Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-09-23

spoke to him till Edith appeared, when to hi
courteous bow, which Edith saw, with dis
dainful curl Of the lip, that he should hav
wasted upon Annie.) she returned sligh
inclination Of tho head.
Edith was brilliant performer upon th'
/ piano, and seemed never to weary Of playin,
and singing for Mrs. Lothrop, who was en-
Enthusiastically fond Of music
a few mornings after this. when Edith had
finished playing, and Mrs Lothrop had ex.
pressed, in her peculiar way, her thanks. and
qualification, the latter suddenly turned to
Annie and said
"Do you not play alsoi"
Before Annie could reply, her step-mother
answered for her.
"Annie commenced taking lessons when a
child, but we found she had not correct
car; and her father had horror of girls
who drum on the piano without producing
music her lessons were discontinued. Edith,
on the contrary, early showed perfect pas
sion for music"
Mr.. Kirkwood eyed the young girl intently
and curiously while Mrs. Rathburn was
speaking. but neither check flushed, nor eye
flashed nor lip curled a denial of the state
ment.
What a mystery she was becoming to him
This young girl with her reserve. her cold
ness, her command over tongue and feature
tie had been ear and eyewitness to a cir
cumstance the day previous, which would
have enabled him to enlighten Mrs Rathburn
upon this very subject, had he been so dis
posed.
lie had made an engagement in the morn.
ing to make some visits with the ladies', but
in consequence of the reception of some let
ters, which required immediate answers he
was prevented from fulfilling it. After as
sistng the ladies into the carriage, he repair
ed to small room opening by glass door
from the parlor, for the purpose of answer
ing his correspondence. He had been there
but few minutes, when Annie entered the
parlJr, wheeling in little Willie. She looked
out of the window, then carefully closed the
door into the hall With feeling of annoy
ance, he saw her open the piano and sit down
to il, for he was in no mood to be distuI bed
by the discordant sounds he expected would
succeed, and there was no egress except
through the parlor. lie was, therefore, little
prepared for the rich strains of harmony that
broke upon his ear. The touch, the taste,
the execution were perfect There was no
bungling, no harshness, no discord-all was
smooth, easy. harmonious.
At first she played from memory, then
some of Edth's most difficult pieces, and
lastly ran over some new music he had him
self the day before presented to Edith, which
she had declared $50 difficult she feared she
never should be able to play it to suit him.
with correctness and rapdity which aston
ished him, knowing that she could not have
seen it previously.
During this time she had once or twice
risen and looked out Of the window. as if she
thought she heard the carriage returning but
finding herself mistaken, resumed her seat
Her little auditor, for whose pleasure she
was evidently playing, after every piece re-
newed his cntreaties for one more. lie now
urged for a song on Eva's harp. Annie hes
itated, but as be continued to plead, after
another glance from the window, she went to
the corner where the instrument stood, un-
covered it, sat down, and after running her
fingers over the strings, commenced simple
German song. If her unknown auditor was
astonished before, his astonshment was not
lessened now. The young girls voice, nat
urally rich, sweet and full, had evidently been
highly cultivated and she sang with taste
and feeling, playing with artistic skill, while
the pure accent of the German words evinoed
an extensive knowledge of :hat language
Willie could not prevail upon his sister 20
sing again, much to Mr.. Kirkwood disap-
pointment; and after she had covered the
harp, both left the room, leaving Mr.. Kirk
woed filed with admiration and wonderment
He did not know of the one bright spot in
Annie's liie--the three years, beamng up like
a fash ofsunlight amid the darkness that pre-
cedel and followed, spent with her fathers
sister in distant city, where the young girl
had found all the love, and care, and apprecia-
tion denied her at home. Her aunt, surprs-
ed at her igonorance of all accomplishments,
on her own responsibility afforded her every
advantage for improvement Her talent for
music was discovered, and the best masters
and in which study her improvement
was remarkable But death called away
Annes one friend, and she returned homo
sorrowing deeply for her whom she had so
many reasons to mourn.
That Annie felt no disposition to display
the accomplishment in which she could not
but be conscious she far excelled Edith, and
which, therefore, would but increase her an
noyances and unhappiness, may be inferred.
1t was only in the quiet Of her own room,
that she pursued her studies, while her prac-
NV VI hHNlN was hSNtNNail ueluB
confined to those periods when the family
were absent.
Mr., Kirkwood saw Annie the next evening
under more advantageous circumstances than
he had yet seen her. 1t was at large party
She was dressed with exquisite taste, and her
dark hair was worn in broad braids, arranged
with the most artistic grace. lie thought her,
in her calm, proud beauty, far the most eleg-
ant girl present. He was not alone in his
admiration. Although she declined dancing,
she received marked attention from several Of
the most prominent gentleman present.
Mrs. Rathburn saw, with chagrin and disap-
pointment, that while her brilliant Edith num-
bered in her large crowd Of admirers the vain,
shallow, the triaing, the brainless lashionist
those who surrounded the disliked Annie, ifI
less in number, were men of mark, whose no
tice any girl would be proud of obtaining.
The few attentions Mr. Kirkwood rendered
the first of the evening were so coldly re-
neiyed by the young girl that he did not con
tinue them. Piqued and offended he did not
lpproace her again, but devoted himself as
much as he was able to Edith. 1t might be I
this was what Annie wished and intended /
for she knew that jealous eyes were watching
him, and felt no willingness for his sake to
undergo fresh annoyanees.
Moapurktfo tho 1nve of I nfhropfa I