Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-10-26


heaven
Both were brave and strong, and he
roic, If Annette had more strength and
dignity, Jaleph had more skill and grace
One was statelier in his walk the other
more aerial in the dance.
Both loved lamar. In thousand
ways, each told his love. Annette pre-
sented her with gorgeous plume of the
bird of paradise Jaleph wove for her a
garland of matchless beauty, made of
shells and flowers. Annette trained for
her horse feet as the antelope: Jaleph
learned to play the melodies which filled
her innocent slumber with enchanting
dreams.
So beloved, lamar was very happy -
No one could tell which swain she favor
ed. Had each one been her brother,
she could not have been more kind. The
aged people, who loved all their children,
looked on and shook their heads; for
they saw that this must end aud they
feared that it might end in sorrow.
The time came when lamar also saw
and felt that the noble cousins loved her
with more than brotherly love. Annette,
the more impetuous, first declared his
passion.
lamar" he said, d" beautiful lamar,
| love thee !"
Dear Annette p' breathed from the
open heart of the innocent maiden.
Wilt thou be mine p
Her lovely face, which had been radi-
ant with happiness, was clouded now with
doubt and perplexity. Annette saw, and
asked again, in deep, subdued tones, 80
beautiful one wilt thou be mine p
The quecnly girl covered her face with
her hands, and burst into tears.
Jaleph that moment came upon them,
holding in his hand an offering of flowers.
lie stopped moment in surprise at the
dark brow of Annette, and the fearful
distress of his beloved lamar. lie grew
pale, as his heart told him the decisive
hour had come.
With the frankness that belonged to
the age of heroic innocence before cen
turtles of selfshness, rapacity, poverty,
and crime had married the bodies and de-
formed the souls of men-he held out
one hand to his rival, and the other to
the beautiful one they both adored
too, love you, beautiful lamar !"
said the youth with the blue eyes and
golden hair "God of our fathers wit
ness my deep lovel Here we stand !
Choose between us !"
a pang shot through the heart of each !;
but they stood, each nobly resigned to
the fate that awaited him.
lamar looked on each. SO long had
she loved both, with the pure love of
sanity maidenhood, that the deeper love
now profered only troubled and distressed
her. How could she take herself from
either? How hurt one when both were
so dear?
+" Annette Jalcph why ask me to
choose? Are we not happy? So let US
remain"
The young men looked in each others
saddened eyes, and each one felt that it
could be SO no longer. The happy time
had passed.
AS the group stood, hand-in-hand, in
the glow Of the sunset, the mother Of
lamar came, in her sweet, matronly dig
nifty, to greet them.
What is this, my children p she
asked, in alarm, as she saw their sorrow
full faces and her daughters falling tears.
Dear mother" cried lamar, how
can i choose between those / lovey'
The mother smiled but the smile was
not free from sadness.
My daughter" she replied, there
must be one whom you love above all
others"
Mother, mother ~ said the poor girl,
as she buried her face in her bosom !;
"both have been so kind, so noble. so
loving to me all my life, how can | hurt
one or the othcrY'
Again the sad smile.
Come with me, my daughter; you,
my children, go. In seven days lamar
shall answer you"
They kissed the mothers hand held
out to them. They looked tenderly at
the weeping girl, and walked away, hand
finland. There was no rancor or jeal-
ousy in their noble hearts, 1t is true,
that each one felt that the happiness Of
his life was at stake. To fight for the
possession of the object of their love,
however, was mode Of settling their
rival pretensions left to the darkness and
ferocity Of succeeding ages, when the
earth should be stained with crime and
blood.
Annette and Jaleph were together, as
ever, in their light labors and their many
pastimes Two days had passed, and
they were swimming 10 ther river. Wheth-
or exhausted by exercise or weakened by
emotion, Jaleph could not swim with his
usual strength. Soon his golden locks
we're seen to sink beneath the waves.
His snewy arms grew powerless. A cry
from the shore alarmed Annette. He
looked for his cousin, and the next mo-
ment plunged beneath the surface. In n
few moments he bore him to the shore,
where he soon recovered.
Again, they were hunting tho leopard
in the mountains. Jaleph fell, and the
wild beast sprang upon him. The lance
Of Annette pierced the fierce animals
heart, and saved bis rival from death.
The seventh day approached. Neither
had spoken to lamar. They had but
seen her at distance. Each had re-
Trained from every offering or sign Of
love. Their loyal hearts would not per-