The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-06-08
ANNABEL,s DIARY.
BY d. II. J.

II. 1 uon tnink coulo nave done IL
il had ever expected to look into her
sweet brown eyes again. All. we'll, she
Is beyond all that now-so safe, 80 free
from the tempests Of the heart which
sometimes swept over her life. Il Is
six ID onths sincs that still day in Octo-
Der, when she folded ber dainty white
hands together, and said: Il cannot
wait for him any longer" How lovely
she looked how ETHEREAL as if she
needed 10 change from the earthly
presence to fit her for the compeny Of
the angels.
Anrabel was my sister. Nay, she
is my sister yet. for what does it mat.
ter that she droppel the veil Of NOR
tality and il hidden for little while
by the mysterious realm which cannot
divide Us forever. She wss one Of the
crestures not born 20 suder the pangs
Of life's bitter cup. one Of those Of whom
Mrs. Browning wrote: Thou art rose
lined from the cold" And never
looked into those loving. eager eyes
without being reminded OF the lines Of
Mrs. Browning
Flying strsightway TO the light"
A year ago. or more. there came
among US q stranger. handsome, brill
liant. fascinsting. He was a young
physician. 4. graduate OF New York
college, Q man whom no loving woman
could help loving. and our Annabel was
the most loving, tender hearted child
in the world. did not wonder at her
frank surrender of her heart and cont.
dence; be was one 10 win all womanly
worship.
The first time they met Was one April
day. and We had been gathering wood.
violets. tho first Of the Spring. What
. day il was. tree and shrub "audibly
did bud and bud. and AnDabel was like
. child In her mad delight at every new
beauty Of the the moses and under
hepaticas. After filling her hands full
Of the pretty blossoms, she climbed to
the top Of Q rough fence. too careful Of
her treasures to think OF her own
safety. A clip Of the rotten rail, and she
was lying in y little heap. with the
flowers rained all about her. A severe
sprain had rendered her perfectly help
less. and never could have gotten her
home without assistance. 1t happened
that the young physician appeared in
sight. riding in his little pheton. |
waited until he came up. and then ex-
planned the situation and begged his
advice. 1t was frankly offered. and we
lifted her into the seat beside him. l
don't know what made pang Of some
thing like jealousy strike my heart,
but there was one. feeling Of dread
that he was taking her away from me-.
1t came very often afterwards. 1t was
weeks before she bad recovered her
strength so that she could walk.
All these delicious days be came and
ninistered to her needs, came and lin.
gered through the long mornings when
the sweet briar waited its breath
through the open windows, and the g lad
sunshiny dandelions spsugled the lawn
like stars. shall never breathe the
Is of May mornings again without
sigh Of pain.
/ What q wooer he .'as; never such
soulful interviews. never such exquisite
letters we,e given t. love as he gave to
Annsbel Ii WAS something more than
love. higher than worship Something
too intense t, last, too lovely TO live.
All Summer they were inseparable,
and sho was radiantly happy. No plans
were mapped out for the future. 1t
seemed enough for them that they were
together. walking in the early sunshine.
amid the evening shadows. He was
not practical, and his devotion to his
idol lost him the substantial things OF
life. Hrs practice did not increase. and
It began to be whispered about that he
was neglecting his duties. Early in
Autumn he received . hasty summons
20 come home, his father Was dying and
his pressnce>Das needed. II was sad
parting, full OF tears. full Of promises
and regrets. Anusbel had not been
strong all summer. The love which
had taken captive the heart had been
too intense for her frAil nature. She
was growing more beautiful every day.
| but il was an ETHEREAL lovliness which
| touched me TO the heart to see. When
the days of absence sad and
dreary" began to wear upon her. she
faded visibly. At first there came two
or three letters week. then longer
time interviewed. aud at last there were
weeks that she heard no word from him.
Was he faithless. l asked the question
Of myself over and over. She never
complained. There bad been NO prom.
iss Of marriage.
"rvas full many . asmeless meaning
M poor words could never oAy.
Felt without the nssd OF utterAncs
| 4hat had won her heart away"
She used to sit on the porch until the
voices Of the night sounded in the
woods and fields. always waiting for the
messenger from the postoficc. She
wrote every day and kept her writing
hidden away from all the household
How quiet she became The rooms
which used to echo her sweet voice
were so still, the dust gathered upon
| the ivory keys, and the passionate cry
I in his favorite song Waiting" no more
thrilled upon the twilight air.
Come, for my arms are empty,
Oome for the day wss long.
Turn my aarkuess into glory,
Ny sorrow into song
II WAS the middle Of October. and
Anuabel had been 80 bright all day
She hsd even sang low and sweet that
tender melody Of Millsrd's. us this q
dre.mY" I could not look at her with
out rushing out Of the room to cry
Something too angelic for this world
shora in her sweet face: . resignation