Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-03-06
LOVE AND DUTY,

II vas a Wild aud rocky coast,
along which ran the path which led
10 the home of old Martin Frere.
Atorlinary times the cottage would
have possessed but little attraction
for bold, sterling youth like Owen
Glenn. But a visitor had of late
Enlightened up its precincts-a
young giIl named Annis, named
after the aged grandmother who
dozcd by the hearth through the
long evenings, content to watch the
bright flames as they shot up from
the broad fireplace, and perhaps to
see visions Of the past with her dim
eyes.
Dame Frere was sharp. voiced,
bustling woman, long past middle
age, and not having the name of
possessing a very sweet temper, but
she had a soft place in her heart for
granny, and it was to please her
that she had invited her pretty
name.child to come and visit them
for a few months.
Annis was tall, slight girl, as
straight as a pine tree and as grace
full as a fawn. Her yellow hair
hung in a perfect name of shining
curls an about her shoulders and
far down below her waist. Imagine
a sweet, innocent face lighted with
great lustrous dark eyes, and a red
mouth almost always curying into
smiles, and you have some idea of
Annis,
Most Of the young girls in the
vicinity, were buxom, merry lasses,
with hair and eyes to match-both
Of intense blackness and with
more or less Of the hoyden in them.
Their laughter was loud and hearty,
and their ways more frolicsome than
refined. SO is not strange that
when this graceful, quiet stranger
came among them, with her shy
ways aud blonde cOlOring, her swift
changes Of expression and native
ease Of manner, she was at once
taken into the hearts of all the
young people in the neighbOrhood'
1t is great mistake to think that
one gll is insensible to another
maidcu's beauty. Sometimes, to be
sure, she may have a feeling Of
/ jealousy with regard to it when she
is naturally Of that disposition, but
Ofteuer she loves the object of hel
admiration all the more because shC
lembodies that ideal which exists in
every human soul to a greater OF
less degree.
Owen Glenn had fallen head Ovel
heels in love at his first meeting
with Annis, and had not missed an
opportunity Of meeting her at th'
various rustic gatherings to whict
she had been invited and tO-nigh
he was going to test his fate by tell
! ing Annis that he loved her, ant
ask her if he could hope for a re
sponse to the ardent feeling witt
which he had been inspired by heT
Owen was not at all certain as Il
the success of his suit, for Their
was another who admired Annis
and who was far above him il
worldly station and wealth, and a
Owen, in his freedom from vanity
also thought, in good looks and il
other qualities calculated to win
girls heart.
Annis had received the pleasau
little courtesies and attentions {
both in way calculated to woun
neither; though, as to that, it woul
= have been an ImpOssibility for he
to be other than so sweet and gr,
l. ciOus as not to enkindle hope j
each passionate young heart.
Thus matters stood as Owen star
ed from his home to take the lOn
and tedious walk over the cliff
which must be trayersed before |
could reach the cottage which she
tered the object of his love.
, 1t had been raining steadily q
, day long, and as night came on Il
wind had risen to a gale.
But, wrapped in bis waterprO
or cloak and lighted on his way by
lantern, Owen cared not for {
threatening elements, and walk
along, wh;stling softly, now sl
then pausing to shake himself, aft