Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-12-05
IN THE GLASS.

The village of Slapton was as quiet q
village as can be. There are few houses
in it; aud the congregation that gather
ed every SN0day at the parish church
came chiefly from the farms that were
scattered broadcast over the surrounding
country.
The vicar was the Rev. Herbert Gard
ner, and he was the happy father Of
some half dozen children, the Oldest of
whom, Matte, who was q charming
girl of 20. There was little society in
the village, and Mattie's chief ideas of
the world at large were drawn from the
occasional visits she made to relative
who lived in the neighboring country
town. Still, though she was bomely
and unsnphisticated, there was none Of
that affected simplicity you 80 often see
in girls.
She was frank, fearless, outspoken
girl, full of life and spirits, and never go
happy as when gambling about the old
vicarage garden, picking bssketfuls Of
roses for some sick boy or girl and carry
ing them with sunshine into some dark
ened home.
And in such works Of real lave and
charity the last few y+als of her life had
been mainly spent. Her father called
her his "curate;;" and, as the living was
. small one, she was the only curate he
had.
Matte had been free as yet from
''heart-disease," though q neighboring
'sQuire's son had made several aw b ward
attempts At love making, and, though
Matte quite recognized the compile
ment he paid her, she never for q me-
ment regarded him in any other light
h r.
perfectly heart.whole. This happen.
ed when she was 18, and the time had
gone on smoothly enough. and at 20 she
was still happy In her uneventful lot
But the smooth run of life's wheels
was interrupted ut last, and the wheels
were jOlted out of their usual track: for
about this time there came to The vii
lage young surgeon who was locking
out for a good opening for praciice. and
had determined to settle down here.
As matter of course be and Matte
often met in the houses of the poor. ana
although not word of love had passed
between them, people began to associate
their names together, and TO sueak of
what might happen as u certainty.
One day when Matte was, as usual.
among her roses. a servant came to cav
that DR.. Robertson had asked for her
father. anG, as he was from home. for
her. When she entered the room with
her basket. of roses on her arm. the
doctor mig gbt,E ell be excused If he wond
cred which were the fatrer-the roses in
the basket or the rose with the basket
Ii such thoughts passed through his
mind he quickly put them aside, for he
said:
II came to ask Mr.. Gardner IL he
would step down to old Silas Jones's.
who ia very i'll with fever. Thev are
very poor. and any help you could give
them would be of more use than medf.
cine"
Papa Is from home," she said, land
will not return till Tomorrow. But I
Will take them some beef lea and port.
u you think that would be good for
him
"Nothing could be better" said the
doctor. But you must not 20 there
yourself, for fear of Injection. am 20.
Ing past the house. and will take them
myself, ffyou will give them to me-
mo, thank you. DOCTOR" said Miss
Matte. 1 never shirk my duty nor
delegate 1t to others, SO / will take them
Anyway, let me walk with you. If
you are going now, and we can talk
about the case as we GO
In few minutes the beef tea and the
wine were ready, aud Matte sallied
forth with the doctor. And this wss the
way they talked about the case:
Its beautiful day, isn't it?"
"GloriOus !" said Matte.
"What has become of you in the even.
ings lately? used to zee you frequent
ly, but DOW you are never to be seen. -
minnie has not been well lately, 90
! nave stayed 1T home OIL her account.
1t is pleasant to know that some one
mieses me-" she said, laughing.
miss you q great deal. Miss Matte
almost ~ much, if not quite az much.
~ your own people do. This is Jones's
cottage so now let me take the things
in"
said Matte.
mo. decidedly no." said the doctor
1T can never be your duty to rush into
Sor danger, am obIioed n