Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-11-24

to holy calling. was the choice Of Annie
Moore. the weallsy. the beautiful. the luIu-
riously reared Twas passing strange
our worldly ones wondered al, and our sew
inp circle gossippsd abou, the matter, Tor a
month or two. and then the ufTl:d tide Of our
village flowed 90 as usual But was IN my
way TO p,y Annie = morning visit william
Gordon had called the night before. 10 BID us
ndieu. rs he vas tn be absen, many months,
and ! thought hi, bstrolhed needed At little
cheering up.
! found her sitting At her work aI usual,
and bot slight lremulou,nes, Of The voice.
and a glstennr of the long brown eve lash.
told Of the painful psrlir: which had Just IA.
ken place.
"when will William rslur." {" present
" inquired.
"Iu Mny-litile less than q year"
"And lbsn"
"Ani then ve are to he msrrisd. are ve--
50 hold yourself in readiness 10 be my brides.
m,id"
The Summer passed, a season Of earnest,
urlirinc, and prayeriul toll. with the young
student. ard patient, hopeful, and sustaining
love, on the part Of hi, bsirothrL Then
came the chill Of aulsmn, followed By = Win.
Ter M uncommon severity.
Our dear Annie, while on riPhi vls.tioh
DIVING friend. W, exposed TO 'uddsn and
fearful storm. took cold-,h, does no, nv rc,.
der anticipate the moursrul consequence
ller mother, and elder sister had died II con
sumption. snd soon. rrry ,oon, ,le s,al of
death M, IN her blue ,sirsd brow, and tho
ysry voice oflhs grave sounding In the cough
which shook her fragile frame.
We knew that she mu,i die, and she, ike
many corsumpiive., knew it also; yet she,
wa. strangely arsrss to acquainiing her ab-
sent lover slh the fearful truth. She wrote
10 him that she hal been Ill-ws, still suffer
ing from debility bot ih,, he mus, no, b
troubled asaul II. nor be painfully surprised
by her changed appearance, when 10 ,hOald
return IN the Spring.
No, one word Of lhs dread, l,si parting
before ihrm-orlhr grave, which might
"Ri,al tho bridegroom. ,ai take from hi''.i-.
10 r,1o.s IN b.. ho.olu. his b,iulif. BRIDE
At length Nav c,me ,'oundsTain, shd with
1t returned William Gordon, tic. yecng cI'r.
rymau.
H. va. bowed to Earth by Tho great 'nd un-
hooked for ailc,on which awaited him Yet
r-,s'v orns b. the b.rsr cup, Dr h.s God
bad mingled il.
S--sr .rr.e~i. f,,'i7r 'ar.dly ftom eirih
--gro.jny NOR, sid more irscil' in form.
ana angelic in ,pi'., d,y bv d,v, and poor
william h,r,'ne intensely d,,.rosI that Ihsir
union nigh, I.se place.
Arn.,', fri-ni, readily anor'st, bu, she
to our surprise, finally refused to gran, tho
mourafuI rePuc., OF hex broken .esr'si
lover.
O-s evening u. was ,Iuns alone by her
side, =, che wa h,lf reclining on eoHch
the Aer,i, suss 80, more startling bright ihiR
usual IN her cheek, rar she had suffered much
rhu tl,, .ni - he though, lo~ very near
might h. III, dark sing Of God, dread angel,
he took her s,,,.I haAd ia his sad said
ooh, my Annie, IL, me- call you wife, be-
fore you leave me- You .ouA rot be 80
utterly lost to me ,hsn, for would know bear
ing that sacred same ia heaven. Refuse ne
not. love"
sob, William, William, urge IN, no lon.
GER" she replied, 1T mus, not, eirno, hs. J
am the bride Of Heaven, you mus, NJ, b. my
husband, ard hear ms, dearest you su'i no
longer se near me--your love Is precious, but
il is earthly. ,nd il come. Is eout h.,NtOn
me and the glOres Of that upper world, to
which hasten.
Your voice, my own, !, 'uesier tome than
The hymns Of angels heard 10 my dreams of
heaven We must part ,Vsfy hour
render. YOU deasr, and how can leave 20.
NJ last"
With hsro.c and martyr Ike c,lmnc,,
spoke the mistaken rrl-mis,aLen, IL,
pure love, f1r one worthy, i, the holIe,r nri
sweetest preparation lur lis presence VII.
"is lo,e."
William Gordon saw her frmnss', aRl l'a,
she was weak and trembling from the excite
mcat Of the scene, and
'ln cl1.c heart shifting up hi, pala."
resolved to yield iu'lan, and unconplainlaZ
obedience to her wishes lie rose up calmly
and imprinted on her forehead a kis' Of mia.
cled love and anguish, turned and wa, gone'
Annie hurried her face in her Thin white hands,
and remained in an agony Of prief Then
came vague regret, for tho eour,s size hal Ia
Ken, and painful doubt. Of the n.cessiy OF
the sacrifice she had made.
Presently she heard we'll known step
William had returned His ealmness had
entirely ior.lken him, and he murmared i'm.
Plorincly--
III must leave YOU tn die alone, Annie,
let me fold YOU once more Ia my heart, beiurs
go-it will give me strength"
lie knelt on one knse beside her, reached
forth his auns. and sobbcd like a child as she
leaned upon his bosom.
No word was spoken BY that pair, loving
and faithful unto death, while the nosd of,or.
row of the souls great deep were broken up.
Yes. silent. bat not fearless, kaelt Wilhm
Gordou, with his lips pressed against the dear
head which lhv upon his heart At last he
raisnd m. eve, heayenwatd. and lhn.e Nm,