The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1877-06-05
annie Laurie. !"
Maxveisan's braes are bonnie,
Where early h's the dew;
And it's there tlnt Annie Laurie,
l:,-.,.i mo l,ev promise true."

And it's there tlnt Anuse Laurie,
Gl'ed me her promise true"
Thus sang clear tenor voice ringing ssf - sf'e
ou,,t air one sammer forenoon, and rs=ssasrsa TIE
OMEN xindov IL a little yine-clad cottaee xirfea
fair y.ng girl sat sewing II rviss'f thai -i'r
r..,ooniy-d the voice for a smile dimPsst her tAd.
~,,,b had been wearing a nod thoughtful look.
T,ro,,.y her sewing she looked out e the window
Gaming m close proximity to a young mans fss~.
i. handsome. i,oyish one, with brown eyes, ~hH'h
,.r. ;us, then sparkling with mcrriment.
.(:oo,-morning. lassie :" said Maurice Graham.
raising hi. straw ha, gracefully. Il am going Ia
crofs's lake tor y row; and II you will do me THE
honor Of accepting -est i'm my boat, wiii PROM
ise you haskell Of your farorite waier-I,i'es.
ooh, shall he delighted to go # Aunt Hannah Is
wi;.ing''
.An right, then; get your hat ~h'ie h"a your
relative and plead my cause
.susx,ess 10 you," said Annie Laurie. as she left
the room.
Very pretty she vas m her light muslin dress,
and a broad brmu,ed straw hat tied down over
her curls with a blue ribbon. And as she stood IN
the doorway. waiting for Maurice. who vas as
surfing Aunt Hannah for the last time THAI ne
would take good care Of her n:ece. he Thought i'
had not seen a prettier picture than Annie "r'de'
with the hop vines swing over he: head
Croft $ Lake, a beautiful sheet Of water, war bur
a short distance away, ami they were soon seated
m Maurre's boat, the Annie Laurie, named i"r
our heroine, who bore that quaint Scotch name,
They secured the water lilies. snowy, golden
hearted treasures. as, then oated into the shadow
of a rock. Both were silent; the beautiful sur
rounings, the soft AIR. Perfamed wtin the ~a'e'
lilies. seemed to cast spell over them
Suddenly FLASHING an car INTO the "a'ef'a'''TF
exclaimed:
..Teil me Of your thoughts, little las-'e.
She iook ed up quietly
81 WAS thinking Of SIR ''alaiad. These ''''e>
brought 10 nay mind the lines -
Il muse On you that will not cease
Pure spaces clothed in living beams,
Pure lilies Of eternal peace,
Whose odors haunt my dreams.
smile curled the corners ofhis lips.
.Is Sir t:alal,sd the hero Of your dreams
..N,,t alw,,,; il VAS meriy accidental,
M.,uce ,lasbe.i the water impatiently.
81 am going back {" my studies to-m"rro~.
..so soon ?" dropping the lilies she held.
..yes: have been Idle too long already. Father
- fully recovered now, and me i. inpatient 9" SO
me a LAWYER. But will YOU not tell me yon VAL
miss me- or has y"ur knight Of the iaose h""''" =
filed your heart that you have no room 'or poor
sinner like myself
"My heart IL large CROUCH {" hold more fian one
object tut wish they were all a. pure ami ""'"e
a. that youthful knight"
IF they we're. I should is excluded, he SAIL
with a little laugh.
She made no reply. and after Ir''',e he as'i'
broke the silence.
..Do Won know, little las-ie that am tweniy-"nt
today =,
.are YOU. smiling again. II had forgotten al
about IT.
s-How cruel in yOu.
pardon me, you abused ch,ld'' What can dc
to make amends for my poor memory:
s't;ive me a birthday gift.
"Willingly; If il is possible for me to q" SO.
..It i. :" changing his seat 10 one beside "rr
II, is yourself. little lassie:'
80 Maurice. don't ASK that nov!
..Anuie. what does this mean, ] have always
considered Won mine, and you have never rrPui-t's
me-"
II know ii, Maurice until now. You have heel
nv ideal Of true manhood"
And now ~
There was no reply; her face was very PALE ans
she locked her fingers convulsiveiy
..aunie. is il because you have learned fhat
, sometimes indulge in what You call gam'aing.'
.Yes, Maurice
He. too, was very pale now, and his S"'ce trr'"
bled.
Evil, YOU cast me Oh Tor that one sin,'
There was no reply.
- IN
have no tie to bind me to anything good. nav
smned, il is true hut With you for my promi>e'
| wife will overcome this sin
mo +" she said, firmly. 81 will not To- Mound
II Won are strong enough to abstain from this Ssc
one year. come to me then, and will give y"n 'n
promise
.-Heaven helping me, will. AIMEE bat Il is :
bitter punishment, TO wait :" long: Thought u
| leave you with this ring on your hand laying
| little gold band ON he- lap.
| She shiyered a little
mo, cannot wear IL now"
A second later, something bright flashed in tn
sunshine, then disappeared among the riPpii'r
| waters. She looked up timidly into his fsce, e''
| there were no traces of anger there.
..t;cd bless you, my little lassie." he said, takin
her hands in his "You were never 80 precious q
, me rs YOU are this moment. How ] wish coai
fling away the evil Of the past easy as did i'
| ring!'
Annie could restrain her feelings no longer, am
her tears fell fast Maurice took her tenderty u
| his arms, and there she sobbed out q sad story
| that Of her mothers life. She had loved maj
whose only fault was his love for the gaming table
| Long she wayered between her love for him an
tire fear of unhappiness which the marriage migf,
Lring her. But love finally triumPhed. and sh
became his wife. She enjoyed a few brief month
Of happiness, and then her trouble began. an
ended not until a year later, when the tired sou
fitted away, leaving Annie, helpless infant, L
| the care Of her unmarried slater, Aunt Hannah
The unhappy husband, soaded on bv rem"r-.
s.ush, forpettuncss in drink, and died in r.,
years.
s.Poor little lsssier' said Maurice, kissing. he
tenderiy. 81 do not blame you for fearing q
give me your promise until have proved myss-
worthy Of your love. You will have faith ia %,
strength to overcome evil, will Won not, darling |.
| .sYes Maurce."
Twilight was beginning to steal over the watel
warning them that they must return. Both yer
happier than when they came. for a sweet t-u'
had filed their hearts, and the homeward ro
was a pleasant one.
4 laborer, returning from ms daily toll, pause
On the hank Of the lake 70 listen 10 clear teno
voice that fiosfed across the water, and when b
distinguished the words.
.And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
| I'd Law me down an dee,"
me passed on, saying /" I'm ey are lovers; God iaes
them
TIE year Of probation Was past, and one sol
summer evening Maurice Graham claimed hi
promise, and Annie Laurie gave II trnstingly.
Afew weeks later. a ring was placed ON her fn
ger, and the promise given, It'll death do u
part"
Wit
There Is NO more interesting spectacle than {
see the effects Of wit upon the different character
Of men: then to observe il expanding caution
relaxing dignity, unfreez,ng coldne~s-teschin
agt and care and pain 10 smiie-sxtortiug r~luci