The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-10

The young doctor rode briskly loWdro
the country postiffce. having noticed the
mail rider arrive fully fifteen minutes ago.
Said fifteen minutes had seemed so many
hours, as he listened with the best show
of patience he could muster, while old
man Howard described infinitely the va
rious ailments that had afflicted his cook
lately. When the long list of 'miseries"
was ended DIR. Cameron wrote prescrip-
ton that soon raised old Aunt Seilla from
her bed; as she afterwards said-"No
wonder chile case dat medicine wuz so
strong, dat If yer corked hit up rale
tight de stopper d shoot clean up ter de
ceiAn."
While listening the young physician was
mentally gloating over Elizabeth's let
ter that was sure to have come in this
mail; and he could plainly see in his
minds eye the familiar address, especial
ly that peculiar hieroglyphic she evident
ly intended as the abbreviation of doc
tor. He had leased her about this until
she finally took refuge behind subterfuge
and wrote it:
Charles L. Cameron. M. D.,
Lawton,
Alabama.
The moment he was free DR.. Cameron
threw Sbellroads bride over the antique
HORSEBACK and bounded up the steps with
hasty hearty greeting to the idler play
ing dominoes on the porch. The postmas-
ter instantly held out the coveted let
ter and Dr. Cameron hurried off to en-
joy his treasure alone.
A sympathetic smile went around the
group, for truly "All the world loves a
lover" and the whole village ha0 taken
keen interest in the love story that had
developed so rapidly in their midst the
summer previous. After Elizabeth return
ed to her home, the numerous letters
that passed between them, with the pub
licity unavoidable in country postof-
flee, were taken as evidence that all was
we'll.
But as usual there were some pessimis-
tic views of the affair. Some thought 1t
would be wiser for the young doctor to
be more firmly established in his profess
sion before he married Mrs. Carter, moth
er of the then Misses Carter said he was
plenty able to marry, but had made
great mistake in selecting a city girl,
who would be sure to become dscon-
tented with hum-drum village lie.
They had all known DIR. Cameron from
a boy and were more or less related to
him either by blood or marriage, as Is the
case in most small communities of long
standing, but none ventured to mention
these things to the man most interested.
For not outstanding his pleasant, easy
manner, 1t was evident from his silence
that this subject was sacred.
Indeed Elizabeth did seem to him the
embodiment of every pure dream of his
past, every high hope of his future. Their
natures counter-balanced each other nice
ly; her calm firmness supplementing his
fervent If feverish, energy; her uniform
cheerfulness, his easy depression. To his
love was added gratitude that almost
amounted to reverence, when she prom
Used to leave the home to which she had
but recently returned from college, and
the varied interests of city llfe-all for
his sake.
After rather trying day, DIR. Cameron
was In need of one of those comforting
letters that had become so necessary to
his happiness and that had so brighten
ed the dreary winter. Turning Shellroad
down the lane through whose moonlit
shadows they were strolling when first
she gave him cause to hope she might
ever be his, he opened her letter and this
was what he found
My Dear Mr. F'ield-You must accept
my sincere thanks for the lovely book I
received Christmas, and your delicate re-
membrance of our pleasant though brief
acquaintance last summer. The poem has
always been a favorite of mine and the
Illustrations are unusually fine.
With greetings of this happy season, /
am. Yours sincerely,
ELIZABETH RUSSELL.
Montgomery, Ala, December 20.
Oh, the bitterness of his disappointment
which in a moment was swallowed in the
rising tide Of his fierce anger and un-
reasoning jealousy. She, whom he had
thought loyal in the most trivial matters
receiving Christmas presents from an
other-a mere passing acquaintance at
thatl Her letters to him were of such
small Importance that she could care
lessly place them in the wrong envelope
There! Did that man Field receive his
letter? He WINGED at the idea of strange
eyes seeing those tender words, then
followed fierce hope that such might be
the case; for then Mr.. Fields hopes would
be nipped in the bud and Elizabeth thor
oughly embarrassed.
DIR. Cameron had now given free rein
to all the unjust thoughts and suspicious
that rushed upon him, and as he galloped
wildly, aimessly along this molehiIl be-
came a mountain whose chilling shadow
obscured his whole future.
without stopping for cooler thought he
ran into his office and dashed off jeal-
GUS imperious note that was sure TO Of
fend one who had given him cause to trust
her, Then mounting Shellroad, who was
utterly astonished at these unusual pro-
ceedings, he roCe rapiuly to the cross
roads where the mail rider would pass
with the outgoing mall The ill-advlsed
letter was hardly out OF his hand be-
fore DIR. Cameron regretted his haste;
but his was sensitive nature, responding
readily to every kindness, but easily
wounded by any injury, real or imaginary.
Elizabeth on the contrary, carried com
mon sense even into the emotional
realm, but like most people who are slow
to anger, she was also hard TO appease.
After a miserable night DR.. Cameron
was riding sullenly past the postoffice the
next afternoon, when the postmaster call
ed out: Say Doc amt you coming for
your letter?''
His heart gave a great thump and
then sank as he remembered his hasty
needless note.
This proved to be the letter which he
should have received the day before, to
which was added:
II know you were disappointed in the
note you received yesterday, but hope
this will make amends Callers came
while was writing. but I was determined
You should not be disappointed, so hur-
riedly sealed your envelope and gave 1t
to Jim to mall Mr.. Fields note not being
important could wait
FORTUNATELY he did not get yours, for
when I went to address his just now It
seemed too thick, and I discovered my
mistake in time to hurry this off to you.
/ haven't time for more now. but shall
have. long letter to brighten that dreary
Sunday evening of which you complain
Never mind, those Sunday evenings will