Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-12-31

ANNIE LEE.
THE HAPPY RESULTS OF A MAIDEN'S
FIRMNESS.


many pretty villages. qAiet, unobtruslve
places, with a charming rlrAl aspect, no.
where else in the world to be seen but in
England. In such charming retreats-the
more charming because thcy derive some
prosperity from their continuity to the great
sea- port-there is generally TO be found q
class of persons. who. to limited agricultural
pursuits, unite the business ola tradesman.
OF this class was Mr.. Lee, worthy, and,
to use the familiar phrase, Il ''wel-to-do"
man.-He had married late in life, and, at Il
somewhat advanced age, had been left
a wilowcr with an only child, a daughter,
and. according to the general testimony
of the male portion of the community amongst
whom she dwelt, the "pride of the vii
ldge."
Annie Lee well deserved this title, for she
was not only beautiful in person, but amia-
BILE in disposition, and, for a young girl in
her station in life, exceedingly well oduca-
ted We will not specify the particular vii
lage, but we will attempt to describe sweet
Annie Lee.
She belonged to that class of girls who, in
personal appearance, are decidedly English.
Of the middle height of her sex, she pos
sessed that poetic, indescrbable grace which
we associate with form whose modest pill
ancy and moderate fullness at once impress
us with the idea OF Il wo nan who has not
very long passed out Of the sparkling buoy
ancy OF sporting girl-hood Annie was 20,
and her department had acquired that tinge
of seriousness natural to girl of her years,
when the cultivation of mind has not been
neglected. Her face was extremely beauti-
ful in outline, although some of the fea-
lures were not classically regular. The rich
lips, when in rcpose, We're rather firmly
closed, and the chin was little too large for
those critics who look for perfection in every
feature. But the upper portion of Annie s
face was uneXccptionable. Her straight nose,
with slightly carved nostrils, above which
beamed the light Of dark blue unfathomable
eyes. and all crowned by delicately arched, q,
white forehead, on each side of which re-
posed thick bands of dark brown hair, to-
gether with the bushing bloom Of maiden
health on her cheeks, rendered the ensemble
of her loveliness delightfully."- attractive
Annie, however, had an inward beauty
which man Tested itself in her daily life
With the most exquisite tendernt SIS there was
linked moral courage-an elevated moral
courace-a sense Of duty to herself and 9TH
ers, rarely to be found in young women up
on whom nature has lavished her favors, and
who are continually exposed to the incense Of
fattery and admiration.
As might have been expected, Annie Lee
had many lovers, but there was one in the
throng upon whom she had ng ago be-
slowed Der preference. He belonged to the
same village as herself and their pecuniary
prospects were about equal, with the differ
ence that Frank Harvey was already in pos
session of his patrimony, his parents being
both dead. The young man rented on a Ions
lease small, wel-stocked farm, and had a
command several hundred pounds in money
so that the match appeared promising one
1t was evening of the market day in Liv
erpool, and Annie was slowly returning iron
the railway station, about mile from tn
village. She had gone there to meet he
lover on his return from market, but he ha
failed to keep his appointment. HIS horse
and cart had passed through the village in tn
afternoon, and he ought not to have bee
many hours after them. As she wondered n
his non-appearance she was troubled, and nc
little vexed, for it was one of the pleasure
of their courtship, this tete-a-tete homeward
on fine market days.
As she was walking along, her pensi,
mood was disturbed by an object before he
1t was man reeling from one side to tt
other. Annie recognized in him the yillag
tailor, shocking drunkard, and, with a sci
sation of loathing, she flew past him. 1
she entered the village, she observed his wi
and three young children standing at Il
wicket gate of their humble C ttaSe, eyiden
ly waiting for his coming. What coming
Annie's heart sank as she kindly bade d
woman good night and when she had pr
ceeded some distance she looked back, al
saw the poor wife still looking for the ''coi
ing"
Annie did not sleep soundly that night.
An anxious foreboding weighed upon /
senses, and when she did slumber she saw
her dreams pale withered face ut Il wicl
gate, looking down the r ,ad, through sea
ing, binding tears, ior some one coming.
In the morning. Harvey called and fou
Annie in the shop, serving some custome
She returned his cheerful salutation W
that reserve customary with young lad
when addressed by their lovers in the p
sence of others but when they were alo
she reproached him for his neglect ON
previous evening.-ialyey, with a sill
blush, said he had missed the train.
"You must have missed two," said Am
quietly, =,
"Only one in fact, | was detained
business beyond my usual time," was
hurried reply.
What broad shoulders that same Ssh
ness' must have to bear the enormous
that is placed upon them
Annie looked her dissatisfaction as her
ther emerged from the little parlor bel
the shop and, in a hearty English way,
vited Harvey inside. The old man loved
hear all he could about the market he
ceased to tend aud what was stirr'n' :"
Harvey, for a man, Was an excellent m'
f.r Anne in appearance. Hewas tai ma
good docking iellow ,ofabnut four-and-twe
with a slight dash Of rustieity in his mann
and that rather enhanced his bon hom'r,
features were regular and shnne ne,acL g
health, while hia da,k eye anu sha
hair caused many maid 10 "''" Wv
such A" beau"