The Morning herald., 1876-09-23
ANNIE MARSHALL'S DESTINY
gY FRANCES ACTON.

BY FRANCES ACTON.
CHAPTER III.
SLEEPING THE LAST SLEEP.
+Ist fate do her worst, there are relies Of
Joy, .
Rd,ht dreams of tho past which she cannot
destroy;
Which come in the nighttime ofsorrow
and care.
nd bring back the features that Joy used
towear.
,oug, long my heart with such memories
filled!
Like the vase In whi}h roses have once
been distilled;
Like the vase in which roses have been dis
titled;
You may break, you may ruin, the vase II
you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang round
it still"
MOORE.
Seven years passed swiftly over Annie's
bead, bringing many changes, making
ber matronly, thoughtful woman, and
ssving darkening shadows on her
baily path. She had been good,
)aithful wife to Matthew Pengelly,
earning to love him as he deserved; and
sgarding David Bailey, when he came and
Fent as brother, to be loved always, but
Fith no unwifely love. But Annie was
(lone now; the pretty hone which the ten
Ter love of good man had furnished with
Everything that could add to her comfort
Rnd happiness, was desolats; three names
bn pretty tombstone in the little church,
Isrd (Which overhung the sea, were all that
Fss left to her of her wifely happiness.
loan had died soon after their marriage;
hen they had laid their only child in the
anne grave, with sorrow which the mother
hought could never be surpassed. Poor
0ifel there was deeper sorrow in store
or her. for the past two years the stone
bad borne another name, and her cup of
Brief was full. Under the record Of Joan's
feath and the baby's, came these words:
Also 10 gQ0 memory OI
MATTHEW PEN0ELLY,
Lost at Sea, March 10th, Is.
mot lost, but gone before"
Matthew had had good chance offered
him Of going to sea, as part owner OF a
Pmall vessel bound on whaling expedi.
fion. She had been built under his own
Bye, and he saw way of making money
or Annie if he went; and with many tears
fnd misgivings, she consented to the sepa-
fation. Alas! her forebodings were only
90 real; the end of the year that was to
have brought him home brought only the
dismal tidings Of his loss; the vessel had
been wrecked, and two Of her crew were
missing, one Of them being Matthew Pen
belly. Il was terrible trial to the young
(vlie but she bore it bravely and well
Pettlns her worldly affairs in order, and
Ptrlving to act in all things as would have
pleased him, had be been there to see her.
ohe had enough to live on in her simple
|Nay, but she employed her time in needle
work, for Joan had taught her we'll in the
pa days; and there was not such skill
~! t1I hand for miles around as "Young
Widow Pengelly," as she came to be called
10y the neighbors. Che might have mar
Fled over and over again; her pretty face
ana independent position won for her
many suitors, but she turned from them all
WIN aversion and disgust. There were
none among them to be compared to him
Lac dead husband Of her youth-so good,
20 lender, and so true. David Bailey had
never spoken Of love to her since the time,
|so long ago, when both their hearts had
|xell'nlgh broken over the sacrifice of their
tove to her sense Of duty. He was un-|
:atfled, and, people said, fast getting
tlca, out ne seemed to have no heart for
|sny Of the girls, who were quite ready to
Except him, whenever he should offer HIM
MI 70 them. More new bonnets and
s%stt dresses were dogned in his honor,
anen ne came home from his long voyages,
|i4sa |1s IN MS simplicity he ever dreamed of |
|.a |ns We went bis way among them, fancy free
a. al appearances, doing lsving sons
u.y 70 bis old father and mother, till the !
|Is'.et .s. faded away into her quiet grave, her
a'' r." spoken words blessing on his dutiful
aedu; ssd Then their home grew very lonely,
S.a S.a MS heart turned once more to her who
nsu nsu never lost her place in it. He had |
H;'sl h;' ceased to love her deeply and truly; |
evs. s,s nsaft was as much hers now as it had
ths MI Ceen, when he strolled by her side in |
l. ;ns =, Uflghl sunshine, and built fairy castles
o1o% ii Jug ar to be dwelt in some time in the |
NV, e".'hs future. But would she have him
atts. % |: Would she turn from him again,
tisUt Ut DIS long years of probation and pa
to t'5s bss weary waiting2 He scarcely dared |
fsta "a aope = it, and yet he resolved to ''put his
H. H. 70 the touch, and win or lose it ALL"
tnO;. TIM would ask her the first fitting oppor-
tbsn y and the opportunity came sooner
.umm u ne dared to hope. It was bright
braaaIe bner Gay; the air was redolent of the !
ssI'n ,es Sl o. sweet flowers, and the clear blue
aect;,no M tG,oke In Light waves upon the beach,
Dsv;d D s. tne shing!e with diamond sparkles.
~VAV 6dtl0v strn11od ~, ~ ~ :. ~ ! S.l....L