The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-03

| ly out of their senses Where is he this re-
firing young fellow? This exclusive author?
BY heaven hex # he do not come out to me
Irushed down stairs and confronted him at
his own gate, my eyes flashing and my voice
trembling with passion.
| II am no listener, no spy" | said. II was
! sleeping in my hammock, and was suddenly
awakened BY very emphatic question Annie
Lau-thas ls Mllie--I mean your niece asked
| her companion. In the confusion Of the mo-
ment answered the question as emphatically
as it was asked. II I have frightened and
| pardon, but l warn you, sir, to call me no
more opprobgious names.
| Millcent came out on the porch and glanced
at me ;hyy Gy cold HE ie doesn't look very wicked
of mischief in her eyes, land firmly believe
what he says end freely forgive him for the
fright he gave me-"
| [ bowed and turned away and q moment
after | heard a ripping laugh, and then in q
few moments anoae the verse of the song she
had sung when first she gladdened my tired
eyes:
Maxwelton g braes are bonnie
Where early fas the dew,
And 1t was here that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true.
Gave me her pr mise true
Which ne'er forgot shall be.
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me dOwnand dee'
AltsF tlat poiuly tafeW open tne WlndOW
blinds, and smiled down on her, and she
smiled up at me. Then | asked for rose
over the fence one day, and she gave it to
me. Then we met in the meadow and dis
coursedof the manifold virtues of Bub and
Sis. Then one blessed August afternoon
set in nay memory like great, pure pearl
it was just after shower aud the earth wore
one broad smile OF sunshine and the birds
sang as though they would burst their slen-
der throatsl, she came to the meadow gate
xy-faF 7
said:
81 love you-and your
why" she answered, dropping the long
lashes over her beautiful eyes and speaking
with sweet hesitation, 'f-love-you.'
| kissed her pretty mouth. MY darling"
| said, ''you have been my darling ever since
the bright June morning heard you singing
Annie Laurie to the loses
!, "And you mine she replied, looking in my
face with bewitching, saucy frankness fever
since the morning you flew out as though
shot from a cannon-your eyes flashing and
your hair in the widest disorder, with no
collar, let alone cravat on, and defied my
uncle, | thought you simply delicious-so
different from any one ! had ever seen be-
fore so very unlike my cousin But Elmer"
and a shade stole over her bright face "uncle
will never, never consent toto"
Our marriage, my dearestT
Eyes, to our marriage. for he has set his
heart on my marrying Chester, and he's my
guardian and I'm only nineteen"
,'Only be true to me- Millcent, interrupt
ed, land I'll wait for you patiently faithfully
only say that you promise,
"Ne'er forget will be" sang she.
"And, took up the song. 'for bonnie An
ME Laurie, I'd lay M" but stopped sud-
denly.
Uncle Gardner-his shaggy eyebrows bent
in an ominous frown-stood before us. He
had returned from business much earlier than
usual that afternoon, and that laundering
Bub had brought him to us, and stood there
wagging his heavy tail as though he had
done the most friendly thing in the world.
The next morning, before I had ceased
dreaming about her, my Milicent had been
spirited away.
And in a weeks time-what a long, wretch
ed, dreary week it II had left Appeland
in the attic OF a great clearinghouse in the
noisy city. And to keep the sorrow from
breaking my heart worked like a fiend, and
the book, to which | have referred before,
came down from the attic to the second floor
'front.' and doffed my flannel suit for some
thing more seasonable.
Autumn passed away and winter came, and
spring followed, and summer brought her
roses, and then came autumn again, and in
turn retired for the months of cold and snow,
and every day hope grew less and less bright,
for | had not heard one word of my lost
darling.
The second New Years day since our sepa-
ration dawned bright and cold, and as / came
up gaspng from the basin of icy water, into
which | had plunged my head, Dick Van
Cleve danced in from the next room, in ex-
treme dishabille, vaulted over chair or two
it cleverly, and then asked:
"Going to make caIls?"
MAKE calls 7" repeated l contemptuously
did you ever know me to do such silly
"Oh I don't mean the regular business
said he, "only friendly dr0p-in on some of
our fellow women writer's.
There's that little Clark girl, she'd be de-
lighted to see you-thought you looked vastly
entertaining more thanI dd-and she's
poor, young thing, and very lonely, needs
cheerful companionship. They say she lost
her lover year or SO ago. went abroad and
never came back again.
''Ill go" said /.
That's good fellow, and we'll take her
something nice to eat by way of a New Years
gift. Don't believe she gets anything nice in
that digy old boarding house." and Dick
pirouetted out again to complete his toilet
An hour found us crossing - avenue,
on our way to the old-fashioned street where
dwelt the little Clark girl, where, pausing
moment to give cent or two to a poor child
who had just left the basement Of q hand
from the drawing room above that sent all
The blood madly leaping through my veins:
Maxwelton's braes are bonnie,
Where early falls the dew.
And twas there that Annie Laurie @
Gave me her promise true. O
Gave me- her promise true.
Which neer forgot will be-;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
Pdlay me down and dee"
l grasped my friends arm and held-AAisa
until the last note died away. 81 have call
to make here" | said then.
"By Jove!' he exclaimed, care you sure!e
This is no end of swell" o
| assembled the steps, walked without
word past the cDlOrpd servant. who ODpned
the door, straight into the paris.
She had just risen from The plano, and with
a cry of joy she flew to my arms. o
The uncle, the aunt, the cousin were there
"Dear uncle" she said, turning her lovely
face toward him, while my arms still en-
folded her, release me from my promise, l
beg you. have tried to wait patiently, but
he has found me, and we love each other,
and, come what may, we will never, neUer be
parted again. Wish us happy New Year.