Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-12-04
kind Mrs. Derby in bewilderment
What did il all mean?


What did it all mean?
With trembling fingers he tore off the
wrapper of the tiny package, and
opened jewelers. case. There upon
its bed of purple lay wide, gold fin
ger-ring. extraordinarily wide, the in
side of which was completely covered
with fine lettering. And Dr. Andover
read slowly, through blind rapturous
tears, the words which the jewelers. in
strument had traced there-the grand
old Scriptural words which had arisen
in the heart OF the girl, who thus
proved herself worthy of him. when
his letter had come 10 her after. gss!sny
weary days of delay -1Iwv
.'Entreat me not to leave thee. or to
return from following after thee; for
whittier thou goest l win go, and
where thou lodgest | will lodge; thy
people shall be my people, and thy God
my God; where thou diest | will die,
and there will be buried; the Lord
do SO TO me and more also. If augIt
but death part mo and thee.''
Mrs. Derby slipped out of the room.
crying herself, at the sight of Dir. Ands
over, usually so calm and strong and
self-possessed. crying like two7year.
old baby, over Maud's Christmas token.
1t was nearly noon when Maud her.
self 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 car
rage and home toilets; but never had
she seemed SO sweet and gracious and
womanly as now when in her plain
gray travelling costume, her lovely face
a little pale with WEAKNESS and excite
ment, her mouth tremulous, and her
dark eyes glowing with solemn light.
she glidcd in her swift, noiseless way
| across the room to his side.
My darling! My own, sweet, true
hearted darlingr' cried the doctor,
clasping both arms about her and draw
ing her face down to his own.
And presently, after the first greet
ing was over, Maud explained
Your letter was DELAYED in some
way. did not get it until week ago.
You remember the great piece of gold
you sent me from California two wears
agoP Well, when got your letter. /
took that gold TO a jeweler, and had it
made into ring. And then after /
received Mrs. Derby's telegram made
uncle promise to bring me to YOU at
once. | would have come alone if he
had not come with me, horrible and
unconventional as my fashionable
friends would have called me. Why,
Alexander, what a silly butterfly you
must have thought me! Do you think
| would care for riches without YOU?
And do you think | am good for moth
ing but to dance the German and plav
the piano? / assure you, SIR" and
here she doubled one small, white
hand in threatening manner under
his very nose-''this hand which you
consider so weak and useless can make
most delicious bread and pies and
cakes; can even make beds and sweep.
and wash dishes. Aunt Alice never
neglected the most important part of
my education, and | am sure | shall
make most excellent wife for poor
man. That is, Alexander, and here
she flushed up gloriously-..i you will
have me-.
DIR. Andover smothered the last
words against his shoulder, and as soon
as she could free herself from his I'M
ceremonious embrace she began anew
to coax and wheedle him into some
new plan of her own, to which he Mt
first objected, but finally yielded The
result was that at five o'clock that af-
ternoon Maud Everleth was made DIR.
Alexander Andover's wife, and at once
asserted her authority by taking upon
herself the duties of nurse.
Of course under such treatment he
recovered rapidly, and every day grew
to appreciate more and more the 10y
atty and worth of the sweet little wo-
man who had not failed him in his
dark hour.