Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-12-26
The Doctors Christmas.

himself INTO the big leather-cOvered
chair before his Office fire with a
weary sigh. lie was a line-looking !
man of 30; not handsome, but noble
and manly-loOking-one to be
trusted forever, with his broad,
white brow and grave: clear, gray |
eyes. His lips, too, under the full
brown beard, were as fine as a
woman's, without lacking in
strength and Grmness.
DIR. Andovel's was one of those
grand, kindly natures which seem
made for leaders aGd cOmlOrters.
But fate had lately frowned upon
him. The bank in which the great
cr part of his snug little fortune
was deposited mad failed, aad
directly upon this came the news
that some mining stock in which
ne had invested was worthless, or
nearly so. The doctor did not fear
poverty himself-practice brought
him comfortable income, for the
rich appreciated him as we'll as the
poor-but miles away in a distant
city there was lovely girl whom
he had hoped to call wife by Christ
mas time. a girl who, though not
wealthy herself, mad been ex-
travagannly educated by her uncle,
in whose luxurious home she lived.
He had never questioned if she
knew anything about Nork-the
idea in correction with Maud
Everleth was absurd. lie must
give her up; there was no donbf in
his mind about that. He could
not ask her to share the fate OF a
poor physician who depended upon
his fees for a living.
SO DR.. Andover bad written her
brave farewell letter just month
before the time set for their wed.
ding, 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. lie
experienced crdel sense Ofdesola-
tion. Maud had not loved him,
after all.
The Office fire smoldered to
ashes, and still he sat there, still
and sad, until from sheer exbaus-
ton he fell into an uneasy slumber'
| About midnight he awoke, alterna-
tely burning and shiver'ng, while
a dull pain throbbed in his temples;
and when his landlady came in the
morning to call him she found him
unable to rise from his pillow,
leverish and half delirious.
Maud had returned the engage
ment ring. DR.. AndOyer received
the package in silence, aud Mrs.
Derby looked at him with a crest
fallen expression.
q thought you would be pleased,
doctor. Eve come to know Miss
| Everleths handwriting, you see,
and | supposed she had sent you a
| Christmas present. The package
came two days ago when you were
dclirious, anu signed the registry
card and made bold TO send the
! lady telegram, notifying her OF
your illness. | receiver a tele-
gram in return stating that Miss
Everleth would start at once to
come to you. She will probably be
here to-day
Today Mr.. Andover listened
to kind Mrs. Derby in bewilder
ment.
What did it all mean?
Christmas morning came bright
and frosty-a day after ST. Nicho.
lass own heart-aud the doctor,
a triae better, although weak and
lanouid, opened his eyes to close
them again Immediately with a
little pang. This was to have
been his wedding-day.
The landlady, who had been like
/ mother to him, came in presently,
with very smiling expression upon
her broad face.
Many of his grateful patients hat
remembered him with some LITTLE
Christmas token, and Mrs. Derb,
had placed them upon the small
= stand at his bedside, but now sh'
held in her bands small package
addressed TO him in famiia
ladv's had hand registered in
distant city
With trembling fingers he tor'
, off the wrapper of the tiny package
| and opened a jcweler 'scase. There
/. upon its bed of purple lay wide
t gold finger ring, extraordinarily
r wide. the inside of which was com
! pletely covered with fine lettering
, And DIR. Andover read there thC
grand old scriptural words which
, had arisen in the heart Of the cir
= who thus proved himself worthy o
: him. when his letters had come L
}. her after many weary days o
, delay:
C Entreat me not to leave thee, OI
e to return from following after thee
= for whittier tnou goest will 90, ant
where thou lodgest will lodge; thy
people shall be my people, and th.
c God my God; whore thou diest
j. will die, and there will | be buried
the Lord to do so to me and NOR,
p also, if aught but death part me an'
thee.
II WAS nearly noon when MauC