Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-03-16

IN q &c heuIt shuttlh. UP MS Pal
resolved to yield instant and unconplaining ODE.
dience TO her wishes. lie rose up calmly, and 1
imprinting on her forehead a kiss Of mingled /
love and anguish, turned and was gone! Annie /
buried her face 10 her Thin, white hands, and le- /
mained in an agony Of prayer and grief Then /
came vague regrets for the course she had taken !
aud painful doubts for the necessity Of the sac /
rfce she had made. Presently she heard a
well.known slep--Wiliam had returned! His
calmness had lorsaken him and no murmured
imploringly-
"Ir must leave you to die alone, Annie, let
me fold you once more to my heart before 60
it will give me strength"
lie knelI on one knee beside her, reached
forth. his arms, and sobbed like a child as she
leaned upon his bosom.
No word was spoken by that pair, loving and
faithful unto death, while the flood of sorrow
swept over their hushed spirits, as the founain
of the souls great deep was broken up. Yes,
silent, but not fearless, knelt William Gordon.
with his lips pressed against the dear head which
lay upon his heart. At last he raised his eyes
heavenward and those lips moved in whispered
prayer--he unwound his arms and would have
risen, but Annie moved not--She raS ctinging 10
his JreaSU A smile of JOY rrsdialed his face,
and his arms once again EMBODIED her. She
looked up and murmured with something Of her
old playful tenderness, more touching than the
widest burst Of grief.
"Are you not stronger, dear William!"
"Ah, fear not, my love-"
This is strange, for when felt the strength
ebbing from my own heart, thoughtit it had flow
( ed into yours"
"Thank God for the weakness which is love.
Iier than strength! must never leave you An.
ME-"
"Neucr"
The morning Of the wedding day had come,
and | was arraying Annie in her bridal dress,
beautiful muslin, guiltess of ribbon or lace.
wished to twne in her hair, small string of
pealls, which was once het molher's,- but she
gently put il from me.
"What, no ornamenlS!" | inquired
"None," she replied, "but yes, if you will 90
into my garden. you will find lovely white rose
ree, which William planted when first knew
him,--bring me one Of its buds, and will wear
it in nv hair"
have seen brides radisnt in heaIthful bloom
--glltering in iewels--dazzlng in satins. rich
wells and costly wrea'hs, but never have be.
held one so exqusitely, so wonderfully beautiful
as that dying girl, with her dress of simple white
her one floral ornament, the dewy ustre Of her
soft blue eye, and the decpened hectic Of hen
cheek! When the ceremony was 10 be perlor-
med, she wished to rise, and as she was too
weak to stand alone, stood BY her side and sup.
ported her. She smiled sadly as she whisper
ed--"You remember Grace, | promised you
should be my bridesmaid"
As the beautiful marriage ceremony (that OF
the English Church. proceeded the face Of the
bride became expressive alternately Of earthly
and of heavenly love, of soiness and sublimity
of The woman and of the angel, ill it grew alb.
solutely adorable.
At the last she received the fearful congratula-
tions Of her friends with graceful manner, and
with the most cheerful smiles playing about her
lips.
1t was morning--a morning bornoI bloom and
beauty--so soft, so glowing it seemed
"Like rainbow clasping the sweet earth,
And melting in a covenant of love-"
Annie Gordon was lying on her conch by an o.
pen window, with her fair head suppotled on the
breast of her husband.
And she fathers joy, brothers. pride, the
wife Of two short weeks was leaving US now
Every sunbeam which looked into her eyes, saw
F their violet hue grow paIer, and every soft all
which kissed her faded lips, bore back a fainter
breath on its light pnion. Her doating father
, knelt in deep trance Of grief at her side
/, stood holding one of her hands in mine, while
at her feet sat her younger brother, Arthur Moore
weeping with all the uncontrolled passionateness
of boyhood.
Annie had lain for some moments apparently
nsensbc, but she looked up yet once more tc
n William, with her own sweet smile, and mur'
4 INJURED,
q "Pray, once again, my beloved--it will plume
my spirits wing for its upward flight; but place
your hand upon my heart, that you may know
when am gone!"
And William Gordon lifted his voice in 6
It prayer, all saint-lke submission, and chldlike
b. love. He soemny and tenderly committed the
. passing soul of The wife, the daughter, the sis
/ ter and the iiiend to her Savior and her God
d and meeky implored for the stricken mourner'
the minstrations of the blessed Spirit. Sud
h denly he paused--her heart had ceased lis beat
d ingsl His brow became convulsed and his
n voice was low and tremuIous, as he added, "Sht
t has left US; oh our Father, she is with Thee
!, now"
t "Gone! our Annie dead!" exclaimed poo
: little Arthur Moore, and springing forward anC
casting one look on that still face, he stretched
e his arms upward and cried-"Oh sister come
: back 10 us, come back!''
We arrayed her in her bridal dress, even Il
; the white rosebud, twined in her golden hair
We laid her to rest by her mothers side, in
+ lovely rural grave. yard, and few months after
| took her favorite rose.tree from the garden
{ ane planted it over her breast.
- ,, Our Annie had been gone from US year, ant
;, the rose was in its first bloom, when William
), Gordon came to bid US long, it might be las
o adieu. He was going out as missionary to India
! On the last evening of his stay, went wit
. him to The grave of our lost one. We remain
v ed till the grass was gittering with dew, and tn
: !. stars were thick in heaven. Many times turn
!. ed poor William to depart, and return agar