Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-03-27
LOVE AND DUTY.

1t was a wild and rocky coast, along
which ran the path that led to the
home of old Martin Frere. At ordina-
ry times the cottage would have pos
sessed but little attraction for a bold
stirring youth like Owen Glenn. But
a visitor had of late frightened up its
precincts-a young girl named Annis,
naraed after the aged grandmother
who dozed by the hearth through the
long evenings, content to watch the
bright flames as they shot up from the
broad Replace, and perhaps to see
visions OF the past with her dim eyes.
Dame Frere was sharp-voiccd,
busting woman, long past middle age.
and not having the name of possessing
very sweet temper, but she had a
soft place in her heart for granny, and
it was to please her she had invited
her pretty name-child to come and
visit them for q few months.
Annis was tall, slight girl, as
straight as q pine tree and as graceful
~ fawn. Her yellow hair hung in a
perfect name of shining curls all about
her shoulders and far down below her
waist. Imagine sweet, innocent face,
lighted with great lustrous dark eyes,
and a red mouth almost always curry
ing into smiles, and you have some
idea of Annis.
Most of the Young girls in the vicini-
ty were buxom, merry lasses, with
hair and eyes to match-both Of in
tense blackncss--.9nd with more or
less Of the hoyden in them. Their
laughter was load and hearty, and
their ways more frolicsome than rein
ed. SO it is not strange that when this
graceful, quiet stranger came among
them, with her shy ways and blonde
coloring, her swift changes of express
sion al / native ease OF manner, she
was at once taken into the hearts of
all the young people in the neighhor-
hood.
1t is a great mistake to think that
one girl is insensible to another
maiden's beauty. Sometimes, to be
sure, she may have feeling of jeal-
ousy'with regard to it when She is nat
uraily of that disposition. but oftener
she loves the object Of her admiration
all the more because she embodies that
ideal which exists in every human
soul to a greater or less degree.
Owen Glenn had fallen mead over
heels III love at his first meeting with
Annis. and had not missed an oppor-
tunity of meeting her at the various
rustic gatherings to which she had
been invited; and tonight he was go
ing to tc-t his fate by telling Annis
that he loved her, and ask if he could
hope for response to the ardent feel
ing with which he bad been inspired
by her.
Owen was not at all certain as to
tho success OF his suit, for there was
another who admired Annis, and who
was far ABOVE him in worldly station
and wealth, and as Owen, in his free
dom from vanity, also thought, in
good'looks and in other qualities calcu-
lated to win girl $ heart.
Annis had received the pleasant lit
tie co,,rtesies and attentions of both
in q way calculated to wound neither;
though. as to that, it would have been
an impossbility for her to be other
than so sweet and gracious as not to
enkndlo hope in each passionate
young heart.
Thus matters stood as Owen started
from his home to take the long and
tedious walk over the cliffs, which
must be traverScu before he could
reach the cottage which sheltered the
object of his love.
1t bad heen raining steadily all day
long, and as night came on the wind
had risen to a gale.
But, wrapped in his waterproof
cloak and liz hted on his way by a Ian
tern. Owen cared not for the threaten
ing elements, and walked along whist
ling softly, now and then pausing to
shake himself, after the fashion of
some huge water dog. -.
Then he would trudge ON again,
thinking what y terrible night it must
be at sea, and breathing a prayer for
the wave tossed mariners far from
home. r.:
Suddenly dull, booming sound
reached his ear.
1t came from seward direction,
but at first he kept on his way, think
ing:
This is not the harbor, and every
one who has the slightest knowledge
of the locality will be sure to avoid
such dangerous coast; so it's no bus
moss of mine"
Again the sound came. This time
Owen stopped and listened. .r
A thought came into his mind as he
did so. but it initiated SO directly
against his inclinations to give heed to
it that with an impatient "Pshaw ~ he
started on. .
But he. could not rid himself of it.
1t was this: If j ship is in peril, and
has lost her way, the only thing that
could save her would be o huge bea-
con fire to cast a light upon her sur
roundings."
To build fire would be a work of
time and of hard labor. ~. B s7rs.
4 To keep one up long enough to do
any good would take hours OF watch
fulncss, aud he would have to aban-
don all hope OF seeing Annis that eve
ming.
II was hard struggle, but inclina,
tio.4 proved TO be made of q material
which could not hold its own against
his strong sense of duty. @
81 He gave up all thought of the pleas.
ant greeting he had been living upon
in his heart all day long. and set him.
J self to work to gather fuel for the hea
con fire.
After several hurried Journeys to the
woodland, which lay a little distance
away, he succeeded in accommodating 8
pile Of branches and dry twigs, which