Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-01-31

words vhich had ani6ep In tksheSft o
the girl, Who thus proved hefsell
worthy Of him, when his letter had
delay: ---r-. x -
"Entseat me not to leave then or te
return from following after thee; fol
Mhlther thou goe4t ! will 60, and where
thou lodgest / viii lodge; tky people
shaii be my people, and. thy 0od nv
God; where thou disst will die, and
there Will be buried; the Lord do 90
to me and more also, II aueht but
death part thee and me-"
Mrs. Derby slippet out of the room,
crying herself at the sight of Dr.. Ando.
yer, usually 90 calm, and strong. and
selkpo possessed, sobbing like 4 two.year
old baby over Maud's Christmas token.
II was nearly noon when Maud Her.
self came. She had removed her wfdps
In Mrs. Derby's room,, and after q liefit
tap on the sick man's door, she enter
Alex. Andover had theueht her
lovely In her exquisite party, and car-
riage, and home toilets; but never had
she seemed 30 sweet and gracious and
wOmanly as now, when In her plain
gray travelling costume, her lovely
face little pale with weariness and ex.
citement, her mouth tremul0us, and
her dark eyes glowing with solemn
light, she glfded in her swift, noiseless
way across the room to his side.
: my darling? My own, sweet, true-
hearted darling; cried the Doctor,
clasping both arms about her and draw.
ing her face down to his own,
And presently. after the first greet
ings were over, Maud explained:
Your letter was delayed in some
way. did not get It until week AGO.
You remember the great piece Of gold
which You sent me from California two
yesrs ago? Well, when I got your let.
ter took that gold to jeweler and had
it made into ring And then, after
received Mrs. Darby telegram, made
uncle promise, to bring me to you
ct once. would have come alone II he
had not come with me, horrible and
unconventional a. my fashionable
friends would have called me. Why
Alex. what silly butterfly you must
have thought me! Do you think II
would care for riches without you, dear?
And do you think that I am good for
nothing but to dance the german and to
play the piano? assure you, sir'-
and here she doubled one small white
fist in q very threatening fashion under
his very nose-''this hand, which you
30 weak and 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 |
and am sure shall make |
q most excellent wife for poor man.
THAT is, Alex. land here she flashed |
up gloriously-''if you will have me-"
DR.. Andover smothered her last words
against his shoulder, and as soon as |
she could free herself from his uncere-
monious embrace, she began anew to |
coax and wheedle him into consenting |
to some plan of her own, to which at |
first he objected, but finally yielded /;
and the result was that at O'Clock that |
afternoon Maud Everleth was made |
DR.. Alex. Andover's wife, and at once |
her authority by taking upon
herself the duties of q nurse.
Of course under such treatment he |
recovered rapidly. and every day grew |
to appreciate more and more the loyalty |
and worth of the sweet little woman
who had not failed him in his dark
hour.-FSreside Companion.