Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-02-01
A Very Pretty Story.
THY PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE ;
AND THY GOD MY GOD.

into the big leather-covered chair be-
fore his ofiice fire with a weary sigh.
He was a fne-looklng man OF thirty !;
not hand some, but noble and manly
looklng-one 10 be trusted forever, with
his broad while brow and grave. clear
gray eyes. His lips, too, under the iull
brown beard. were as fine as woman's.
without lacking in strength aud firm
ness.
DR.. Andover's ENTHUSIASTICALLY
the poorer class and the children-turn-
ed TO him lnstinctively for advice and
sympathy. His was one Of those grand.
kiugly natures which seem madc for
leaders and comforters. Poor old Betty
Cary, bed-rldden paralytic; could not
speak of him without shedding tears oi
gratitude. Little Jane Ellis, suffering
with au iucurable hip disease, Looked
upon him as a sort Of god upon earth.
There were score more who thought
of him not only as their physician, but
as kind and generous friend who de-
lighted to brighten the lives which
would otherwise be poor aud barren
enough.
But Fate had lately fIowned upon
bin. In the first place, the bank in
which the greater part Of his snug little
fortune was deposited. had tailed 1; and
directly upon this came the news that
some miuing stocks in which he had
invested " ere worhless, or nearly go.
The Doctor did not fear poverty him
self-hs practice brought him COM
Portable income, for the rich appreciat-
ed him as well as the poor but miles
away IN a distant city there was love-
" Girl wiom he had hoped to call wife
By Christmas time.
a grl who, though not wealthy her
self had been extravagan!ly educated
by ler uncle, IN whose luxurious home
she lived. He knew that no slightest
oriyalion had ever come TO her; she was
4 pet.,d darling with hands like baby's.
He ad never questioned If she knew
auyiling about work-!he idea in con-
peclioa with Maud Eyerleth was absurd.
lie bad been able to lake her to home
os foe as the one she would leave, but
that was gone now. Lovely, dainty,
useless as size seemed, DR.. Andoyer
had poured tie whole passion 0! lis
great heart out upon her; and you are
not TO think him weak, because, just at
first. when The news OF bis il,iortune
came TO him, he shrank and trembled
under it thinking Of the girl he loved.
For he must give her up; there vas
no doubt In lis mind about that. He
could not ask Der to share the tate OF a
poor physician, who depended upon his
fees for living.
He even smiled grimly in the midst
Of his suffering at the thought OF Maud
in calico dress mixing up bread or
wasting up dishes with her white slen'
der fingers which he had only seen
toying with her fin, working at em-
broidery, Or dlshlng them over the
ivory keys ola planolorte.
So Dr.. Andover had written her
brave farewell letter just a month be-
fore the time set for ,heir wedding, in.
forming her Of his altered fortunes, aud
releasing her from her engagement 10
him, and he had received no answer,
although il was now Christmas week.
The Doctor was worn out with ex-
posure 10 rough weather and many
sleepless nights. The demands upon
his lime and strength had been greater
than usual, yet he had replied to them
ali. never tail ing in kindly courtesy be-
side lie couch Of Betty Cary any more
than in tie luxurious chamber oi
Madame Golddusi. who feed HIM so
generously.
1t vas Christmas week, and Maud
was to have beeu his own next FRIDAY
night.
This thought tortured him uRceaslng'
IL. together with some words in letter
which had reached him few days be-
fo,e; letter from an acquaintance WHO
was visiting in the city where Maud
lived.
"I met your fance at party last
evening - he ha6 written. Il admire
your choice. She was the brightest,
Ioveliest girl there, and the most grace
fu dancer"
DR.. Andover experienced a cruel
sense Of desolaton as lie turned that
sentence over and over in his mind.
Maud had not loved him after all. She
could be gay and bright when they were
forever separated.
The office fire smoudered 10 ashes,
Dnd still he sat there, weary aud sad,
until from sheer exhaustion. he iell into
an uneasy slumber. About midnight
he awoke, alternately burning and
while a dull pain throbbed
IN his temples.
The Doctors apartment was COM
modious and comfortable. A large
chamber opened from his private office,
which latter opened from a large re-
eiving room. He was his own patient
now, so he swallowed a powder and
hastened 10 bed; and when his land
adv came in the morning to call him,
she found him unable to rise from his
pillow. ieyerish and half delirious.
Christmas morning came bright aud
frosty--a day after good St. Nicholas
old heart, aud the Doctor a trifie better,
alth ough weak and languid, opened his
ewes TO close them again Immediately