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

Don't go, ANNIE" he urged. ''You
know-you must have known for long
time-that love you dearly. I've only
waited to tell you because l had not a
suitable home to offer you as yet But
l m saving for that purpose every day,
dear, and when we can see each other so
often it will not be so hard to wait lit
tie longer. Stay, and promise me you
will be my wife just as soon as l can pro-
vide FOR you properly"
Zee rge," she said, ''you know love
you, but am too much of a coward to
bind myself to be lifelong slave, like
my sister, Sarah, for instance"
Sarah was siekly before she was mar.
ried, [ BELIEVE" he answered quietly,
though his manner betrayed some sur
prise at such az cutburstS from, the
usually mild Annie.
Yes" reluctantly.
"And peevish and fretful, too"
Eyes" responded Annie, slowly.
"You are neither"
Annie burst into tears.
''She was unhappy" she said, ''and 30
am l."
| George was puzzled He used his
| powers of persuasion TO the utmost, but
Sue was inexorable. She would not con-
| sent to an engagement and she would
/ kO w LLC Clll % NOLl lpdhlOh w nAlS'
! Reade. So vexed with her obstinacy,
but thinking 1t best to give her her own
way, since he could not well do other
wise, he bade her good by.
Annie sobbed herself to sleep that
night, and two days after-for there was
slight preparation needed-she set out
for the city.
For q time she was delighted with her
situation. Mrs. Reade was very cap
tiVating in manner and treated Annie
utmost like q sister. Annie had intended
10 save her earnings, but, under Mrs.
Reade's advice, she found ample oppor-
tunity to invest them in the purchase of
better clothing than she had ever worn
before.
By-aad-by her situation became less
pleasant. Mrs. Reade was capricious,
| and sometimes hard to please. Another
truth dawned upon Annie's mind about
this time. Her mistress was a neglected,
unloved wife. and, though she had every
thing that wealth could procure, she was
very unhappy, as much as either Sue or
Sarah.
Spring came on, and as the weather
grew warmer, Annie began to have fear
fdl headaches, q new thing for her. She
grew tired of the senseless-looking rows
of brick and brown stone and longed for
the pleasant woods near home, with their
fresh green leaves and early flowers.
She felt il she could only have Jane to
scold herit would do her good. She grew
homesick for the very home she had de-
spised. Mrs. Reade complained tina I she
was growing Needless and Annie knew it
was very true.
One morning she woke, feeling too i'll
to rise. Mrs. Reeds bell rang re-
peatedly, but Annie was too ill to heed it
and lay dimly conscious of what wa,
p,.- m, aiOuAl .-t. ,-Au nl.e" .tn,g
were holding consultation over her ana
alterward that they were removing her
to some other place, she fgas far too sick
After few days of burning fever her
senses returned, and she found herself
in the hospital, with everything new and
strange about her. AS aoon as she was
able to sit up she procured writing
materials OF her nurse, and wrote home.
By this time Mrs. Reade had reused
herself to write also, and thoroughly
alarmed, Jane set out to find her. accom-
panied by George Hastings.
George met Annie quietly, but Jane
scolded and cried over her until Annie
felt that her sister really cared more for
her than she had ever known. They
took her home shadow Of her former
self, but more contented in mind than
she had been in years before.
But it was not until she was quite as
well as ever and had fallen readily into
the old routine OF daily labor, that George
spoke again of love. He came to see her
the same as before, and brought her
triAes IN the way of flowers and books;
and one evening, when they were sitting
in the dusk and gloom of the twilight,
with the cloudy Novem Der spires frown-
ing without, George said
"Doyou think, Annie, you could marry
poor man, after allf"
"Oh, George?" deprecatingly.
Ind do you think you are brave
enough to bind yourself to be lifelong
slave like your sister Sarah2"
mot to o husband l did not love, and
who cared but little for me. That would
be fearful bondage to me or any other
woman"
"But l love you and you love me.
Don't you think that makes q great diff
ference?"
"All the difference in the world,
George"
Then you do not think you could
make upy our mind to marry me2"
Il think could II you asked me-"
'On Win u ihuBni anu bndL WAS all.
Not word was spoken by either Tor
some time, but he took her hand and
drew her silently to his side. At last he
spoke:
Confess. Annie" he said, "that you
are disappointed. I am not the hero you
expected In husband, am II"
NO." she answered; "but you are a
true, noble hearted man, and that is
better. l forgot, In all my senseless day
dreams and plans for the future, that !
was only q woman and very foolish one
at that. You have excellent judgment
and sense. but you are just my age, and,
not so wise, am afraid OF you. know
YOU have faults. but 30 have 1 ana II
you will have patience with mine, can
bear yours without word"
1--WE shall have trials, too, dear" he
said. ''but We shall help each other en-.
dure them, and that will make them 30
much easier to bear. The lesson of the
past year has not harmed you, Annie;
you will be more eontented all your life
for It,"
So at Christmas-time they were mar.
ried The fnery in which Annie had in
dulged the winter before, with slight re-
modelling, served good purpose as o
wedding trousseau. Her father came
forward with the spoons and the feather
beds, and Jane cxerted herself won'ier
fully, saving II was pleasure to helL