Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-05-22

her effort 10 conquer il. had created fever in
her veins and her brain. For week Annie
lay in great danger i
In her UNCONSCIOUS state, Annie talked
constantly oil Earnest, OF his beautIfui orioe
and Of her own grief. Sometimes she would
fancy she Wss preparing the bridal wreath, |
and would cali foI fresh flowers from the
brook. Again she would repeat the words Of
Earnest:
"Ab, Annie, she is more beautiful than
your widest fancy ever w.ote into song"
Then she would improvise rhyme, saying
"tbis shall be the bridal song. will not be
the naughty child Of my dear friend. will
write him bridal song, and sing il too at his
wedding" =.
Earnest at such times, would listen with
the deepest feeling TO all those revelations OF
her;poetic soul. He wrote on his tablets each
4 line of the sweet verse she had named The
ssbridal song" He was never absent from
| her side, anG the first object that Annie saw
on the return OF consciousness was Earnest
MAY. She held out her thin white hand 10 him
and tried 10 speak her thanks for his presence.
Many weeks OF WEAKNESS ond languor came
10 the poor sick girl ere she could leave ner
lbed. There seemed 10 be something hoidlne
her back from health. Her mind was moi
quite at rest.
Earnest read the soul Of The young girl, and
on each day felt more than ever like guilty
wretch who had crushed in his rude hand
beautiful and fragile flower. Well as he hac
imagined lie had understood her, he found he
had no concep ion Of the extreme delicacy ant
sensiiiyeneSs OF her nature. No attention o.
kindness from him could in any way wipe ou
the great wrong he had done her. But wha
was in his power 10 give he gave with earnest
ness and devotion Ii was he who sat by he
bedside, and strove by pleasant conversation
and reading 10 eniice her back to health ant
cheerful ess. His arm bore heI slight fram'
from the sick chamber into the genial sun
shine.
Nor was Earnest wholly unsuccessful in hi
efforts to restore Annie 10 health; and whe
the soft air touched her pale cheek, ther
sprang up again in her soul desire TO live,
but 10 revei in the beauty, Of nature.
One day Earnest bore Annie into the garde
arbor. Annie was still weak, and very pale
from the effect OF he! long illness. She seem
ed as fragile as an infant in the arms Of tn
strong man. How sighta breath might nj
e the b eautiful flower; and yet strong WI
ID was beating in her bosom, aud brave hea
d was in that frail tenement, that was buoyin
ncI OH tHe WdNC VI oSst'hJ5 ""o "o"'u S~'~'
I'd bear her safely TO some protecting harbor.
he Earnest drew from his bosom tablet, upo
e, which we're inscribed the lines OF the song in
I'd proyet in Annie's delirium. He commence
Ut resd il to Annie, who sat perfectly absotl
s; ed in The strange mystery. The rhyme. Il
u, thought was hers, but how could she accou
ul for the treable lines
Earnest closed the verse, and replaced II
nd tablet, then SAID in low voice:
he "Annie, this is our bridal song"
,t. Annie turned her beautiful eyes into Il
no face of Earnest, as if 10 read the meaning
We his words.
lly "Dear Annie, why did you lei your wi
ed waywatd heart mislesd you, when slIoVe
en- tell you my love for you.
"Your love for me, dear earnest yoa SO
de she whom you loved was very beautiful a
gifted" r,
"And so she is, sweet Annie. Who, Anr
Isl, but you could have inspired such love as i
len blessed, and well nigh wrecked my liie."
lu' "And is it me dear Earnest, that you 10
b!r so lenderly, so passionately?" And the pt
ai girl buried her face in the bosom OF Earne
vas and wept, The first happy tears that had tout
lay ed her cheeks foI many long, weary weeks
Iie' You, and you only, my beautiful child
Inc and Earnest raised the small head from his
iul som, aad kissed away the tears as he playi
"a a ly said:
nth "Haste, Annie, and soon be well, for Il
'ho to sing the bridal song"
dS Reader, is the story told ~