The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-09-19
THE MODERN RUTH.

r.
DIR. Alexander Andover threw him
self into the big Qeather-covered chair
before his Office fire with q weary sigh.
He was q tine-looking man OF thirty;
not handsome but noble and manly
Iookino-one to be trusted forever, with
his broad. white brow and grave clear
gray eyes. His lips. too. under the
full brown beard were rs fine as wo,
mans, without lacking in strength ana
firmness. ME ~
DR.. Andovcr's, patients especially
the poorer, class and the children-
turned to him instinc,ively for advice
and sympathy. His was one OF those
grand. kingly natures which seem
made for leaders and comforters foor
old Betty Cary, bed-ridden paraiyuc'
could not speak of him without she'd
ding tears OF gratitude. Little jane
Ellis. suffering with an incurable hip
disease. looked upon him as sort OF
/ God upon earth. There were score
more who thought of him not only as
their phvsician, but rs kind and gen.
erous friend, who delighted TO brighten
the lives whichwould 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 snug III
tie fortune was deposited had failed,
and 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
b;mself-his practice brought him q
comfortable income. for tho rich ap.
preciated him as we'll rs the poor-ou'
miles away in distant city there was
, a lovely girl whom he had hoped &c
call wife by Christmas time A gr
who, thong not wealthy herself, hac
been extravagantly educated by hel
uncle, in whose luxurious home sh'
lived. He knew that not the slightes
priyation had ever come to her; sh
was n petted darling, with hands IKE
I baby's. He had never questioned
, she knew anything about work-th
: idea in connection with Maud Eyerlet
9 was absurd. He had been able to tax
. her to n home as fine as tho one sh
would leave, but that was gone now.
= Lovely, dainty, useless as she seemed
= DIR. Andover had poured the Who'll
!. passion of his great heart out upo
IS her; and yon are not to think MIN wea
because Just at first, when the news
his ill-fortune came to him. he shran
.e and trembled under it, thinking OF u
u GIRL he loved. For he must give n
1p: there was no doubt in his mir
3 about that. He could not ask her |
= share the fate of poor physician WI
2 depended upon his fees for o. nvin
g He even smiled grimly in the midst |
~ his suffering at the thought OF MAI
id in a calico dress, mixing up bread
n. washing dishes with her white. slend
: fingers. which he had only seen toyil
with her fan, working embroidery,
> dashing over the keys OF piano..
So DR.. Andover had written her
ys brave farewell letter, just month
re, fore the time set for their wedding,
90 forming her of his altered fortune
ate and releasing her from her engas
40 ment to him, and he had received
SIS, answer, although it was now Chri
mo mas week. A ="
The doctor was worn out Win
y posure to rough weather and ma
sleepless nights. The demand up
'ag his time and strength had been grea
pot. than usual, yet he had replied to tn
lion all. never failing in kindly court'
,ith beside the couch of Betty Cary
Dad more than in the luxurious chamber
less Madam Golddust, who feed him
generously. ~.
- II was Christmas week, and Mi
was to have been his own next Frit
= night. This thought tortured him
ceasingly. together with some wo
! in letter which had reached MN
few days before; a letter from an
8 ouaintance who was visiting In the
where Maud lived.
81 II met your 'tiance' at party
evening"" he had written. 81 adm
r hyour choice. She was the bright
10velies,t, t h rs and the nos TO'Hs8FT1'
z DIR. Andover experienced G.
sense of desolation rs he turned
sentence over and oyer in his m
Maud had not loved him, after
She could be gay and bright "
Myl thew were forever separated!h ro
The Office fire smouldered to as
and still he sat there, still and SAD,
IA from sheer exhaustion he Tell
- an uneasy slumber. About midn
. he awoke, alternately burning
shivering, while dull pain 'hrol
in his temples -y- ~
The DOCTORS apartments were {
i,,ers modious and comfortable. A !
G. an chamber opened from his private o.
&c for which latter opened from large
,ness. ceiving-room. 49, 1000
than He was his own patient now,
,T,,S &c fastened to bed; and when his
winds lady came in the morning TO call