The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-11-29
IN THE

A. ~ 1870
cred every sunday at the parish
church came broadcast over the sur
rounding country.
The vicar was the Rev. Herbert
Gardner, and he was the happy faith
er of some half a dozen children, the
eldest of whom. Matte, was a char
ming girl of twenty.
There was liuie society In the VII
lage, and Matties chief ideas OF the
world at large were drawn from the
occasional visits she made to a rela-
tive who lived in the neigbboring
country town. f.
Stili, though, she w;s homely and
unsophisticated, there was none OF
that affected simplicity you often see
in girls.
She was a frank, fearless, outspo-
ken girl, full OF life and spirits, aud
never 80 happy as when rambling
about the old vicarage garden, pick
ing basketfuls of ose for some sick
boy or girl and carrying with them
sunshine into some darkened. dis
NAL home.
And in such words 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, sue was
the only curate that he had.
Matte had been free as yet from
heart disease" though a neighbor-
ing sources son had made several
awkward attempts at love making
and, though Matte quite recognized
the compliment NJ pad her, she
never Tor . moment regarded INN III
any other llgnt taan - friend, and
remained herself perfectly neart
whole.
This had happened when she was
eighteen, and time had gone on
smoothly enough. and at twenty she
was still happy in her uneventful
lot.
But the smooth run of life's wheel.
was interrupted at last and the
wheels were jolted out of their usua.
track; for about this time there came
to the village "A young surgeon who
was looking out for a good opening
for practice and had determined t.
settle down here.
As a matter of course he ane
Matte often met in the houses OF the
poor, and, althoughsno a word o
love passed between them, people
began to associate their names to
gether and to speak of what nigh
happen as a certainty.
One DIV when Matte was, as usu
al, among her roses, a servant came
10 saw that DR.. Robertson had asked
for her father, and, as he was iron
home, for her.
When she entered the room witt
a basket of roses on her arm, The
doctor might well be excused if h'
wondered which we're the fairer-
the rose in the basket or the ros'
with the basket. If such Thoughts
passed through his mind he quietly
put them aside, for ue said:
Icame to ask Mr., Gardner if be
would step down to old Silas Jones
who is very i'll with fever. They arr
very poor, and any help you could
give them would be more use than
medicine"
Papa is from home" she said
"and will not return until to-mor
row. But | will take them some
beef tea and port, if you think tina
would be good for him."
Nothing could be better" SAID
the doctor. But you must not g
there yourself for fear of infection.
am going past the house and vii
take them myself if you will Civ,
them to me-"
mo, thank you, DOCTOR said Mis-
Matte. Il never shirk my duty, no
delegate it to others, SO | will take
them myself"
LET me walk with you if you are
going now, and we can talk about
the case as We GO"
In a few minutes the beef tea ane
wine were ready and Matte sailed
forth with the doctor.
And this was the way they talked
about the case:
Its a beautiful day, isn't it," SAT-
the doctor.
GLORIOUS J"
"What has become of you in tn
evenings lately? 1 used to see yo'
frequently, but now you are never t
be SEEN"
Minnie has not been very wei
lately, SO | have staid at home o.
her account. 1t is pleasant to kno,
that some one misses me-" she said
laughing.
Il miss you a great deal, Mis-
Matte almost as much, if not quit
as much, as your w people dc
This is Jones' cottage; SO now lie
me take the things in"
mo, indeed; | shall go in myself,
said Matte.
mo, decidedly no." said the doc
tor. ut can never be your duty t
rush into uncalled-for danger. ] an
obliged to seethese people, so1tt m
take the basket in."
From that day it began TO dawI
on Mattie's heart that there was on
man who missed her when she Wa
absent and who tried to keep her GU
of danger.
And little by little this though
grew bigger and took root, unit
there came a sort of echo TO 1t, whlc
said:
81 miss him, too. l wish he ha
not to risk his life by going to sc
fever cases."
And from that day there was les
cordial friendship and there Wa
more shy reserve in her intercours
with the doctor.
: And sometimes DR.. Robertson di'
not know what to make of it, AM
one evening he said:
"What have | done to vex yot
Matte?
To which she said:
"vex me? Why, nothing, {
coursel What ever made you thin
you hao?"
my own stupidity, | suppose,
replied be. Il should be very sorr
TO vex you"
'Then don't talk about it, else yo