Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-11-13

thoughtful.
For nearly mile he let Dobbin and
Whitefoot choose their own gait. Then
lust as the wagon was entering town he
aroused himself with stalt.
"Confound it all" he muttered, "I
wish had asked her out of kindness.
There were several other spelling
matches held in the Pickett schoolhouse
during the winter, but Debby did not
attend them, and George, who entered
college in the spring, saw her only
at long intervals during the next five
years.
At the end of that time Debby's old
grandmother died, and Debby, after SELL
inc the farm to a Norwegian who had
recently coiGo into the neighborhcod,
left her old home forever, telling no
one whittier she was bound.
Seven years later, George Charming,
who had become a lawyer and was en-
ioying an excellent practice in Detroit,
was disturbed one morning while en-
paged in his office on brief by the en-
trance of a tall, good-looking, we'll
dressed lady who, instead of returning
the business like bow with which he
greeted her, advanced toward him with
both hands outstretched.
..You don't know mel" she cried.
"You don't recognize Deborah Rawley"
"Deb little Deb Of Grundy County"
exclaimed George. "It cant be posi-
Bile
"Be little more respectful in address
ing me-" laughed Dcd. CDR Rawley,
if you please" dropping him a little
curtesy.
"Dr. .Rawley !" repeated George. "Oh,
nonsense
I I
"Sit down and III tell you about it.
And then in few words she gave him
the history of her life since she had left
her old home. With the proceeds Of the
sale of her farm she had gone TO college
in Michigan and taken the medical
course, graduating at the end Of three
years with high honors.
Her money was exhausted by that
time, but an old professor who had taken
a warm interest in her from the begin
ming paid her expenses to New York,
where she spent year in an hospital,
learning much that she could never have
learned anywhere else. Then she be-
gan the practice of her profession at
Chicago, had soon been abe to pay oil
her debts, and now, after three years OF
hard work, was taking much'needed
vacation of few weeks among the lakes
and rivers of Michigan.
"Look at me-" she said, 81 an not
yet thirty, and l am iu the possession Of
a good practice, and l am on the road
to fame and fortune. Don't you think l
have cause to be thankful to you, Mr..
Cbanningl"
ITO me7" said George. "What do
YOU mean3 I've had nothing to do with
your success. 1t is due entirely to your
talent aud perseverance,.
ono" said Debby, ''it is due to the
kind words you spoke to me at that
spelling match, nearly twelve years ago.
| had never had any attention or tender
ness shown me in ali my life before, and
when you, in the kindness of your
heart, honored me--poor, despised and
shabbily dressed as | was-with first
CALL knew bow to appreciate it. AMI
when YOU told me afterward that | had
surprised you, / made up my mind to
surprise you still more some day. |
liveo on those words for five years,
studying harder than l had ever done
before, and then the chance came to me
to have the instruction l so ardently
desired. seized it at once, and behold
me hourishing physicianl"
She ended with laugh, but there
were tears in her bright, dark eyes.
81 refuse to take particle of credit
to myself" said George, with great
earnestness. "Please don't accord it to
me even in your thoughts"
" 'Honor to whom honor is due, al
ways" she said, rising to 90. "If it
hadn't been for you l should probably
have vegetatel on that little Illinois farm
all my life.
George went to the window and
watched her as she walked away. There
was look of pain and chagrin on his
handsome face.
81 would give $1,000 this minute, - he
said, speaking aloud, ''if | could only
feel that had asked her out of kind
ness. couldn't look her in the face
when she was telling me about it, aud |
felt as il | deserved ducking under the
nearest pump. Ny conscience will never
be easy until tell her the truth, though
OF course she win despise me forever
after"
But though he made it a point to see
Debby whenever business TOOK him to
Chicago, he never had the courage to
make his confession. And perhaps it
was Just as well that she never heard Of
it. Illustrated Christian Weekly.
| o.1 81,