The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-29

BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
.oosTrsuED PROM ORR LAST ,ssoE-
c PIER xxx.

I OF vivid episodes: aud 80 agitated was l by
| what ! heard, that il was some time before /
1 was able to piece it all together. At last
/ however, the whole truth was made clear to
/ me; and shall now do my best, in form, to
/ make it clear TO the reader.
For long time Annie had resisted George
! Reduth's solicitation that she should leave
! her home. Her whole nature reyolted
! against the pain which such a step might
| cause; besides, he had persistently ayeTred
| that it was his intention to make her his
| wife, and Annie, brought up as she had been
1 with simple faith in human nature, saw no
| reason, since all was straight and honorable,
/ TOR so much secrecy in the matter.
| 1T would break my fathers heart" she
| said to him, again and again. ''Itwill bring
diShonor upon my home and upon myself
| Why should we act SOP
| But George Eedruth was specious in his
! pleading. He pointed out to her that since
| they were to be married, there would be no
| dishonoT That If her good name was tar1l-
| ished for time through the enforced Sc
| crecy of the whole proceedings it would
| shine all the brighter afterward and as for
| himself-why. he would love her a hundred
| fold for this slight sacrifice: in fact, he took
| full advantage of his gentlemanly manners
and superior education TO lure her on to de-
| struction. i am sure he really and truly
| loved me then said poor Annie, as she re-
| counted those scenes to Inc. "Ah Hugh,
! there was love in his voice and in his eyes,
real true love that no one could doubt; and
was it any wonder then that never doubted
it; when he took me in his arms and kissed
me / felt that l could 20 to sleep and never
wish TO waken again.
Nevertheless, poor Annie brought all the
strength of her nature to her aid, and resisted
him almost to the last
Even after she had finally been brought to
consent to his proposition, she repented be-
fore many hours had passed away, and went
TO him again with determination to break
with him once and for all. It was the night
preceding that on which she left her home.
They had arranged not to meet again, but
Annie, reckless of consequences had sent-a
note to him, asking him to meet her. She
got no answer to the note, but at ten o'clock,
the time she had named, she went TO their
usual place of meeting, and here she was
soon Joined by George Redruth. He looked
impatient, and even angry. Instead of tax
ing her in his arms and kissing her as usual,
he began to chide her for her thoughtlessness
in sending up the note.
If my mother had seen it, he said, and
questioned me about it, ii would have bfen
awkward. What do you want Annie? |
thought everything was settled last night"
'tAnd so it was returned Annie begin
ming to tremble at her own boldness But
/ wanted to see you tonight to say that l
have changed my mind"
Changed your mind; what the deuce do
you mean?o
Just this sir" continued Annie, who
grew bolder as she went on. Il am sure
that what we are going to do is not right and
can never bring happiness to any soul; let US
just wait as we are, and be as we are till you
can marry me openly, and take me to your
home"
'sYou are little fool" returned Redruth,
impatently; shut you will find am not to be
befooled. If you wish to break with me, say
so; and we viii not see each other after to-
night!
1t would have been well for poor Annie il
she could have taken him at his word; but
alas it was too late. He had made her love
him so passionately, that sooner than lose
him altogether she felt she would make any
sacrifice on earth.
Therefore she clung helplessly to him, sob
bing bitterly.
mo, do not go from mel cannot bear to
lose your
He saw he had gained his point, and grew
soft again. He laid her head on his shoulder,
stroked her tear-stained cheek, and kissed
her.
.Oh, Annie, Annie" he said. ''you are
silly little thing. When you talk as you did
just now, you make me think that you don't
care for me at all, and that your only reason
in wishing to marry me is the temptation to
fill the position offer you as my wife. Ny
dear, if did not love you so devotedly
should doubt your love. They say to love is
to have implicit faith; you have no faith in
mer'
'tOh, yes, l haver'
''Then why not show it, Come, tell me
thatI Why hesitate and cry as if l am abou.
to bring you to some dire distress. let, aft
er all, what have l asked you to do? Only
what hundreds of girls have done before you
to be married secretly instead of openly, TO
conceal the fact of our marriage for lew
weeks only, and then to come back with me,
my honored wife, to share my home"
Yes; the story was specious enough; lit
tie wonder indeed that Annie was bef ooled,
seeing that she loved him so. Once more she
promised implicit obedience to all his wishes,
and left him.
1t was the last night she was to spend in
the cottage, and during that night she never
closed her eyes; but she lay awake, watch
ing the moonbeams as they crept in at the
window, thinking OF all that was past and
George Redruth had spoken fairly-and
why, she asked herself, should she doubt
him,-she had really very little to dread. Ii
| her father and mother suffered pain at her
sudden flight it would be for such a very
little while; and afterward the great JOY
which her return would bring them would
make amends for all. Still, Annie was not
satisfied; her training had been rigid, and
now her conscience troubled her sorely; but
| it was too late TO repent; since that interview
of the night before she felt she dare not dis
obey her lover.
| She rose early and came out of her bed
room while my uncle and were preparing
| to pay our early visit to the mine. We were
| both astonished to see her up, but she said,
as an excuse for her excessive paleness, that
she had bad headache and could not rest
| in bed.
| My uncle took her face between his hands
and kissed it fondly, mufmuring:
This won't do, we maun ha' roses in these
| cheeks o. yourn. What would / do wi'out
| my little lass.i
Annie stifed a sob, and turned away with
| her eyes full of tears. She put on her hat
and walked with us half the way to the mine
| "a thing she had never done before. She
held my uncie's hand all the way, remem-
Der, and asked him to kiss her when she de
! n.
| the day at home.
We got home rather earlier than usual that
| evening, and when we reached the cottage
| we found Annie busy setting out the things
/ for tea. 1t had been haking-day, and it SEEM
| ed as if she had been assisting at the work,
/ for her cheeks were flushed now. and all her
| listleSs fearful manner of the morning had
entirely disappeared. / could not help no.
| ticlng that her hands trembled. that she
seemed excessively nervous, and was strange
| " eager to anticipate my uncle's every wish.
My aunt rehuked her once or twice for what
she termed her light-headedness. but Annie
only put her arms round her neck and kissed
her.
Don't scold, mother, don't scold," she
said, you wouldn't like it If wasn't here -
We sat up pretty late that night. and An
ME was among the last to retire. When my
uncle rose to 20 to bed, Annie kissed him
several times, and my aunt rebuked her
again for her foolishness. Then Annie kiss
ed her again and again.
you don't mean half what you say, moth
er,' she murmured. You know you love
mers
When we had all retired, and Annie found
herself in her room alone, she sat down and
cried very bitterly. Her last adieus had been
said. the time for her departure was near at
hand. and all her spirit seemed going. Again
she hesitated; and had she been left to her.
self that night, that fatal step would never
have been taken.
q Suddenly she started, faint whistle
reached her from without Hurriedly drying
her eyes, she opened the window. There
was George Redrutll standing just outside.
Are you ready. dearestT he whispered
-sTesrf she replied.
SIS there any one about?
No. they are all in bed. think they must
be asleep. 1t is getting late. isn't itr'
1t is close ON midnight Give me out