Eastern times., 1856-03-13
who called me that = she said MY An
n;a He used In c,ll me that

attempt to check them. Tears rushed to her
own eyes, as she looked on the wreck before
her, and remembered her as she had first known
her. Gradually Annie's tears ceased to flow,
her sobs grew fainter and fainter: she turned
to Christine, and said, softly
/ must not sleep now. When close my
eyes to sleep, it will be in that slumber that
knows no waking. Let me talk now, while
can Let me tell you what has brought me
here.'
In low, feeble voice, often interrupted by
her emotion, Annie proceeded to tell the story
of her marriage, her subsequent unhappiness,
her desertou of Mr.. Howard, and all that had
happened during her struggles with poverty,
and the relief afforded her by Harry Lansing.
Often severe fits of coughing prevented her
proceeding with her tale, and, painting for
breath, she would lie exhausted on her pallet;
it was evident that she was exerting herself
beyond her strength, but to Chrs,nes request
that she would rest now, and tell the remain
der of her sad story at some future time, she
only shook her head.
my hours are numbered she said 'the
sands of life are almost run, and | must say
all that rests so heavily on my soul now, or it
will remain unspoken forever
After short pause, she resumed g.
Harry took me to a comfortable home, and
he was very kind to me, and to my Rosa. 1t
was so new and so pleasant to me to receive
unvarying kindness, and the most delicate and
constant attentions, that l could not but feel
grateful for them. began 10 watch for his
coming, and at the sight OF him, as he came
down the street, my heart would throb tumul
tuously: the hours seemed long when he was
away, and when he was with me, time flew,
oh, how rapidly!
Christine, loved him with my whole
heart and soul, as had never loved anything
before but my child, and he loved me as fond
ly in return.
What would not have done or suffered
for him, And when he proposed to me TO be-
come his wife, thought it almost too great
happiness He did not deceive me-he told
me in the eye of the law our union would not
be valid, but he told me that in Gods sight
it would be sacred, and that he would always
consider it so and whenever the death or
marriage of Mr.. Howard should release me
from him, that he would openly acknowledge
agree to this, and with perfect willingness
gave my consent. trusted him implicitly,
and then, know no thought of decevng me
had crossed his mind.
He spoke TO me of the worlds opinion.
only smiled The world What had 10 do
with thatl He was all the world to me. He
pressed me to his heart-he called me his dar-
ling, his wile-and was too happy TO speak.
That night in little chapel. we were mar
ried by minister; for though the form was
nothing in law, yet felt that it halowed our
union. was his wife, and l repeated over
and over again to myself, with a thrill of de-
| light, the words till death US doth part And
when | was mistress of the quiet, secluded
home that Harry provided for US, how happy
was.
How tried 10 be as little expense 10 him
as possible, for Harry was not rich. How
hard toiled to prepare dainty dishes for him
when he came to see me; in everything |
studied his pleasure, his taste.
As sat with my sewing in my hand, and
Rosa by my side, in my own little room, how
often used to contrast my present life with
my past, and the thought that | was bound to
my husband-a thought that had once made
me shudder-now filled me with Joy.
| How had dreaded the return home of the
man who had first called me wife, and now how
counted the hours that separated me from my
husband. | was very happy, and so was Har-
ry; and when my beautiful boy was born,
felt that had nothing more 10 ask for. II
possible, Harry was kinder than ever he
was very fond of our baby, and very proud of
him he was with me more now, and for hours
he would caress and play with our Freddie,
and he would tell me, over the cradle, what
he would do for and with him, when he grew
" Dc HdH ~ HSe years. Vi peIltCt ndppl-
ness passed, and then our Freddie died. 1t
nearly broke my heart. ] thought it would
kill me. Would to Heaven that it habitat
| had laid my head down under The green
grass with my boy in my arms. That was
the beginning of sorrow.
Harry tried to soothe me in my grief; he,
too, was almost heart-broken at our loss but
| could not be comforted, and gradually he
grew tired of my sad face. He came less fire.
quently. He was still kind, but | felt a
change. The words he uttered were the same
as ever, his attentions as delicate, but the spir-
il that prompted them, knew, instinctively,
had changed. | felt foreboding of what was
to happen, even before would admit to myself
the thought that foated through my mind.
But for all that, when the blow came, | was
unprepared for it. When he told me that he
was deeply involved in debt, and that he was
going TO marry rich woman, but that he
should always love me, and would always pro-
vide for me, looked at him without word,
and fell back in swoon. When recovered
my consciousness, was in his arms, and he
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