The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-10-13

Annie Mortimer had been sent to him
as a mlnistering angel; she was the orphan
and penniless daughter Of Mr.. Worthing-
toms dearest friend and former college
chum, and she had come to find shelter
beneath the humble roof Of the pious
guardian. to whose earthly care she had
been solemnly beqneathed. Paul's cura-
cy was not far from the town where Bessie
had fixed her abode, and it was generally
surmised by the select few who were in the
secret of little Bessie's singular history,
that she regarded Annie Mortimer with
especial favor and protection, from the fact
that Annie enjoyed the privilege Of solac-
ing and cheering the declining years Of
Paul Worthington. Each spoke Of her
as dear, adopted daughter, and Annie
equally returned the affection of both.
| Poor solitaries! what long and anxious
years had they known, separated by cir.
cumstances, yet knit together in the bonds
Of enduring love! ..-.
pictured them at festive winter seasons,
at their humble, solitary boards; and in
summer prime. when song.birds and
bright perfumed flowers call lovers forth
into the sunshine rejocingly They had
not dared to rejoice during their long en-
gagement; yet Bessie was a sociable crea.
ture, and did not NOPE or shut herself up,
but led life of active usefulness, and
was general favorite amongst all classes.
They had never contemplated the posi-.
bility Of evading Besse's solemn promise
to her dying father; to their tender con.
sciences, that fatal promise was as binding
as though gulf Of conventional vows
vawned betwixt them. We had been in
clined to indulge some mirth at the ex-
pense Of the little grey gossip, when she
first presented herself to our notice; but
now we regarded her as an object Of in
terest, surrounded by halo of romance,
fully shared in by her charming venerable
lover.
Il And this was good cousin Cons eluci-
dation of the riddle. which she narrated
with many digressions, and with animated
smiles. to conceal tears Of sympathy
). Paul Worthington and little Bessie did
not like their history TO be discussed by
the rising frivolous generation; it was SO
unworldly, so sacred, and they looked for
ward with humble hope so soon to be uni
, ted forever in the better land, that it pain
7 ed and distressed them to be made a top
ic of conversation.
Were we relating fiction it would be ca
; sy to bring this antiquated pair together,
even at the eleventh hour; love and con-
stancy making up for the absence Of one
sweet ingredient, evanescent, yet bsauti-
} ful-the ingredient, we mean, Of youth
But as this is romance of reality. we are
fain to divulge facts as they actually oc-
cured, and we heard them from authen-
tic sources. Paul and Bessie, divided in
their lives, repose side by side in the old
church-yard. He dropped off first, and
Bessie DOTTED her grey for sombre habili-
ments of darker hue. Nor did she long
remain behind, loving little soul! leaving
her property to Annie Mortimer, and
warning her against long engagements.
The last time we heard of Annie, she
was the happy wife Of an excellent man,
who fully coinciding in the opinion Of the
, little grey gossip. protested strenuously
| against more than six weeks courtship,
and carried his point triumphanty.