Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-02-09
For the Delaware Gazette,
ANNA STAETON.
BY MRS. RUTH HARDING.

BY MRS. RUTH HARDING.
The last lingering rays of the setting
sun glimmered through the trees, feeking
the pretty white cottage with pale gold
en- spots among the quivering shadows.
In an easy chair by onelof the windows,
| whose half closed blinds cast a dim twi-
light through the room, sat a delicate
| looking girl, her eyes fixed with a sad
dreamy expression, upon a single CLEAN
of yellow sunlight, which had some way
/ found an entrance, and was playing upon
/ the opposite wall, now disappearing, then
breaking out again brighter than before,
as the branches Of the trees sWayed to
and fro. The girl watched 1t until it
grew fainter, and fainter, then, finally,
with a last tremulous motion, it fell on a
portrait upon the wall, lighting up the
face for an instant, then vanQuished.-
For a moment she sat, her eyes still rest
ing upon the spot where the ray disap-
peared, then the lids dropped softly over
the large grey orbs, tear trIckled through
the long lashes, and rolling down the pale
cheek fell upon the hands clasped tightly
together just then the sound of merry
voices broke the stiffness and a silvery
laugh hoated into the room. The girl
started up, and dashing the tears from her
face, pushed the blinds open and turned
her chair still further towards the win
dow a fresh musical voice was saying
eagerly, You must come in Mr. Harring-
ton, and help me to win one of those rare
strange smiles, from my pretty pale
cousin.
Then deep voice answered, IF you
wish it, certainly, yet [ doubt my ability
to assist you in the task you mention"
''Oh, we will succeed, L know, exclaim-
ed the merry tones, and bright, sauey
! looking little lady, accompanied by gen
tleman, entered the room where the
/ ''prettv pale cousin" sat. Yet they need
not call her pale now, for deep bushes
burned where the lily was wont to dwell,
perhaps twas only the reflection of the
| crimson sunset glow, yet more probably
it was the effect Of the remarks she had
overheard. Upon percsiving her cousin
already IN the room, and knowing she
must have heard them, Mamie Hunter
| came to her side saying laughingly, Par
don my freedom in speaking of you Anna,
I did not know that you had come down,
but-Mr. Harrington, come here, sir, and
let me introduce you to Miss Anna
Stanton"
He obeyed and bowed very low, while
brilliant smile broke over Anna's face.
''ThereI p exclaimed Nannle, we have
succeeded in winning one smile already"
(which is an ample reward for my as
senting to your proposition, Mamie, said
the gentleman gallantly, an answering
smile about his lips, as his eyes met An
mas, Then anxious to put them all at
ease, he adrOitly led the conversation in
to an interesting channel, and soon all
three were chatting merrily.
Only two days had passed since Anna
Stanton had come to this, her Uncle's
pretty home. Three years before her fa-
| ther had died, leaving herself and twin
brother, orphans Their mother had
died dur:ug their infancy, but Mr.. Stan
ton was wealthy and spared no pains or
/ expense in rendering his children happy,
and in fitting them for the very highest
spheres. By education and accomplish
ments Anna was fitted to ad0rn- the most
select circles, though differing greatly
| from her merry witty brother, she was
ouiet and somewhat reserved, but her
| yerv gentleness won the love, while her
brothers brilliancy commanded the admi-
ration of all who knew them. At their
| fathers death, the entire property became
/ theirs. and for two years they occupied
/ their city home, Anna more quiet and
gentle than ever with her sorrow for her
| father, and Henry trying by every means
/ in his power to make her happy, sitting
| his own grief lest it should add to hers
| It was IN the spring of sixty-twO, that
! Henry came to Anna one morning, look
| ing little pale, yet wearing a smile which
/ he tried to render cheerful, and fOndly
/ passing his arm around her, with gentle
/ words told her that he had determined to
| ioin the army and do what he could to help
/ our much loved but suffering country
bid me 90, Anna, was his earnest re-
/ quest, as he saw the great tears swelling
up. IBID me go-DO not say nay; I can
not stay while every thought and feeling
| tells me my place is with the defenders Of
our land. There is naught to deter me,
Anna darling, but the thought that you
will miss me. But the belief that my
/ sisters heart tells her, it is right for
me to go, and that she will bravely bear
the separation and lonliness. and be
fully repaid by feeling that her brother
| loved his country too well to sit idly here,
while her foes were striving to tear down
her starry banner! And Anna did bid
him go, as bravely as ever Henry could
wish, crushing back her great sorrows,
feeling that twas better so. And when
he was gone there came frequent loving
letters, she grew hopeful and cheerful,
forgetting the heavy fOrboGing that chill
led her heart at first.
So a year passed quietly away, then
came the news of fearful battle. She
knew that Henrys regiment was in the
engagement, and tremblingly she watched
and waited for tidings. Days heightened
into weeks, and none came, yet still she
hoped, though the color left her cheeks,
and her step grew slower, yet not word
of complaint left her lips. At last came
letter, but twas In strange hand, and
the dread suspense was over Henry
was dead, shot through the heart, so
wrote his friend who had promised if any
thing befell him to acquaint his sister of
it. The letter had been long delayed, but
came at last with its crushing weight of
woe. Twas too much for the already
overtasked heart, and a severe illness fol-
lowed. As she slowly recovered, she
I longed to be away from Ithe place where
everything reminded her of her lonel-
ness. So twas with eagerness that she
accepted her relatives invitation to spend
the remainder of the summer with them.
feeling sure thatin that pretty quiet home,
she might find contentment, if not han
piness. Therefore as soon as she was
abla to travel her uncle came for her, and
we now find her among those, who try to
show in every act, their love and sympa-
| &l,t- svov, ahn nat ~ Aha G.~esIg, ls4LI.. u