Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-10-18

So - --sSsgA> her future life
3t5e.ss sss---s-ssse..;21ssss The face itself
G. was not remark
able; there was no special beauty Of OUT
line, no dazzling complexion, no soft
colored waving hair. 1t was white and
slender, and would have been spiritless
!. only for the restless eyes and blood-red
lips. The forehead was broad and
thought-impressed, with dark brown hair
brushed back and closely braided from
the face which happiness might have
beautified, but which was now undeniably
plain. and tinged with the cold gray hue
which pervaded earth, air and sky.
Annie Raymond stood for an hour
looking perslstently out not on the
dreary landscape alone, but into her
drearier future. Since her mothers
Sdeath, which occurred during her child
hood, she had experienced no bitter
trials; but little, tri1ing troubles had
.made her daily life unlovely and un-
pleasant.
The family was large and in very mod
crate circumstances and, like all poor
people of the present day, struggling to
make one dollar show for two and so
appear richer tn they really are.
Jane the elder sister, took charge of
the house, and ruled the younger chill
dren with rod of iron. The two girls
who came next were both married and
struggling with large families and pow
nrty. A brother next younger had left
home. and was seeking his fortune-a
hopeless task. Then came Annie, age Il,
and then sisters younger still The
latber W s q grave, hard-working man,
who usually dozed away the time he spent
at home.
Annie's life had been monotonous
en- ugh thus far. There was housew ork
in the mornings and in the aftern oona
the sisters sewed for a furnishing store
in the village, barely earning a sufficient
sum to clorhe them in the plainest ap-
parel.
There had been q time when Annie in
lulged in rosy dreams of the future, Dul
her life was so monotonous, so lacking Ia
incident. these were soon dispelled. Her
older sisters furnished striking examples
6f what her own life would be.
Should she chdose, gle-blessedness
and become cross, unhappy old maid
like Jane? or follow in the footsteps OF
Sarah and Sue and be a sickly, task-bur-
dened wife, with scarcely an hour peace
and quiet?
Neither picture looked inviting to u
young girl who had passionate longing
for the luxurious and beautiful things oI
this life. so she grew graver as she
tasks day after day, and James reprov-
in; voice grated more and more harshly
upon her sensitive ear, until it seemed a
ii she must cry out like hurt child under
the pain OF her life burden, and she was
only dumb for very shame.
For her sisters seemed happy in a GER
tain degree, and was her life harder TO
bear than theirs?
They never think" she said ''I do so
-. a
make them understand how terrible a
life like theirs seems to me, it is so ut
terly devoid of beauty and even COM
fort"
But during the previous winter
change came over the spirit of her dream.
George Hastings came to Glenville, and
fr0m her first acquaintance with him her
life frightened. He was only mer-
chants clerk, but capable AMI energetic,
and favorite with his employer.
When Annie first met him she only saw
a rather small and uninteresting-appear
ing young man, who conversed agree
ably. When she saw him for the second
time she thought he had fine eyes, and
before the evening was over she con-
fessed that his smile was beautiful.
Then, as their acquaintance progressed,
she found their tastes were similar in
many things.
After this he often called upon her,
evenings, and read aloud to her while
che was busy with her sewing. Num-
Derless little attentions followed, rem
dered In tender, delicate way, and
Tor time Annie was supremely happy.
George was slowly but surely approach
ing declaration-she was certain OF
this-and as she thought 1t over in her
mind, doubts began to creep In where
cOntentment had reigned.
She loved him so well she could have
died for him, and without him life would
be utterly desolate. but he was very
poor, with only a small sum as yet laid
aside for rainy day. Would her life,
after all her tender dreams, be different
from Sues, or Sarah's, If che married
him2
u Jane, seeming to understand Annie'5
dilemma, lectured long and eloquently
upon the subject OF marriage.
George Hastings was o fine young man,
she told Annie, who would make his
mark In the world yet, II he wasn't such
Q fool as to marry and burden himself
with wife. wife was fearful drag
10 any man. Single life, for either man
or woman, was the only true and noble
life to lead and any woman who mar
ried because she was tired OF taking care
of herself was moral coward.
So, pondering upon James words ntil
she was nearly demented, Annie stood
looking out upon the clouded skies in the
chill November afternoon, and thinking
desolatey of the clouds lowering over
her life-sky.
NitWill 1t be always soP" she asked her.
self, bitterly, as she turned away. "Oh,
am 30 tired Of the clouds of sorrow
viii the srnshine of Joy never conner"
At this moment one OF her younger
sisters came In with letter for Annie.
IN some sGrprise--for # bore a city post
magk-she opened 1t.
With the early heat of summer LADY
had come tn board at Glenvllfe, IN search
Of country fare and country breezes foi
she was . confirmed invalid. She took
. lodgings across the way from Mr. Ray.