The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-30

heard you singing Annie Laurie to the
roses.''
s.And you nine she replied, looking
in nv face with bewitching, saucy frank
ness, sever since the morning you flew
out as though shot from a cannon your
eyes flashing and your hair IN the Wild
est disorder, with no collar, let alone q
cravat on, and defed my uncle.
thought you simply delicious so differ
ent from any one I had ever seen before
so very unlike my cousin But Ell
mer,' and a shade stole over her bright
face, ';uncle will never, never consent to
to -
s'Our marriage, my dearestap
eyes. to our marriage, for he has set
his heart on my MARI Jing Chester, and
he's my guardian and I'm only nine
teen-'
"Only be true to me, Melicent," I in
terrupted, s'and III wait for you patient
~ faithfully only say that your prom
ise''
"Ne'er forgot will be,'' sang she.
"And," I took up the song, s'for bon
ME Annie Laurie, I'd lay me but
stopped suddenly.
Uncle Gardner-his shaggy eyebrows
bent in an ominous trown-s 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 Just as though he had done the
most friendly thing in the world.
The next morning before had ceased
dreaming about her, nv Millcent had
been spirited away.
And in weeks time-what g long,
wretched, dreary week it was! I had
lett Applicant and was once more in
stalled in my little den IN the attic Of a
great lodging house in the noisy city.
And to keep the sorrow from breaking
my heart worked like fend, and the
book. to which l have referred before,
came out and reached the third edition,
and came down from the attic to the
second floor front, and doffed my fan
mel suit for something more seasonable.
Autumn passed away and winter came,
and spring followed, and summer
brought her roses, and then came autumn
again, and then 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 from my lost darling.
The second New Years day since our
separation dawned bright and cold, AMI
as came up gasping from the basin of
lev water, into which I had plunged my
head, Dick Van Cleve danced in from
the next room, in extreme dishabllle,
vaulted over chair or two, tossed my
shaving mug in the air and caught it
cleverly and then asked:
ssGoing to make calls?''
snake calls?'' repeated I, contempt
uously. ''Did you ever know me to do
such silly thlngg''
"Ol l don't mean the regular bust
ness,'' said he, 'sonly a friendly drop in
on some Of our fellow women writers"
'There's that little Clarke girl, she'd
be delighted to see you-thought you
looked vastly entertaining -more than
did-and she's poor, young thing, and
very lonely, needs cheerful companion
ship. They say she lost her lover a year
| or SO ago, went abroad and never came
back again.
sslll co." said I.
CHATS good fellow, and wen take
! her something nice to eat by way of q
New Years gift. Don't believe she gets
anything nice in that dingy old boarding
house," and Dick piroutted out again to
complete his toilet.
An hour found us crossing avenue.
on our way to the old-fashioped street
where dwelt the little Clarke girl, where
pausing moment to give cent or two
to a poor child who had just left the
basement of handsome brown stone
mansion, voice rang out from the draw
ing-room above that sent all the BLOOD
madly leaping through my veins.
'Maxwelton's braes are bonnie,
Where early fa's the dew,
And t was there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true,
Gave me her promise true,
Which meier forget will be;
| And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and dee"
Igrasped my friends arm and held hin
until the last note died away have
call to make here" said then.
"By Jove?'. he explained, care yo'
sure. This is no end of a swell"
I ascended the steps, walked withou
word past the colored servant who ope1
ed the door, straight into the parlor.
She mad just risen from the piano, an
with cry OF JOY she new TO my arms
The uncle, the aunt, and the ceusi
were there.
'sDear uncle" she said, turning he
lovely face toward him, while my arm
still EMBODIED her, ''release me from 10
promise, beg you. have tried to wal
patiently. but ne found me, and we Low
, each other, and come what may, will ne'
= er, never be parted again. Wish US
> happy New Year. Dear aunt, dear cou:
in, speak for u.s.
"God bless me!'' said the uncle.
= s'Ours was love match, Robert,
: whispered the old lady.
II hope you may be very happy, Mil
5 cent? said the cousin.
,, "God bless mel" repeated Uncle Care
ner again, sand God bless you, my dea
and the young man, too, for that matte
; although he has interfered so serious]
- with my cherished plans. But if you'1
= fully made up your minds not to pa
again, come what may why there's
more to be said except that I wish 70
both happy New Year Free Pres
Nnxx1