Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-25
Gaks aro Sketftes.
4 PRETTY sfoRY.

the big leather covered chair before his
Office fire with a weary sigh. He was q
6De looking man OF 80: not handsome.
but noble and anly-looking-one to be
trusted forever. with bis broad, white brow
and grave. clear, gray eyes. His lips.
too, under the full brown beard were as
6ne as . woman's without lacking in
strength and firmness.
DIR. Andover's patients-especiallv the
poorer class and the children-turned to
him instinctiyely for advice ana sympathy.
His one Of those grand, kingly natures
which seem made for leaders and COM
foriers. Poor old Betty Cary, bed-rid-
den paralytic. could not speak Of him
without shedding tears of gratitude. Lit
tie Jane Ellis, suffering with an incurable
hip disease, looked upon him as a sort Of
god upon earth. There were score more
who thought of him not only as their ply
stefan, 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 fortune was deposited
had failed; and directly upon this came
the news that some mining stock in which
he had invested was worthless, or nearly
50. The doctor did not fear poverty him
selEhis practice brought him comfort
able income, for the rich appreciated him
~ well a. the poor; but miles away in a
distant city there was lovely girl whom
ne had hoped to call wife by Christmas
time.
A girl who, though not wealthy herself
had been extravagantly educated by her
uncle, in whose luxurious home she lived.
He knew that not the slightest privaiion
had come to her; she was petted darling
with hands like babv's. He had never
questioned il she knew anything about
work--the idea in connection with Maud
Everleth was absurd. lie had been able
to take her to a home as fine as the one
she would leave, but that was gone now.
Lovely, dainty. useless as she seemed,
DIR. Andover had poured the whole pas
ZION Of his great heart out upon her; and
you are not to think him weak. because
lust at first when the news of his i'll for
tune came to him, he shrank and trembled
under it thinking of the girl he loved.
For he must give her up; there wss
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 grmly in the midst of
his suffering at the thought of Maud in Il
calico dress mixing up bread or washing
up dishes with her white, slender fingers,
which he had only seen toying with her
tan, working at embroidery, or dashing
over the keys OF piano forte.
So DIR. Andover had written her brave
farewell letter just month before the
time set for their wedding. informing her
of his altered fortunes and releasing her
from her engagement to him and he had
received no answer, although it was now
Christmas week.
The doctor was worn out with exposure
TO rough weather and many sleepless
nights. The demand upon his time and
strength had been greater than usual. yet
he had replied to them all. never failing
in kindly courtesy beside the couch OF
Betty Garry any more than in the luxuri-
Gus chamber of Madam Golddust, who
feed him so generously.
II was Christmas week. and Maud was
to have been his own next FRIDAY night
This thought tortured him increasingly
together with some words in a letter
which had reached him few DAYS before /;
u iCtttt iIOuI WHO was
visiting in the city where Maud lived
IL met your 'iianeee' at a party last
evening"" he had written. admire your
choice. She was the brightest. loveliest
there. and the most graceful dancer.
DIR. Andover experienced a cruel sense
Of desolation as he 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 sepa-
rated.
The Office fire smouldered to ashes, and
still he sat there, still and sad. until from
sheer exhaustion. he fell into an uneasy
slumber. About midnight he awoke al
ternately burning and shivering while a
dull pain throbbed in his temples.
The doctors apartments were commo
dious and comfortable. A large chamber
opened from his private office. which latter
opened from large receiving room. lie
was his own patient now. so he FASTENED
to bed and when his landlady came in
the morning to call him. she found him
unable to rise from his pillow, feverish
and half delirious.
Christmas morning came bright and
frosty-a day after good st. Nicholas own
heart, and the doctor a trifle 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 saluations on
the street, the clash of sleigh-bells and
the pealing organ from ST. Paul's church
over the way and the sunlight and mirtf
and gladness made his own pain seem the
kecner-just for moment until his gen
erous heart could gather strength to reas
sert itself and be glad because others were
glad.
The landlady who had been like moth
err to him. came in presently with a smil
ing expression upon her broad tace.
Many of his greatful patients had re
membered him with some grateful Christ
mas token. and Mrs. Derby had PLACED
them upon the stand at his bedside; bu
now she held in her hands small pack
age addressed to him in q familiar lady.
hand and registered in distant city.
Maud had returned the engagement
ring. DR.. Andover received the packag,
in silence. and Mrs. Derby looked at hin
with crestfallen expression.
II thounht You would be pleased. Doc
tor. I've come to know Miss Everleth'.
handwriting you see. aud suppose she
had sent you Christmas present. The
packAre came two DAYS 400 when vor