Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-02-01

| han0 ana reglsleIeu III ulothhS CaIJ.
Maud had returned the engagement
ring. DR.. Andover received the pack
age in silence. and Mrs. Derby locke
at him with a crestlallen expression.
II thought you would be so plessed
D Doctor. I'ye come 10 know Miss Ever
leth's handwriting, you see. and | sup
posed she had sent you Chrlstma'
present. The package came two day
ago when you were dolirious, aud
signed the registry card, and made boil
10 seud the lady telegram notifying
her of your illness. And, DR.. Andoyer
can you bear some pleasant news!
received telegram in return, stating
that Miss Everlelh would start at ono
to come to town. Now that is the sor
of a girl TO make q man good wife
She will probably be here today."
To-day! DR.. Andoyer listened II
kind Mrs. Derby 10 bewilderment
What did it all mean:
With trembling fingers he tore OF
the wrapper of the tiny package, ant
opened jewellers case.
There, upon its bed of purple, lay
wide gold 6nger-rlng, extraoldlnarll.
wide, the inside of which was complete
" covered with fine lettering. Ant
DIR. Andover read slowly through
binding, rapturous tears the words
which the jewellers instruments haC
traced there-the grand old Scripture
words which had arisen In the heart o.
the girl, who lLus proved herself wor-
thy of him, when his letter had come
10 her after many weary days OF delay
"Entreat me not 10 leave thee, or to
return from following after th e; fol
whilher thou goest l will go, and
where thou lodgest 1 will lodge; Thy
people shall be my people, and thy
God my God; where thou diest Will
die. and there will be buried; the
Lord do so 10 me and more also, il
aught bu. death part thee and me-"
Mrs. Derby shipped out of The room,
crying herself at the sight ofDr. Ando'
yer. usually so calm, aud strong, and
self possessed. sobbing like a two-year-
old baby over Maud's Christmas tok'
en-.
It was nearly noon when Maud her
self came. She had removed her wraps
in Mrs. Derby's room, and after light
tap on the sick mans door, she en-
tered,
Alex. Andover bad thought her love-
" in her exquisite party, and carriage,
and home toilets; but never had she
seemed so sweet and gracious and
womaniy as now, when in her plals
gray travelling costume, her lovely face
a little pale with WEAKNESS and excite
ment, her mouth tremulous, and her
dark eyes glowing with solemn light
abe elided in her swift, noiseless way
across the room to his eide.
my darling! My own, sweet true
hearted darling;" cred the Doctor,
clasp,ug both arms about her and
drawing her face down to his own.
And presently. after the FIRST greetings
were over, Maud explalnedi
s.Your letter was delayed in some
way, I did not get it until week ago.
You remember the great piece OF gold
which YOU sent me from California two
years agos Well, when 1 got your
letter took that gold 10 q jeweler and
had it made into ring. And them
after received Mrs. Derby's telegram,
I made uncle promise to bring me TO
Won at once. would nave come alone
if he had come not with me horrible and
unconventional as my fashionable
friends would have called me. Why
Alex, what a silly butterfly you must
have thought me! Do you think L
would care for riches without you, dear!
And do you think that ! am good Tor
nothing but 10 dance the german and
to play the piano. l assure you SIR
and here she doubled one small white
fist in a very threatening fashion under
his very nose-"ths hand, which you
G onsider so weak aud useless, can make
most delicious bread and pies and cakes;
can even make beds, and sweep and
wash dishes. Aunt Alice never neg
lected that most important part OF my
education, and am sure shall make
a most excellent wife for poor man.
That is. Alex. land here she flashed
up sJoriously-"if you will have me-"
Dr. Andoyer SmotheTed her last
words against his shoulder, aud as soon
~ abe could free herself from his I'M
embrace, sic began anew
10 coax and wheeile him into consent
ing to some plan Of her own, 10 which
at first he objected, but finally yielded;
and the result was that at 5 o'clock that
afternoon Maud Everleth was made DIR.
Alex. Audoyer's wife, and at once as
serted her authority by taking upon her.
self the duties of a nurse.
OF course under. such treatment ne
recovered rapidly, and every day grew
to appreciate more and more the loyal
ty and worth OF the sweet little woman
who had not failed him in his dark hour.
Fireside Companion.
In railroad Cur the seats were all
tull except one, which was occupied by
a pleasan t-looking Irishman. and at
one of the stations couple Of evident"
il, weli.hred and intellicent Young ladies