proceeded not from any special regart
for him, but was made in pursuance
some occult design on her part.
Forthwith the pair embarked upol
what seemed to be the stormiest filtration
Skinnersville ever saw. In the lon:
morning they drove or rowed together
they dined at Mrs. kellicott's, AM
Immediately after sailed forth on som
other excursion. Both were excellen
equestrians, and Matty gloried il
ga!IopinG over hill aud dste, on one Q
WHIPS handsome horses. (Will, blythe
by, was the son of rich many. Thel
they drank an carly tea on the verand
and spent the evening at the piano or i
reading. At the hour of 9 Matty Away
sent Will home, without particle Q
ceremony or regret at his departure. Il
short, what appeared to Skinnersyille a
serious courtship was, in reality,
pure business matter, and 50 understood
between the two parties to it.
This state Of affairs continued for
week or so, during which time the docto
ignored Matty's existence, except as she
was the daughter of his dear friend, Mrs
Kcllicott. And all the time the girl wa
raging inwardly at her quondam suitor
''Why don't he askme at once agar"
she queried, mentally; Il am sure HI
loves me, and any one might see that
love him but l can't, and | suppose
shall be an old maid"
But the doctor was not to blame. 4
man of the world would have seer