The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-09-19
|, ,sr,.tp,.s morn,nr came pright and

heart-and the uOctOr, tiho oo''SA,
although weak and languid, opened
his eyes TO close them again imme-
diatelv with little pang. Ihls was 10
have been his wedding day! de could
hear the merry salutations on the
street, the clash of sleigh-bells. ana
the pealing organ from St Paui's
church over the way; and the sunilght
and mirth and gladness made his own
pain seem the keener-just for NOM,
emit, until his generous heart couia
gather strength TO reassert ITSELF anu
be glad because others were glad:
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 had
remembered him with some little
Christmas token, and Mrs. DERBY had
placed them upon the stand at his ped
side; but now she held in her hands
small package addressed to him In q
familiar lady's hand and registered
in distant city. tf ..'.
Maud had returned the engagement
ring. Dr. Andover received the pack,
age in silence, and Mrs. Derby looked
at him with crestfallen expression.
II thought YOU would be pleased,
doctor. I've come to know Miss Ever
leth's handwriting you see, and sup
posed she had sent you Christmas
present. The package came two days
ago when you were delirious, ana l
signed the registry-card and mace
bold TO send the lady telegram. noti-
fyiug her of your illness. And. Ut.
Andover. can you bear some pleasant
uewsp received telegram in return
stating that Miss Everleth would start
at once TO come TO you. Now that Is
the sort of girl to make a man GOOD
wife. She will probably be here to
: day.,
, To-day! Doctor Andover listened to
: kind Mrs. Derby in bewilderment
8 What did it all mean?
: With trembling fingers he tore OIL the
wrapper of the tiny package, and
opened jewelers. case. There upon
= its bed of purple lay wide. gold nm
: per-ring, extraordinarily wide, the In.
o Side of which was completely covered
9 with fine lettering. And DR.. And0ver
a read slowly, through blind rapturous
r tears, the words which the jeweler' S In.
;. strument had traced there-the grand
l. old Scriptural words which had arisen
q in the heart OF the girl, who thus
J. proved herself worthy of him, when
If his letter had come TO her after many
q weary days of delay
Is ..Entreat me not to leave thee, or u
n return from following after thee; fol
N whittier thou goest l will go. ant
Or where thou lodgest l will lodge; thy
people shall be my people. and thy Coz
IN nv God; where thou diest l will die
in and there will be buried; the Lore
IT. do so to me and more also, II augh
d, but death part me and thee"
VS. Mrs. Derby slipped out OF the room
he CRYING herself, at the sight of DIR. And
ly over, usually SO calm and strong an
ty self-possessed, crying like two-yeal
q old baby, over Maud's Christmas toker
~ 1t was nearly noon when Maud hel
ut self came. She had removed he
as wraps in Mrs. Derby's room, and ate
to alight tap on the sick mans door 81
irl entered.
ad Alexander Andover had thought hi
Ter lovely in her exquisite party and ca
he rage and home toilets; but never ha
est she seemed so sweet and gracious m
,he womanly as now when in her pla
0 a gray travelling costume, her lovely Ia
If a little pale with WEAKNESS and exert
the ment, her mouth tremulous. and n
eth dark eyes glowing with solemn iigh
AXE she glided in her swift noiseless WI
she across the room to his side.
!. my darling! My own, sweet. tru
ed, hearted darlingr' cried the docto
lole clasping both arms about her and dra
pom ing her face down to his own.
eak And presently, after the first gree
of ing was over, Maud explained
ank "Your letter was delayed in sor
the way. did not get it until week &c
her You remember the great piece of &c
lind YOU sent me from California two yea
to ago? Well, when ] got your letter,
Who took that gold to a jeweler, and had
mo. made into ring. And then after
|. Of received Mrs. Derby's telegram ma
aud uncle promise to bring me to you
or once. would have come alone If
der had not come with me, horrible a
uing unconventional as my fashiona
or friends would have called me. WI
Alexander, what silly butterfly J
ar n must have thought me! Do you thi
he / would caro- for riches without "
in And do you think am good for no
nes ing but to dance the German and p
ACE. the pianoP assure you, SIR"
NO here she doubled one small, wi
lrist- hand In threatening Hann VIZ
his very nose-'this hand which
OK. consider so weak and useless can m
oanv most delicious bread and pies
mon cakes; can even make beds and swe
,ater and wash dishes. Aunt Alice ne
them neglected the most important part
rtesv my education, and l am sure 81
nny make q most excellent wife for q
er of man. That Is, ALEXANDER Manu
a so she flushed up gloriously-'if you
have me-" s.
Naud DIR. Andover smothered the
riday words against his shoulder. and as
n nm as she could free herself from his
worlds acrimonious embrace she began n
i'm n to coax and wheedle him into s.
a ac- new plan of her own. to which he
a citv first objected, but finally yielded.
result was that at five o'clock that
last ternoon Maud Everleth was made
imire Alexander Andover's wife, and ut (
btest asserted her authority by taking I