Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-08-29
A PRETTY LITTLE STORY.

A PRETTY LITTLE STORY.
The village of Slapton was as quiet a
village as can be. There are few houses in
it; and the congregation that gath cred
every Sunday at the parish church came
chiefly from the farms that were scattered
broadcast over the surrounding country.
The vicar was the Rev. Henry Gardner,
and be was the happy father of half-a-
dozen children, the eldest Of whom, Mat
tie, was charming girl of twenty. There
was little society in the village, and Mat
ties chief idea of the world at large were
drawn from an occasional visit she made
to relative who lived in the neighboring
country town. Still, though she was
homely and unsophisticated, there was
none of that affected simplicity you so
often see in girls.
She was frank, fearless, outspoken girl,
full of life and spirits, and never so happy
as when rambling about the old vicarage
garden, picking basketsful of roses for
some sick boy or girl and carrying with
them sunshine into some darkened home.
And in such work of real love and char
ity the last few years of her life has been
mainly spent. Her father called her his
curate, and as the living was small one,
she was the only curate they had.
Matte had been free as yet from ''heart
disease" though squirrels son had made
several awkward attempts at love-making
aud, though Matte quite recognized the
compliment he paid her she never for a
moment regarded him in any other light
than as a friend, and remained herself
perfectly heart-whole. This had happened
when she was eighteen, and time had gone
on smoothly, and at twenty she was still
happy in her uneventful lot.
But the smooth run of life's wheels was
interrupted at last and the wheels were
jolted out of their usual tracks; for about
this time there Came to the village young
surgeon who was looking out for good
opening for practice, and had determined
to settle down here. AS matter of course
he and Matte often met at the houses of
the poor, and although not a word passed
between them, people began to associate
their names together and speak of what
might happen as certainty.
One day when Matte was as usual,
among her roses. a servant came to say
that DR.. Robertson had asked for her
father, and, as her father was away from
home, for her. When she entered the
room with the basket of roses on her arm,
the doctor might we'll be excused if he
wondered which were the fairest-the
roses in the basket or the rose with the
basket. IT such thoughts passed through
his mind he quickly put them aside for he
said:
II came to ask Mr.. Gardner if he would
step down to old Silas Jones. who is very
ill with fever. They are very poor and
any help you could give them would be of
more use than incidence
"Papa is away from home," she said,
land will not return till tomorrow
But I will take some beef tea and
port, if you think that will be good
for him.
Nothing could be better,'' said the
doctor. but you must not 60 there your
self for fear Of infection. 1 am going to
pass the house and will take them myself
if you will give them to me-"
mo, thank you, Doctor" said Miss
Matte. 81 never shirk my duty nor dele
gate it to others, so will take them my
self.''
ANY way let me walk with you if you
are going now and we can talk about the
the case as we CO."
In few minutes the beef-tea and the
wine were ready and Matte sailed forth
with the doctor. And this was the way
the doctor talked about the case:
cts beautiful day, isn't it?''
"Glorious,' said Matte.
''What has become of you in the even
ing lately? used to see you frequently
but now you are never to be SEEM"
"Minnie has not been well lately. so I
have stayed az home on her account. 1t is
pleasant to know that some one misses
me-" she added. laughing.
II miss you great deal Miss Matte
almost as much, if not quite as much, as
your own people do. This is Jones' cot
tage, SO let me take the things in"
No, indeed; I shall go in myself" said
Matte.
mo, decidedly no. said the doctor. SIT
can never be your duty to rush into I'M
called.for danger. I am obliged 20 see
these people, so let me take the basket in. y
From that day it began to dawn on
Mattie's heart who missed her when she
was absent and who tried to keep her out
of danger.
And little by little this thought grew
bigger and took root, until there came an
echo to it, which said, II miss him too.
wish he had not to risk his life by going
to see fever cases."
And from that day there was less cor
dial friendship and there was more shy
reserve in her intercourse with the doctor,
And sometimes DR.. Robertson did not
know what to make Of it, and one evening
he said:
"What have I done to vex you, Miss
Matte ?"
To which she replied; "Vex me! Why