The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1889-08-03

a letter from Beulah. but not
line from Leonard. Bculah wrote
that Oscar Fulton had tried 70
hear from him, but had received no
answer to his letter, 1t seemed
that he had ceased TO be, just at
this important time, when Annie
needed his protection SO much.
When Annie read this bitter
message, she threw herself across
the bed and gave way to her grief,
and it was not until she heard the
rattle of the busy little village, as
the inhabitants hustled to their
work, and beheld the soft lighto
morning rs it crept through the
halfShu window, that she was
calm enough to sleep. In q little
while she was aroused by the ring
ing of the breakfast bell, and ris-
ing, she hastily dressed herseIfanG
hurried down to breakfast, looking
so pale md worn that her parents
were alarmed and insisted that she
was sick and needed something to
invigorate her. Annie could cat
no breakfast, but drank the tonic
her mother brought her and re-
turned to her room. Here she
spent the day in planning, hoping
and praying.
"Perhaps he has forsaken mc,v
she sob5ed, but then she remem-
bcred the nobility of his manly
nature, and his sweet love for her
during the short time they had
spent together after their union.
How could she doubt him, and yet
she knew that lie had failed to
keep his promise, when he knew
| how much she needed him. Some.
| thing must have happancd to him;
! but 10, If he had been sick, he
| would have let her know. She
could not bear to think him dead,
| and as she thought Of the posi-
| bility Of such a thing, she fell on
! her knees and prayed forhis safety,
/ even though she lose him; chen
she pleaded long at the throne OF
mercy, for his coming on tomor
row. She found, as an Of us will
sometimes find, when we pray &
God to lay aside the Christening
rod and accept our plans for hap
piness, that her prayers were I'M
answered, save hy strength to re
sign herself 10 the viii Of God ii
this matter. BUT how could slls
escape her fathers plan for hel
marriageg He seemed determined
THAT she should do as he said
Then 1t would not be long before 8
worse trouble would overtake her
II am resolved what to dor sh,
said, rising from her bed. ~ vii
go away and hide myself in some
city, and by hard work viii sup
! port myself. If Leonard Vane il
living, he must be false to mo. l
> lie is dead, God will befricnd hi
widow
Christmas eve. night fount
Annie at the depot waiting for ih.
north bound passenger train
When it stopped she loolSel
anxiously to see Leonard step of
but not seeing any ono she hastil,
purchased a ticket for Memphis
Tenn, and WAS soon on her way t
that city.
When she arrived ut Memphis
she went to O hotel, picked NJ
I the daily paper and turning to Til
! business cards, glanced hastil
! down the column. Coming to tn
/, card of a physician, she resolved t
j seek his advice concerning a qllic
place to board, and was sent to al
( old lady living on a back street
who only kept Que hoardcl
Here We viii leave her in iii
care Of the kind old lady, while ~
!, return TO her fathers house.
! Christmas morning, as She di
not come down to breakfast, he
mother FASTENED to her room
! trembling with an apprehension d
: danger. Ihe awful dcspondenc
which had almost weighed Ami
7 down for the last few days, cam
to her mind with such shockin
7, force that she could scarcely reac
!, the room, where a rope suspende
i from the window, an cmpt
I armour and missing vaiise, col
q the story too plainly. The pof
:, mother sank down on the floor, j
" dead faint and when she wa
aroused, she wandered IN dcIiliuu
y seeking hcr&ost daughter.
- y Mr.. Lornc sat by the bedside {
n his DYING wife. and IN the das