The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-06

SAAthL LOVER
1t is very perPleGing, said Annot Camp.
bell; and ! wish il had not occuned-it is
very, very perpleKing! | was so happy be.
fore: | love Edward quite as much as ever,
am sure | do; but there is great deal Of
truth in what my aunt says; and | am not
quite. quite sure thst he loves me as be did
six months ago
Annot leaned against the porch of her
suntis cottage; the blsckbird hanging in the
wicker cage Just above her head, whistled
loyfully. Annot listened to him uncon-
sciously, and yet some Of the influence Of
the music mingled with her thoughts.
You are happy in your captivity. she
said, very hsppy--very Joyous
Again the bird gave forth portion Of
deep-throsted melody.
Are you not hsppyl'
She put up her hand csressingly to her
prisoner, and he touched her finger with his
golden bill.
His eye could never be so bright if be
were not happy said the maiden. She did
not think that the bird was living with the
past.
And yet, she continued, his habits Of
life are totally different from what they
were when he was captured
The bird returned to his perch, Pruned
has feathers, and remained silent. Annot
looked at him, longing to know if he loere
really as happy as when he winged his way
through the copse. Suddenly she heard a
low, quiet note, neither song nor sigh, but a
bird-voice from the neighboring thicket. In
a moment her bird paused, and listened
The note was repeated; he replied. Again
and again came the voice and its echo. An
not withdrew within the porch. A dusky.
hrown blackbird fiuttered at the cage; the
prisoner ran round and round the bars with
Tufhed feathers; be shook them with his bill;
he wanted to escape. The brown bird did
her best to assist him. but in vain.
What a silly Bird said Annot he has
ten times the luxury, the care, the security
he ever had before, and yet he wants to en-
counter the dangers and privstions of liber
~; he desires to return to what he was
Annot said this to her aunt, and her aunt
said the bird was exceedingly silly. Annoi
Vas very truthful, but yet she could moi
quite think the bird was silly for loving his
liberty. Three weeks-nay three days ago,
she would have given him the liberty he so
desired; but Annot was in the fangs Of Q
strong temPtation-it had paralysed her
sympathy. She had been cheerful, happy,
and cosck ated-she had fancied herself what
ladies "a in love with one sufficiently
rich for acre than the comforts of her own
sphere, and sufficiently occupied to prevent
time from being burden instead of bless.
ing these considerations had not occurred
to Annot, but they had given great satisiac.
ton to her aunt Annot loved Edward be-
cause he was handsome, brave, generous.
and devoted TO her. She had fancied she
never would think of any one else as Low.
er, and yet she had taken into serious con.
sideraton the offer Of particularly rich
and Influential gentleman; this gentleman
admired her exceedingly, had procured heI
brother an excellent appointment, and daz
zled the young country girl with descrip
tons Of the brilliancy and fascination of a
town life. Ii is quite impossible to know
why the Right Hon. Mr.. Fitzclair desired
to wed Annot Campbell. Men about town
remembered him for an unrecorded number
Of years; and yet he looked so young-by
csndlelight and 50 many girls of fashion
wanted husbands, that il was extraordinary
he should 60 into the country and pro.
pose" for 'mere country girl whom no
body ever heard Of" Those men "who
know the world" by the way, the knowl.
edge that is attended with the least hsppi-
ness) sometimes render the highest posi-
bic tribute to nature by seeking its Iepose
in the evening of Life at open wsr with
her and her attributes.
Ii would take a volume to trace all the
thoughts. feelings, hopes, snKiete.. and
actual anguish, that struggled in the young
girls heart. At FIRST she decidedly refused
MIR. Fitzclsir, and shed many and bitter
tears ct her snnt's importumties; still, with
natural coquetry, she played of quantity
of airs on her old lover, on the strength Of
the attentions Of the new, and this teImins-
ted in serious quarrel, Of which her aunt,
who believed love dream of youth, and
wealth the reality Of life, failed not to take
advantage. The world to which Mr.. Fitz.
clair belonged, Annot knew was not her
world, and she was assured that time must
pass before she could be at ease in DO exalt.
ed sphere. He affected to consider her
rejection as mere shyness-perhaps he real
ly thought it so, for men of late are so fire.
qHently wooed to wed, that they adopt an
idea as to the impossibility of rejection.-
Yet Annot was in the tolls; every one con.
graduated her on her good fortune, and all
wondered what star she had been born IN.
der to have such an Offer but each hour
added to her unhappy Testlessness. She
was not at peace with herself-Edward had
gwen her back her promise, and she was
angry even with the poor blackbird because
he did not value the Injuries more than the
Liberties Of life. She would have given
worlds that MIR. Fitzclair had never disturb
ed her simple visions of happiness, and vet
she could recall the innocence and unsm.
bition Of her former days. She tried the
pastimes and employments of the last six
months her knitting hung from her fingers
her flowers were left to droop; her village
friends no longer shared her pleasures or her
prospects; they looked slyly towards her, as
she was likely 10 be great Iady'-and the
cottage widow and her orphans were I'M
cared for. Her cheek flushed and her eye