The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-24

The Lady Annabel sat in suall room
in her fathers castle, looking out of q
window which overlooked wide land
scape. Her maidens were in little group
ut the other end of the apartment, bust
ly engaged at their embroidery, laugh
ing and chatting and whispering just rs
they might were they live now-for
this was many years ago, and they are
all dead and buried. The Lady Anna
bel took no notice of them; she was
thinking. At least she looked up and
yawned-"Oh, I am SO sleepy and thirs-
ty Mabel, bring me some water"
Mabel obeyed-and as she received
the cup again she said, "Your ladyship
will not be sleepy tomorrow 80
morrow What is tomorrow "Does
not your ladyship recollect that to-mor-
row is your ladyship's birthday? and
my birthday? Oh, yes so it is. I
had forgotten all about it. We are to
have merry time of it, believe; but
am sure l feel in no humor for merriment
now. Indeed, I should like to be alone
Lay down your work, girls, for n little
while, and take stroll in the garden.
When she found herself alone, the
Lady Annabel walked up and down the
small apartment, then stopping before
the looking glass, she said-"N1y birth
day Am indeed twenty nine to-mor-
row? Twenty-nine that sounds old. 1t
is ten years since my father came into
the possession of this estate, and
every one of those years have passed one
just like another; I feel no older than I
was then. I look no older" And she
looked again into the mirror. ct an no
older in any one respect. How wish
wish they would let my birthday pass
by in silence, ahd not distress me by
publishing to oil the assembled crowd
thGt the Lady AnnabeF is now twenty
min -
Her reyerie was here disturbed by the
hasty entrance of her father.
why, what makes you look so down
cast, daughter? For shame go down
and assist III the preparations for to-
morrow's feast. instead of moping here
But must not forget to tell you, I saw
my neighbor L-this morning. We
passed through his grounds, and he
joined our hunting PARTY"
At this the Lady Annabel's color
heightened visibly.
"He says he expects his son back in
few months; and he and were set
Ting, that as our estates touch, and as
he has but one son, and have but the
daughter; but hear my men; they
have brought home the stags-one of
them has suoh horns You must come
down after awhile and SEQ them" So
saying, he left her.
"And Jasper is coming homc," con-
tinued the Lady Annabel to herself
''How well do I remember the first time
l saw hint was on my birthday |!
was twelve year old, and although he
WAS just my age, / was q tall girl and
he little boy, T refuse to dance with
him because he was whole hoad short
or than but is my father and his have
such plans for us-"
At this moment her companions re-
turned, and quieting their laughing
countenanoes, sat down again to their
embroidery.
The next day was ono Of unusual fes-
tivity. BY midday the hall was crowd
ed with ladies and gentlemen of high de-
gree, from far and near. Tho music was
loud, and dancing and feasting were the
order of the day. The Lady Annabel,
contrary to her expectation. was Be-
guiled by the Joy she saw Oh every face
around her, and entered with great vi
vacity into every sport that was pro-
posed. No laugh SO loud as hers--no
movements 80 full of glee. Late at
night, when the guests had departed
she threw herself, flushed and excited
into large chair in her own room, and
began to loosen the rose from her hair.
So it is all over, and have been
happy, very happy, indeed Ihave-only
the recollection that it was my birthday
would intrudo itself upon me, to damp
my enjoyment, every now and then. T
heard several people ask il it were true
that it was my twenty-ninth birthday
they did not know it was the twenty
ninth. And that odions Miss WHAT'S
her-name actually said I looked very
well for that very we'll, indeed. should
be glad, I know, to see her look half 80
well, though she was, as she says, a
baby when I was almost grown up.