Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-25
VOL. XII.
ANNIE LAURIE

If you want to hear Annie Laurie spno
| come to my house." said n man to his frien5
we nave lore-lorn fellow in the yillag,
WI" was sadly wrecked by the refusal OF a cir
mnoni ne had been paying attention to for Q
year or more. 1t is seldom be will attempt th,
song but when he does, L tell you il draw,
tears from eyes unused to weeping
small selected company had assembled in
peasant little parlor, and were gaiiy chatting
ana laughing when a tall young man entared
whose peculiar face and air instantly arrested
tneir attention. lie was very pale, with that
c'edr viva complexion which dark con-
Sumpuves so often have. His locks were nc
black as jet, and hung profusely upon a souare
"nite collar; His eyes were very large and
SPIRITED, and his brow such n one as a poet
SHOULD have. But for a certain WANDERING
look casual observer would have pronounced
nun man OF uncommon intellectual powers
ihe words ''poor fellow and show sad he
JOCKS, went the rounds as he came forward.
D1wed TO the company, and took his seat One
or TWO thoughtless girls laughed as they whis-
pered that he was ';love cracked, - but the rest
treated him with respectful Difference
1t was late in the evening when singing was
proposed, and to ask him to sing Annie Lau-
RE was task of uncommon delicacy. One
song after another was sung and Mt last IN, :
one was named At its mention tho vonnc
man turned deadly pale but did not speak !;
no seemed lost in revcrie. THE name of
the girl who treated him so badly. was Annie ;,
said lady, whispering to the new guest, but,
gu L wish he would sing it; nobody else can
DO it Justice VII
3" n one dares sing Annie Laurie before Won.
Charies, said an elderly lady; 60 would It he
too much to ask you to favor the company with
1t :! she added timidiy
lie did notreplyfor n moment-his lips quiy
cred little, and then looking up as if he saw
spirit present, he began. Every sound was
hushed-it eemed as if his voice were tho voice
o; an angel. The tones vibrated through nerve
and heart, and made ore shiver wi the pa
thoS OF ms feelings; never was heard melody
In human voice like that-so plaintiye, so
SOULFUL, so tender and earnest
DE sat with his head thrown back, his ewes
half clo>ed-the locks of hair glisteninc against
his pale temples his fine throat swelling with
the rich tones, his hands lightly folded before
him; and as he sung
"And twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true''-
it seemed as if he shook from head to foot with
emotion. Many lip trembied-and there was
no Jesting, he laughing; but instead tears IN
more than one eve
And on he sang, and on, holding every one
In wrap. attention, till he came to the last
verse
I" Like dew Oh the gowan living
Is the fa' Of her fairy feet
Ana like winds in summer siyhing
Her voice is low and sweet
Her voice is low and sweet
And she's a the world to me"
lie paused before he added
" And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
Id lay he down and die
There was long, solemn pause. The black
locks seemed TO grow blackcr-the white TEN.
pies whiter-almost imperceptibIy the head
falling back-the eyes were close shut One
glanced at anOther-all seemed awe-struck-
till the same person who had urged him to sing,
laid her hand gently on his shoulder, saying
Charles, Charlesl'
Then came hush-a thrill of terror crept
through every frame-the poor, tried heart had
ceased to beat-Char,es, the love BETRAYED, was
dead