Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-11-08
NIISLAID.


asked Mrs. DeLacy.
A young girl raised pair of eyes
clear as forest spring, grey aud
beautiful from her book.
81 don't know, Maud" she answer
ed. 1t was the third time that her
sister had lost those scissors during
the short afternoon.
ooh, here they are-in the work
drawer, Just where / put them half an
hour ago - exclaimed Mrs. DeLacy.
''lt's terribly annoying to have such a
memory rs mine.
Annie shut up her book "Muud,
what would you dO?'
'"About what ~ asked Mrs. DcLacy,
biting off thread
"JOhn Allen"
"Why, haven't you settled that
matter yet? Marry him, of course. -
"No, / don't intend 70 DO that,
but"
s'Then Won have decided =
81 decided instantly, Maud. All /
want to know now is, whether 1 had
better sec him or send him my rcfu-
sal by letter.
q 'Don't dc either, Annie. 1 tell
YOU, you are a foolish girl. John
Allen is TOO good man 10 he reject
ed"
sob, of course, rejoined Annie
.'hc is one of the best men in the
world" and she took up her book
again.
81 wish You would he reasonable, "
said Mrs. DeLacy.
"You think / am nOt?'
II think you are throwing away the
best chance you will ever have in your
life"
Mrs. DeLacy said no more than
this, and Annie made her decision
alone-to send her rejection of John
Allen by letter The Cpistle ran thus:
my kind friend Before you re-
ceive this | am sure you will have dis
covered that you have made a mistake
in regard to your feelings for mo. |
never thought OF loving you except
rs Il good, elder brother; and the
circumstances of little illness and
low spirits on my part have made you
mistake the impulse of yOur own kind
heart. 1t is simply this, and nothing
more, that caused you last night to
ask me to marry yOu. IL would be n
great mistake for both of us-for me
to marry one whom ! look upon only
as a brother, and for yo9 to marry
one whom you regard only as a sister.
CANINE REDDNG."
She wrote the note that evening,
and sent it the following morning
and then she went out for walk.
a little i'll and lowspiritcd she had
been for n month. The illness was
caused by nights spent in wearisOme
crying, the low-spirits Swell, Annie
knew better than any one else what
caused them. Her head ached, and
she needed fresh air, and 80 went
out.
The morning light lay blue in the
tracks upon the snow. She listened
to the sound of the crust breaking
under her feet. All else was still in
the fields. A flock of sparrOws twit,
tered around when she came to the
gate. A spray of purple meZereor
blossomed over the stone wall. 1t al
seemed deadfully dull and common,
place to Annie, though she did stor
and examine the meZeTeOn Il little
A sudden step crushed the snow more
decidedly than she had done.
Good morning said n voice.
She turned and looked at Walter
Westgate with a sudden, startled flusl
ON her face, and he nodded airlly,
laughing at the wide eyes and cama-
ton color.
"Well, Annie, do you think l am q
ghost %
mo. II thought you were at
Lenox."
mo, indeed. have been home 4
week. Are you going to the ball to-
night, Annie?"
81 do not know" was the reply.
Il want to see you there. Come if
you can. leave home in few days, -
he added.
Eyes" mulmured Annie, believing
that she understood him.
''Balls are a bore, but this one will
serve purpose; and L have prom.
ised to take my sisters-they have
new silks" with significant nod
Good bye-Iam going to meet a man
at the hotel.
lie put his glOvcd hands on her
shoulders. Before she could draw q
breath, he had kissed her, and was
gone.
How red her cheeks were aud how
light her heart as she turned 10 &C
home All her sisters boisterOu.
boys rushed out to meet her from the
garden, crying to know what she hat
brought them from the town, and /
did not discompose her.
II did not go into the town, chill
dren. But here are some pennies
and you can so yourselves, tomorrow
Here-Aubrey, Charlie, Bert"
She emptied the loose change O
her pOrtMonie among them. and ral
lightly into the house.
The dress which she Wore on tn
following evening was very becoming
to her. it'seemed to make the clea
natural eyes clearer, and the ripplin
hair darker. The olive check wa
pale, but the mobile lips were red a
rubies, and the hand which threy
aside her wraps trembled a little
She took her brothers arm and er
tered the rooms.
All the country families Were pres
cnt. She made the first ground" {
the room confidently and happily, tn
next with more earnestly observau
eve, the third in anxious surprise. tn
fourth in bitter disappointment
Walter Westgate was not there. an
it was very late; his sisters wer
present with another escort. All tn
pleasant sociality suddenly grew
dreadful bore 20 Annie. She did nc
even see Nellie Westgate's new sill
She told her brother that she did nC
wish for supper, and he might tax
her home as early rs he liked. TIL
good man was greatly given to hi
books, and took advantage of this pei
mission to retire half an hour aftC
his entrance.
Mrs. DeLacy, nt home, was waitn
for her sister.
Here's a letter from Mrs. Morton
Annie; and, If you want that stu,
ton, you must take it tomorrow.
Her gOverness left to-day"
Certainly l want it. | will max
all necessary preparations tonight
exclaimed Annie.
"Who was at the ball? Here
your book, my dear TO her husbau
who was searching the lihrar
shelves.
Nobody answered Annie.
Weren't the Westgutes there
kate and Molly
"Who was with them -
Doctor Montgomery"
He is paying court to Molly, ism
he?"
81 don't know" was the only al
sNer.
Annie could not talk any longer
She ran up to her room and locke
herself in. The next morning
eight o'clock she went TO South Poil
as governess.
South Point was barren lit
place on the sea-shore, the view frol
the windows was most dismal; lit
could Annie see the sea from it, for
lay, blue and broken, beyond ii
sandhills. What wonder that, after
4b,.aa months vea..iS0me homeless