Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-03-02


be painful to us both, but more especi-
ally to myself. I retired in the best
way that I could without offending her,
for I still felt that I loved her only
the ribbons
''It was the last time that / saw her
for ten years. If I thought Of Anna
once thought of her every day.
went to California and travelled good
deal through the mountain regions of
the Pacific slope; but go where /
would, Anna's sweet face was constantly
before me. Contact with the world
could not blot out her memory; on the
contrary, it tended to show up my
error of the past. I began to realize
my utter want of Judgment, or, rather,
my moral cowardice. / had loved the
girl with the utmost feryency before I
had seen her abroad, before the daz-
zling lights of the ballroom, where
milliner and the artist, in the latest
styles, had created a sham brilliancy.
She who shone like the brightest dia-
mond in the home circle, became, in
my foolish, inexperienced eyes, paler
light I had estimated her by the
scale OF fashion instead Of by her heart
and her goodness. The best of women
are not always adapted to the great
assemblies of the fashionable world.
Their very modesty secludes them from
the more frivolous, gossiping world,
which grasps at any pretext, like the
red ribbon, to huniliste modesty and
virtue. All this I began to understand
and / was on the point of returning
home to see Anna, acknowledge my
unfeigned love, and seek her hand.
But five years had passed, and I fell in
with person from Madison, at Placer
vile, who informed me that Miss Gold
thorpe was married.
"This was terrible blow to my new
ly founded hopes. But / could not
reproach Anna. What evidence had
given her that l reciprocated her love
Give years more I worked and wan
dered in the mines Of the Sierra Neva-
das, and then returned to the States.
Arriving at Prairie du Chien, and STEP
ping into the car which was to take me
to Madison, / met Frank Hood, who re-
cognized me at once, and, being glad to
see me, took seat by my side. had
many questions to ask, and finally, too,
questions about Anna.
'She has pined for you these ten
years." said Frank.
"But isn't she marrieda" I quickly
asked.
NO. he answered, aher sister. who
came to Madison after you left, was
married about six years ago. Anna is
still single, and, everybody believes, is
waiting for you. But she hasn't seen
a well day since you left"
"Where does she live now?" I again
inquired
'At Madison. You must go and see
her. Don't think that her long sick
ness has robbed her of all her former
beauty"
''This last he said to me with sig
nificant look. As we thundered over
the track towards Madison, and Flank
kept talking to me about everything
that would have been Of interest to me
on any other occasion my thoughts
were constantly upon Anna and / heard
but little that he said. Ny resolution
was at once formed. Z would see Anna
and if she still loved me, no cruel jibes
of boys, or red ribbons, should wrest
from me prize which / bad lost for SO
many years.
II called at her house the very after
noon Of my arrival. A girl admitted
me. and, without announcing my name,
I asked to see Anna. In short time
the door opened and she entered. A
look Of recognition, and a startled cry
escaped her lips.
well, I need not relate to you the
balance. - You can supply the rest with
your imagination. Suffice it to say that
Anna became my wife. She has regained
her former health, and ! am the happy
possessor ofthe best, the handsorest,
and the most devoted wife-the girl
with the red ribbons"