The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-12-23

night;
For not ons little stocking missing from the row.
Bat OH he empty tears that pillows wst
Eor sSss. no child sonisAs ma many a Soass now,
WHARF httie sock WAS hanging only year ago.
And .hen our va v: saasa We stood little apart
Who leoks On her anwon seockiags amid her falling
Whose darling is keeping Christmas in Christs eternal
THE DOCTOR's CHRISTMAS.
DR.. Alexander Andover threw himself
into the big leather-covered chair be-
fore his Office FIRE with weary sigh. He
was fine-looking man of so; not hand
some, bat noble and manly-looking lone
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 q woman's, without lack
ing in strength and 6rmness.
DR.. Andover's was one Of those grand,
kindly natures which seem made for lead
ers and comforters. But fate had lately
frowned upon him. The bank in which
the greater part Of his snug little fortune
was deposited had failed, and directly up
on this came the news that some mining
stock in which he had invested was worth
less, or nearly so. The doctor did not
| fear poverty himself-practice brought
him comfortable income, for the rich ap-
preciated him as well as the poor-but miles
away in distant city there was lovely
girl whom he 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 had never questioned
if she knew anything about work-the
idea in connectian with Maud Everleth
was absurd. He must give her up; there
was no doubt in his mind about that.
He could not ask her to share the fate of
poor physician who depended upon his
fees for a living.
SO Dr. 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 He experienced a
cruel sense of desolation. Maud had not
loved him, after all.
The office fire smouldered to ashes, and
otitl HC S0C tACAC3 oeAAl 0uO eau, uutIi lIOIA
sheer exhaustion he fell into an uneasy
slumber. About midnight he awoke, al
ternately burning and shivering, while
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 fev,.ish and half deliri-
GUS.
Maud hal retu I'd the engagement
ring. D. = II the package
! in siienct, a4'i Ire. D. ised at him
with cresttalicn expi,: =,
81 thought you wouid be pleased, doc
tor I've come to know Miss Everleth's
handwriting, you see, and supposed she
had sent you Christmas present. The
package came two days ago when you
were deirous, and l signed the registry
card and made bold to send the lady a
telegram, notifying her of your illness. l
received telegram IN return stating that
Miss Everleth would start at once to come
to you. Sne will probably be here to-
day"
"To-day" Mr.. Andover listened to
kind Mrs. Derby in bewlderment. What
did it all mean?
Christmas morning came bright and
frosty-a day after St. Nicholas's own
heart-and the doctor, tri1e better, al
though weak and languid, opened his
eyes to close them again Immediately
with little pang. This was to have
been his wedding-day.
The landlady, who had been like a
mother to him, came in presently, with
very smiling expression upon her broad
face.
Many of his grateful patients had re-
membered him with some little Christ
mas token, and Mrs. Derby had placed
them upon the small stand at his bedside,
but now she held in her hands small
package addressed to him in familiar
iady's hand and registered in distant
city.
With trembling fingers he tore off the
wrapper of the tiny package, and opened
a jewelers. case. There upon its bed OF
purple lay a wide, gold finger ring, ex-
traordinarily wide, the inside of which was
completely covered with fine lettering.
And DR.. Andover read there the grand
old scriptural words which had arisen in
the heart of the girl, who thus proved her
self worthy of him, when his letters had
come to her after many weary days of
delay:
"Entreat me not to leave thee, or to re-
turn from following after thee; for with
er thou goest / will 60, and where thou
lodgest / will lodge thy people shall be
my people, and thy God my God; where
thou diest I will die, and there will l be
buried; the Lord do so to me and
more also, if aught but death part me and
thee"
1t was nearly noon when Maud herself
came. She had removed her wraps in
Mrs. Derby's room, and after light
tap on the sick mans door she entered.
Alexander Andover had thought her
lovely in her exquisite party and carriage
and home toilets; but never had che
seemed so sweet an gracious and woman
" as now, whe- in "fr plain gray travel
ing costume, her l'vely face little pale
| with weariDl an. xr,tonent, her mouth
tremulop., ana |. ives glowing
with solemn light, lied in her
swift, noiseless way across the room to
his side.
.My darling! My own sweet, true
hearted darling!" cried the doctor, clasp
ing both arms about her and drawing
bar Taco down fo hia own