The Northern Pacific farmer., 1882-11-09
IN THE GLASS.

chiefly from the farms that were scat
tered broadcast over the surrounding
country.
The vicar was the Rev. Herbert Card
ner, and he was the happy father OF
some half dozen children, the eldest
of whom, Matte, was a charming girl of
twenty. There was little society in the
village, and Mattie's chief ideas of the
world at large were drawn from the oc-
casional visits she made to relatives who
lived in the heighboring county town.
Still, though she was homely and un-
sophisticated, there was none of that af
fected simplicity you so often see in
girls.
She was a flank, fearless, outspoken
girl, full of life and spirits, and never so
happy as when rambling about the old
acreage garden, picking basketfuls Of
roses for some sick boy or girl and carry
ING with them sunshine into some dark
ened home.
And in such works Of real love and
charity the last few years Of her life had
been mainly spent. Her father called
her his curate;" and, as the living was
a small one, che was the only curate he
had.
Matte had been free as yet from
"heart disease" though a neighboring
squire's son had made several awk ward
attempts at love-making; and, although
Matte quite recognized the compliment
he paid her, she never for a moment
regarded him in any other light than as
friend, and remained herself perfect
ly heart-whole. This had happened
when she was eighteen, and time had
she was still happy in her uneventful lot.
But the smooth run of life's wheels
were interrupted at last and the wheels
were joted out Of their usual track; for
about this time there came to the village
a young surgeon who was looking out
for good opening for practice and had
determined to settle down here. AS a
matter of course, he and Matte often
met in the house of the poor, and, al
though not word of love passed be-
tween them, people began to associate
their names toget Ter, and to speak of
what might happen as certainty.
One day when Matte was, as usual,
amongst her roses, a servant came to
say that Dr. Robertson had asked for
her father, and, as he was from home,
for her. When she entered the room
with her basket of roses on her arm, the
doctor might we'll be excused if he won
dered which were the fairer-the roses
in the basket or the rose with the bask-
ct. If such thoughts passed through his
mind he quickly put them aside, for he
said:
II came to ask Mr.. Gardener if he
would step down to old Silas Jones,
who is very ill with fever. They are
very poor, and any help you could give
would be of more use than medicine"
Papa is from home," she said. "and
will not be home till tomorrow. But I
will take them some beaf-tea and port,
if you think that would be good for
him"
"Nothing could be BETTER" said the
doctor: "But you must not 60 there
yourself for fear Of infection. I am 60
ing past the house and will take them
myself ii you will give them to me-"
mo, thank you DOCTOR" said Miss
Matte II never shirk my duty nor
delegate it to others, so will take them
myself"
"Anyway, let me walk with you if you
are going now and we can talk about the
case as we co.
In a few minutes the beef-tea and the
wine were ready and Matte sailed forth
with the doctor. And this was the way
they talked about the case:
TITS a beautiful ,iay, isn't it?'
"Glorious!' said Matte.
"What has become of you in the ev-
enings lately? / used to see you fire.
Quently, but now you are never to be
seen."
"Minnie has not been we'll lately, 70
have staid at home OH her account 1t
is pleasant to know that some one misses
me-" she said, laughing.
II miss you a great deal, Miss Matte
almost as much, if not quite as much
as your own people do. This is Jones
cottage; 80 now let me take the things
H."
:"No, indeed; I shall go in myself
"No, decidedly no." said the doctor.
1T can never be your duty to rush into
uncalled for danger. I am obliged to
see these people, so let me take tie bas-
ket in."
From that day it began to daw wn on
Mattie's heart that there was one man
who missed her when she was absent
and tried to keep her out Of danger.
And little by little this thoug ght grew
bigger and took root, until there came a
sort of echo to it, which said, II miss
him, too. wish he had not to risk bic
life by going to see fever cases."
And from that day there was less cor.
dial friendship and there was more shy
reserve in her intercourse with the doc.
tor. And sometimes Doctor Robertson
did not know what to make of it, and
one evening he said:
"What have l done to vex you, Miss
Mattie?"
To which she replied: "Vex mel Why,
nothing, Of course! Whatever made you
think you had?"
my own stupidity, I suppose" re.
piled he. II should be very sorry to
vex you, Miss Mattie."
''Then don't talk about it, else you
WILL" she said
"What lovely rose that is! Would
you mind giving it to me to show me that
you are not vex.d?" said the doctor.
There are plenty on that bush." she
answered: "You can take as many as
you like"
But won't you give that one? am
away AO1 d l0I d1lU IL WILL W
q psake-if you viii give it to me.
DO, please"
IF yoa really want it you shall have
it." she said, as she took it out of her
bosom and gave it to him.
And he, as he pinned it in his coat,
said: It will remind me of a rose even
fairer than itself"
"For shame. doctor" said Miss Matte.
II will not stop to hear such grose
hattery"-and away She ran towarl the
house.
''Shake hands frst," he cried. II am
going to morrow, early. One may get
smashed up on the journey, so should
like to part friends. It is long way to
Manchester"
She gave him her hand, saying: "Good.
bye, Doctor Robertson; I wish you q
pleasant Journey"
He had been gone about a week when,
as Matte was coming lown the street, ii
street it could be ca.;ed, the doctors
housekeeper was standing at the door
with paper in her hand When Matte
drew near, the old w>man cried out: