Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-01-31


Treasurer Of the congregation.
Jacob 81. Brubeck was elected. or
dained, and installed ~ Deacon In 1881
MATTHEW PILsoN.
January 18th, 1852.
l ------s-DAS s .------ -
A vsry Pretty Story.
THY PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE
AND THY GOD MY GOD. e
DIR. Alex. And over threw himself
into the big leather,c0vered chair be-
fore his office fire with q weary siah,
He was q fine-lOokfng man of thirty
not handsome, but noble and manly.
looking gone to be trusted forever, with
his broad white brow and grave, oleal
gray eyes. His lips, too, under the full
brown beard, were as fine as q womsu's
| without lacking in strength and frm
ness. N'--'
DIR. Andover's patients- especially
the poorer class and the children
turned to him instinotively for advice
and sympathy. His was one Of those
grand. kingly natures which seem made
for leaders and comforters. Poor old
Betty Cary, bedridden paralytic,
could not speak of him without shed.
ding tears OF gratitude. Little Jane
Ellis, suffering with an incurable hip
disease, looked upon him as q sort Of
god upon earth. There were q score
more who thought of him not only as
their physician, but as. kind and gen.
erous friend who delighted to brighten
the lives which would otherwise be
poor and barren enough.
But Fate had lately frowned upon
him. In the first place, the bank in
which the greater part of his snug little
fortune was deposited, had failed; and
directly upon this came the news that
some mining stocks in which he had
invested were worthless, or nearly 30.
The Doctor did not fear poverty him.
se!f-his practice brought him q COM
Portable income, for the rich appreciate
ed him a. well - the poor but miles
away in distant city there was love.
ly girl whom he had hoped to call wife
by Christmas time.
A girl who, though not wealthy her
self, had been extravagantly educated
by her uncle. in whose luxurious home
she lived. He knew that no slightest
privation had ever come to her; she
was petted darling with hands like
baby's. He had never questioned II she
knew anything about work-the idea
In connection with Maud Everleth was
absurd. He had been able to take her
to home as fine rs the one she would
leave, but that was gone now. Lovely,
dainty, useless as she seemed, DR.. An.
his great heart out upon her; and you
are not to think him weak, because,
just at first, when the news of his i'll.
fortune came to him, he shrank and
trembled under it thinking of the girl
he loved.
For he must give her up there was
no doubt In his mind about that. He
could not ask her to share thej fate of a
poor physician, who depended upon his
fees for living.
He even smiled grimly in the midst
of his suffering at the thought of Maud
in calico dress mixing up bread or
washing up dishes with her white, slen-
der fingers, which he had only seen
toying with her fan. working at en-
briodery, or dashing them over the ivory
keys Of a pianofort.
So DIR. Andover had written her
brave farewell letter just month before
the timo set TOR their wedding, inform
ing her of his altered fortunes, and re-
leasing her from her engagement to
him, and he had received no answer,
although 1t was now Christmas week.
The Doctor was worn out with expo
sure to rough weather and many sleep
less nights. The demands upon his
time and strength had been greater
than usual, yet he had replied to them
all, never failing in kindly courtesy
beside the couch of Betty Cary any
more than in the luxurious chamber of
H~1A T.
generously.
1t was Christmas week, and Maud
was to have been his own next Friday
night.
This thought tortured him enceasing-
ly, together with some words in let
ter which had reached him q few days
before; letter from an acquaintance
who was visiting In the city where
Maud lived.
II met your Rance at party last ev-
ening," he had written. II admire
your choice. She was the brightest,
loveliest girl there, and the most grace
full dancer"
DIR. AndOver experienced q cruel
sense of desolatiOn as he turned that
sentence over and over in his mind.
Maud had not loved him after all. She
could be gay and bright when they were
forever separated.
The office fire smouldered to ashes,
and still he sat there, weary and sad,
until from sheer exhaustion, he fell into
an uneasy slumber. About midnight
he awoke, alternately burning and shiv-
ering, while dull pain throbbed in
his temples.
Tne Doctors apartments were com.
modious and comfortable. A large
chamber opened from his private office,
which latter opened from q large re.
ceiving room. He was his own patient
now, 80 he swallowed a powder and
hastened to bed; and when his land
lady came in the morning to call him,
she found him unable to rise from his
pillow, feverish and half delirious.
Christmas morning came bright and
frosty-a day after good st. Nicholas's
own heart, and the Doctor, trifle bet
ter ; although weak and languid, opened
his eyes to close them again immediate.
~ with little pang. This was to have
been his wedding. day! He could hear
the merry salutations on the street, the
clash of sleigh bells, and the pealing
organ from st. Paups church over the
way and the sunlight, and mirth, and
gladness made his own pain seem the
keener-just for q moment, until his
generous heart could gather strength to
reassert itself and he glad because others
were glad.
The landlady, who had been like a
mother to him, came in presently with
very smiling expression upon her
broad face.
Many of his grateful patients had re-.
membefed him with some little Christ
mas tokens, and Mrs. Derby had placed
them upon the stand at his bedside; but
now she held in her hands small pack.
age addressed to him in familiar Ia
dy's hand and registered in q distant
city.
Maud had returned the engagement
ring. DIR. Andover received the pack
age in silence, and Mrs. Derby looked
at him with a crestfallen expression.
II thought you would be so pleased,
Doctor. I've come to know Miss Ever.
leth's handwriting, you see, and sup
posed she had sent you Christmas
present. The package came two days
ago when you were delirious, and
signed the registry card, and made bold
to send the lady telegram notifying
her of your illness. And DR.. Andovef,
can you hear some pleasant news?
received telegram In return, stating
that Mies Ev0rleth would start at once