The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-06-19
vi Z s Q e z u q III &OWS
From the American Union.
ANNIE LEE, OR THE BRIDAL SONG.
BY KATE RAND LPH.

3Ahh'e Ice WAS poeteSS. Nature made
aer one, and she sung as the bind sings,
and the flower sends out fragrance. She
lived with her parents in the beautiful
country.
Annie bad many admirers. The old
loved her for her sweetness and simplicity.
She had lovers, too, men Of refinement and
culture, who looked down into her Young
heart, and saw the treasure that lay at the
bottom. But MS yet Annie loved no ono
more than her parants; she sung her songs
from out gushing, happy soul, and re-
.Joiced the hearts and made beautiful the
lives of all who came near to her.
One summer day as Annie sat sewing
and chatting with her mother, they saw
from the window a stranger guest approach
ing the cottage. 1t was Earnest May, an
old friend who had been absent for ten
years from his native country. He had re-
turned with mind richly stored with cx-
perience and knowledge gained from abroad.
Ten years before, he had taken Annie Lee
Ill his arms and pcttcd her as 4 pretty and
gifted child as she really was. lie was then
young man Of twenty, Annie child Of
seven years.
Annie looked into the face of their guest,
and wondered how she could have forgot
ten her old friend. Earnest looked into the
beautiful poetic eyes Of the lovely girl, and
thought he had never seen, even under TIA
1y's fair skies, a more attractive face. The
visit WAS brief and soon came to an end
Earnest May went to his life of study and
thought Annie, still a cottage girl, went
moro often into the deep wild woods, to
weave into graceful song the fancics that
crowded her brain. A new inspiration had
come to the young girl with the presence
Of the stranger. A cord hitherto untouch.
ed now thrilled in its strange melody, and
Anne's song was more complete and liar
nions.
Earnest may was not Il declared lover.
lie Was ever calm and dignifcd in his af-
fecton for Annie. lie may have loved the
beautiful child, but how well no one could
tell perhaps lie thought only of her as u
gifted child Of song. and 50 fingered in her
presence chained hy sympathy Of mind
over minl.
Annie did not ask herself if Earnest
loved her. She only felt his kindness, and
was blessed in her own absorbing pas
sion.
One summer day Annie was surprised by
the arrival Of Earnest. She had not been
warned Of his approach, and she sprang
over the door sill with light, almost wild
step, to welcome him.
"You did not tell me you were coming,
Earnest, and now am more glad that
you did not, for this surprise is very sweet"
1" I have come sooner than thought TO-
fer I have something to say to you, Annie
/ love most tendcrlv, even passiona,ely,
lovely. girl. DO not turn your eyes from
me, am sure YOU are my good fri"nd."
/" Is she very beautiful, Earncs. ~ said An.
ME, trembling.
Ah, yes, Annie, more beautiful than
even your own widest fancy ever wove into
song. Will you, dear Child, when you are
in the glow of your highest imagination
write bridal song? and let it be more ricl,
in beauty than the sky is at midnight with
stars. Oh, Annie, she is divincly beautiful,
for gifted soul looks out of the soft fea-
lures, and tingcs the smile and lights the
eye with more than human beauty
Will you not rejoice with me, that at last
can see with lovers vision, that the scales
have all fallen from dead eyes, and now
everywhere see newncss Of life"
Annie WAS silent; SHE did not say that
she rejoiced in her friends happiness.
Forgive me, Annie, for Withholding this
secret from yon SO long. 1t was sweet 10
keep it in my own soul, and gloat over it
and look at it with ,niscrs eve. You for
give me, Anniel"
"Yes, yes, forgive.'
Earnest and Annie did not meet again
till the family circle were gathered for the
evening. Earnest sat apart from Ann,e
and engaged the old people in pleasant con-
.versation. Annie listened, but looked out
into the night on the soft moonlight on the
green sloping bank. She was exerling
more than physical power over her thoughts,
and striving TO beat back the low rumblings
of the tumult that deep down in her young
ardent nature was bursting into fresh re-
bollion.
The effort was too great a dizziness
stole over ADnie's over-taxed brain. She
saw the trees dancing, the brook waving
backward and forward, and the moonlight
shadow swan before her eyes. She uttered
faint cry, and would have fallen from her
seat, had not Earnest, who had been watch
ing her intently, sprapg forward and caught
bnrTse, Il - orrn,~