Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-02-17

| pursuits, varied Dy the neaItny exercise
on large farm, my health was complete
| ly established So the days sped swiftly
onward. until one-half of our allotted va
cation had vanished as dream
! 'An excursion and picnic in the noun
tain wood had long been talked Of among
the young people Of the village, aud need
( ed only the enterprising spirit of Frank
+ to forward it He as chief manager. en-
/ LISTED me in his service and SO we immedi
ately busted ourselves with all necessary
preparations
1t was on a beautiful morning at the
early autumn time that a merry party of
gay young men and rosy checked maidens
assembled at the Mansion House, from
which we were TO start for the grove about
five miles distant
What merry shouts rang out on the
pure morning air, as one after another
slowed themselves in the hay racks, trim
ed with ever-greens and fresh oak leaves,
woven for the occasion. Aud how merry
was the cry. Here is room enough for
Just one more when the car was already
/ filled tn overfowing
AT length all were ready. and on we
went. passed orchards bending beneath
golden fruit. and fields waving with nod
ding grain, fragrant hedges and warm up
lands, where the white mist hung over
head like feecy clouds, until we entered
the wood "
Uncle Harry's voice grew yet more dis
tinct as he proceeded while Lillys eyes
we're turned to bis with eager interest
speaking from every glance
Rut ,yhy do I iiuuar - continued Jo
1t is Of her, of sweet Anna Gray that I
would speak. Lilly. how can I describe
to you the light of her violet eye, the
dimpled cheek, aud the waves of her sun
ny hair [ have often thought they
were strangely like yours, Lilly
1T was then that [ first met Annie
Gray. Frank and myself were both at
first sight. struck by her exceeding love
illness, and quiet. lady-like department,
aud we eagerly sought an introduction
'Her manner was calm and subdued =
quite differentfrom the noisy group around
her and | half suspected that she had
thus early known sorrow. else had her
spirits not been checked in their early
out pourlngs and what [ learned of her
history from Carrie Morton-her init
mate friend-who had persuaded her to
join our party, confirmed me in the opin-
ion | had formed
Carrie told me that Annie's father had
! been thriving merchant in B, but
had failed through the villainy of his
agents, and had now come, with but
Pittance of his fortune, to end his life
away from those who had known him on
ly in his prosperous days With his
wealth had vanished his all He sank
under the blow and the bustling, circu-
latiug merchant had become changed to
weak, querulous invalid Annie, his on
ly child bore his capricious petulence with
patience and meekneSs sometimes petted
and caressed, as she had been in her hap
pier days, and anon bearing his capri
clous, fretful repining with the meekness
of an angel
And l do believe" said Carrie, who
was enthusiastic in her friends praise i
do believe, if ever there was an angel on
earth, Annie Gray is one =
Il smiled as we rejoined the party.
from which we had separated for mo
meut
What | heard of Miss Gray only rem
dered me more anxious to seek her ac-
{
her for my partner for the day, when
Frank came where we were standing, and
repeating the question | had just asked
her. was informed that she was already
engaged to Mr.. Bell lie cast upon me
a look which then | could not fathom but
which rose before my memory in after
days like an evil vision. bit his lip with
veXati0n, aud walked away.
Lilly, that was to me a happy. happy
day. We rambIed apart from others
down by the river banks, and sat upon
the messy knolls beneath the magnificent
old trees. and [ wove her garlands of
many gorgeous flowers, while she sang to
me fragments of sweet ballads, in a voice
more musical than the birds
And. there, in those old woods. alone
with the birds aud flowers, we became far
better acquainted than those who meet
night after night in the crowded draw
ing-room of the brilliant saloon.
In sweet Annie Gray [ recognised the
embodiment ot my boyish dreamsdreams
too. which the opening years of manhood
had not dispelled, The ideal gave place
to the real
L saw no more of Frank Walters that
day until evening when L sought him at
ter left the cottage of Annie, He sat
alone in his room [ addressed a few
words to him regarding the events of the
day, but he seemed disinclined to converse,
only answering my questions abrubtly
and not knowing to what to attribute his
unwonted mood, I eft him for my own
apartment
A word here with regard to Frank
During our first two years at college We
had been room mates as we had been class
mates, and 4 similarity of tastes and pur-
suits created a sort of student sympathy
between US but for the past year we had
not shared the same room, although we
were frequently together.
We were both orphans, having control
over our own time, and at that time over
our own fortunes, which were not incon-
siderable. Frank was 4 younger child, l
an only one"
81 N not Lar