The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-10-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
A N N I T. L EFF.

In the neighborhood of Liverpool
there are many pretty villages, quiet,
unobtrusive places, with charming.
rural aspect, nowhere else in the world
to be seen but in England. In such
charming retreats-the more charming
because they derive some prosperity
from their contiguity to the great sea-
port-there is generally to be found a
class of persons, who, to limited agri-
cultural pursuits, unite the business of
tradesman. Of this class was Mr..
Lee, a worthy, and to use the familiar
phrase, a ''well-to-do" man. He had
married late in life, and at somewhat
advanced age had been left widower
with an only child, a daughter, and ac-
cording to the unanimous testimony of
the male portion of the community
amongst whom she dwelt, the ''pride Of
the village"
Annie Lee we'll deserved this title,
for she was not only beautiful in person,
but amiable in disposition, and, for a
young girl in her station Of life, ex-
ceedingly well educated. We will not
specify the particular village, but we
will attempt to describe sweet Annie
Lee. She belonged to that class of girls
who, in personal appearance, are decid-
edly English. Of the middle height Of
her sex, she possessed that poetic, inde-
scribable grace which we associate with
form whose modest pliancy and mode
rate fullness at once impress us with the
idea of woman who has not very long
passed out of the sparkling buoyancy
Of sportive girlhood. Annie was TWEEN
ty, and her department. had acquired
that tinge of seriousness natural to
girl of her years when the cultivation
of her mind has not been neglected.
Her face was extremely beautiful in
outline, although some of the features
were not classically regular. The rich
lips when in repose were rather firmly
closed, and the chin was little too
large for those critics who look for per-
fection in every feature. But the upper
portion of Annie's face was unexcep-
tionable, Her straight nose, with
slightly curved nostrils, above which
beamed the light of dark blue unfath-
omable eyes, and all crowned by deli
cately arched, white forehead, on each
side of which reposed thick bands of
dark brown hair, together with the
blushing bloom of maiden health on her
cheeks, rendered the ensemble of her
loveliness delightfully."- attractive. An
ME, however, had an inward beauty
which manifested itself in her daily
life. With the most exquisite tender
ness there was linked moral courage
AN elevated moral courage-a sense
| 0r uuIy W nerseIT ssl.ss Ss::s s::s6rs-rHreIJ u
be found in young women upon whom
nature has lavished her favors, and who
are continually exposed to the incense
AS might have been expected, Annie
Lee had many lovers, but there was one
in the throng upon whom she had long
ago bestowed her preference. He be-
longed to the same village as herself !;
and their pecuniary prospects were about
equal, with the difference, that Frank
Harvey was already in possession of
his patrimony, his parents being both
dead. The young man rented on a
long lease a small we'll stocked farm,
and had at command several hundred
pounds in money; so that the match
apparently appeared a promising one.
1t was evening Of the market day in
Liverpool, and Annie was slowly re-
turning from the railway station about a
mile from the village. She had gone
there to meet her lover on his return
from market, but he had failed to keep
his appointment. His horses and cart
had passed through the village in the
afternoon, and he ought not to have been
many hours after them. As she won
dered at his non-appearance, she was
troubled and not little vexed. for it
was one of the pleasures of their court
ship this tete-a-tete homewards on fine
market days. As she was walking
along, her pensive mood was disturbed
by an object before her. It was man
reeling from one side Of the road to the
other. Annie recognized in him the
village tailor, shocking drunkard. and
with sensation of loathing she flew
past him. As she entered the village
she observed his wife and three young
children standing at the wicket gate Of
their humble cottage. evidently waiting
for his coming. What coming -
Annie's heart sank as she kindly babe
the woman good night, and, when she
had proceeded some distance. she look
ed back and saw the poor wife still look
ing ''for the coming"
Annie did not sleep soundly that
night. An anxious forebnding weighed
upon her senses, and when she did slum-
Der she saw in her perturbed dreams
pale, withered face at a wicket gate,
looking down the road, through scald-
ing. binding tears. for some one COM
ing.
In the morning. Harvey called and
found Annie in the shop serving some
customers. She returned his cheerful
salutation with that reserve customary
with young ladies' when addressed by
their lovers in the presence of others !;
but when they were alone, she reproach-
ed him for his neglect on the previous
evening. Harvey, with slight blush,
said he had missed the train.
you must have missed two,' said
Annie quietly.
Only one in fact, was detained
by business beyond my usual time was
the hurried reply. What broad shoul-
ders that same business" must have to
bear the enormous load that is placed
upon them
Annie looked her dissatisfaction as her
father emerged from the little parlor be-
hind the shop. and in a hearty English