The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-12-30

ME Annie Laurie, I'd lay me- bu,
stopped suddenly.
Uncle Gardner his shaggy eyebrowt
bent in an ominous trown~stood before
us. He had returned from business
much earlier than usual that afternoon
and that blundering Bub had brought
him to us and stood there wsgging his
heavy tail just as though be had done the
most friendly th.ng in the world.
The next morning before had ceased
dreaming about her, my Millcent had
been spirited away.
And in a weeks time-what long,
wretched, drcary week it was! I had
lett Appleland and was once more in
stalled in my little den IN the attic of q
great lodging house in the noisy city.
And to keep the sorrow from breaking
my heart l worked like fiend, and the
book to which I have referred before,
came out and reached the third edition,
and came down from the attic to the
second floor front, and dotfed my flan-
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 fdf6 r4tired 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
icy water, into which had plunged my
head, Dick Van Clcve danced in from
the next room, in extreme dishabllle,
vaulted ever a chair or two, tossed my
shaving mug in the air and caught it
clcverly and then asked:
''Going to make calls2''
snake calls?' repeated l, contempt
uously. "Did you ever know me to de
such silly thing
"Ol don't mean the regular bust
ness" said ne, *'only friendly drop in
on some of our fellow women wrlters."
'There's that little Clarke girl, she'd
be delighted to see you-tbought you
looked vastly entertaining 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."
"i1l co." said I.
whats q good fellow, and we'll take
her something nice to cat 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 ou: way to the old fashioned street
where dwelt the little Clarke girl, where,
pausing moment to give cent or two
to poor child who had just left the
basement of handsome brown stone
mansion, a 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 tue,
Gave me her prom true.
Which meier forget will he;
And for bonnie Ami: Laurie
I'd lay me down and dee"
Igrasped my friends arm and held hi i'm
until the last note died away have a
call to make here," I said then.
"By Jove2'. he explained, "are you
sure. This is no end of swell.'
/ assembled the steps, walked without
a word past the coiored servant who open
cd the door, straight into the parlor.
She mad just risen from the piano, and
with cry Of Joy she flew to my arms.
The uncle, the aunt, and the cousin
were there.
"Dea1 uncle" she said, turning her
lovely face toward him, while my arms
still enfolded her. ''release me from my
promise, beg you. have tried to wait
patiently. but he found me, and we love
each Other, and come what may, will nev-
er, never be parted again. Wish us a
happy New Year. Dear aunt, dear cous-
in, speak for u.s.
"God bless met" said the uncle.
"Ours was love match, Robert
whispered the old lady.
II hope you may be very happy, Mill
cent said the cousin.
"God bless me-" repeated Uncle Gard
ner again, "and God bless you, my dear,
and the young man, too, for tha, matter,
although he has interfered so seriously
with my cherished plans. But if you We
fully made up your minds not to part
again, come what may why there's no
more to be said except that I wish you
both happy New Yearr'-Free Press.