Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-02-20
LOVE AND DUTY.

1t was Wlld ana rock coast, along
which ran the path that led to the
home of old Martin Frere. At Or
binary times the cottage would have
possessed but little attraction for
bold sterling youth like Owen Glenn:
But q visitor had Of late frightened
up its precicts-a young girl named
Annis, named after the aged grand
mother who dozed by the heart
through the long evenings, content TO
watch the bright flames as they shot
up from the broad fireplace, and per-
haps TO see visions of the past with her
dim eyes.
Dame Frere was a sharp voiced,
busting woman, long past middle age,
and not having the name of possessing
very sweet temper, but she had
soft place in her heart for granny.
and il was to please her that she had
invited her pretty name-child TO come
and visit them for a few months.
Annis was q tall, slight girl, as
straight as pine tree and as graceful
as a fawn. Her yellow hair hung in
perfect maze of shining curls all
about her shoulders and far down be-
low her waist. Imagine a sweet,
innocent face lighted with great lus
trous dark eyes, and a red mouth
almost always curving into smiles,
and you have some idea of Annis.
Most of the young girls in the vicln-
ity were buxom, merry lasses, with
hair and eyes to match-both of in
tense blaclrness-and with more or
less of the hoyden in them. Their
laughter was loud and hearty, and
their ways more frolicsome than re-
fined. SO that it lis not strange that
when this graceful, quiet stranger
came along them, with her shy ways
and bIande coloring, her swift changes
of expression and native ease of man
ner, she was at once taken into the
hearts of all the young people in the
neighborhood.
IL is great mistake to think that
one girl is insensible to another
maidens beauty Sometimes, to be
sure, she may have a feeling of jeal-
ousy with regard to il when she is
naturally of that disposition, but
oftener she loves the object of her
admiration all the more because she
embodles all that ideal which exists
i'm every human soul to greater or
less degree.
Owen Glenn had fallen head over
heels in 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 seal his fate by telling Annis
that he loved her, and ask if he could
hope for a response to the ardent feel
IL, H.. Il
by her.
Owen WAS not at all certain as to the
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 III other qualities cal
culated TO win n girls heart.
Annie had reached the pleasant lit
tie courtesies and attentions of both
in a way calculated to wound neither;
though, us to that, it would have been
an impoSsibilty for her to be other
than So sweet and gracious as not to
enkindle hope in each passionate
young heart.
Thus matters stood rs Owen started
tedious walk over the cliffs, which
must be traVcrsed before he could
reach the cottage which sheltered the
object of his love.
1t had been raining steadily all day
long, and rs night came on the wind
had risen to gale
But, wrapped in his waterproof
cloak and lighted ON his way by
lantern, Owen cared nothing for the
threatening elements, and walked
along, whistling softly, now and then
pausing to shake himself, after the
fashion of some huge water dog.
Then he would trudge on again,
thinking what terrible night it must
be at sea, and breathing a prayer for
the wave-toSSed mariners far from
home.
Suddenly dull, booming sound
reached his ear.
II came from n 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
business of mine"
Again the sound came. This time
Owen stopped and listened
y thought came to his mind as he
did Sc, but it initiated so directly
against his inclination TO give heed TO
IT that with an impatient "pshawt
he started on.
But he could not rid himself of it.
1t was this: ''Ifa ships IN peril, and
has lost her way, the only thing that
could save her would be huge beacon
fire to cast light upon her surround
iues"
To build a fire would be a work of
time and hard labor.
To keep one up long enough to do
any good wauld take hours of watch
fulnesS, and that he would have to
abandon all hope of seeing Annis that
evening.
1t was hard struggle, but incliua-
ion proved to be made of material
which could not hold out against his
strong sense of duty.
He gave up all thought of the pleas.
ant greeting he had been living upon
in his heart all day long, and set HIM
self te work to gather fuel for the bea-
con fire.
After several hurried Journeys TO
the woodland, which lay little dis
lance away, he succeeded in sccumu.
lating pile of branches and dry twigs,
which he had raked out with his
hands from a deserted hut, which
stood on the confines of the thicSet,
and had evidently been gathered to-
gether for some purpose; but under
the circumstances Owen felt himself
justified in taking it, as it would have |
been impossible TO have kindled a
flame with green wood.
Just as he had succeeded in coax
ing splendid blaze to life, a voice |
cried
Halo, Glenn, is that your What
in the name of wonder are you do |
ing7"
Il am answering to signal of dis
tress. Hark |" as a dull soand came |
again from the sea.
"Well, old fellow, wish you Joy of
your post, and hope it'll do the good
you expect For my part, Tn of to
old Martins. l hear little Annis is
going away tomorrow, and don't