The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-05-10
SELECTED SKETCH.
A GOLDEN RING.

big leather-coyered chair before his Office
fire with little weary sigh. He was fine
looking man of thirty; not handsome, but
noble and manly looking-one to be trusted
forever, with his broad white brow and
grave, clear gray eyes. The lips, too, I'M
der the full brown beard, were as fine as
woman's, without lacking in strength and
fimness.
DR.. Andover's patients especially the
poorer class and the children--turned to
him instinctively for advice and sympathy
His was one of those grand, kingly natures
which seem made for leaders and comfort
ers. Poor old Betty Cary, bed-ridden para
lytie, could not speak of him without she'd
ding tears of gratitude. Little Jane Ellis,
suffering with incurable hip disease, looked
upon him as a sort of god upon earth
There were score moro who thought of him
not only as their physician, but as kind
and generous 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 so. The doctor did not fear poverty
himself-his practice brought him COM
Portable income, for the rich appreciated
him as much as the poor; but miles away
in a distant city there was lovely girl
whom he had hoped to call his wife by
Christmas time gfa
A girl who though not wealthy herself,
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 If she knew anything about work
the idea in connection with Maud Ever
leth was absurd. He had been able to take
her 10 home as tine as the one she would
leave, but that was gone now. Lovely,
dainty, useless AZ she seemed, DR.. Andover
had poured the whole passion Of his great
heart out upon her; and yon 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 the fate Of poor physician
who depended upon his fees for living.
He even smiled grinly in the midst of his
suffering, at the thought of Maud in a cali
co dress mixing up bread, or washing dishes
with her white, slender fingers, which he
had only seen toying with fan, working at
embroidery, or dashing over the ivory keys
of piano-forte.
So DIR. Andoyer had written her o brave
farewell letter just month before the time
of their wedding, informing her of his alter
ed fortunes, and releasing her from her en-
gagement to him and be had received no
answer although IL was now Christmas
week.
The doctor was worn out with exposure
to rough weather and many sleepless nights.
The demands upon his time and strength
had been greater than usual, yet he had re-
piled to them all, never failing in kindly
courtesy beside the couch Of Betty Gary
any more than in the luxurious chamber
of Madam Golddust, who feed him SO gen.
erously. - - a
1t was Christmas week and Maud was 30
have been his own next Friday night.
This thought tortured him increasingly,
| together with some words in letter which
reached him q few days before letter
from an acquaintance who was visiting in
the city where Maud lived. 'iasa
81 met your Jiaaacse at a party last even
ing" he had written. 81 admire your
choice. She was the brightest, lovehest girl
there, and the most graceful dancer.p
DIR. Andover experienced cruel sense Of
desolation as he turned that sentence over
and over in his mind Mand 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, al
ternately burning and shivering, with dull
pain throbbing in his temples.
The Doctors apartments were commod-
ious and comfortable. A large chamber
opened from his private Office, which latter
opened from large receiving room. He
was his own patient now, 80 he swallowed q
powder and hastened to bed and when his
landlady came in the morning to call him,
she found him unable to rise from his pill
low, feverish and half dslirious.
Christmas morning came bright and frosty
"a day after good st. Nicholas own heart,
and the doctor, tribe better, although
weak and languid, opened his eyes to close
them again Immediately with little pang.
This was to have been his wedding day
He could hear the merry salutation on the