The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-17

LHefffi0fe, SIZE c0ulu not remember that
face at all, whereas just out of reach
fioated another face, n vague, Elusive
memory, that she seemed to know and
yet could never grasp and hold. Some
thing. something she could almost re-
member of hr life before coming to the
farm, but til. dark eyed woman had no
place there.
She questioned the farm people. Yes,
they said, considering everything per-
haps she was right. She certainly did
not look like the woman's child, the
poor thing had nnquestionably been
crazy, the fine little cambria dress in the
bundle did not match the coarser one
she had worm, perhaps she was right in
thinking she was some one else's child.
But then it was only barely possible,
and it had all been so long ago now, bet
ter let things stay as they are, she had a
good home and kind friends. So said the
people.
But Laura was not satisfied. She SAM
in the church choir, and at Is her pretty
face and fresh young voice attracted the
attention of a summer boarder," which
species was rather rare in that out Of the
way locality. This one was a spare,
sharp voiced, elderly lady. who immedi-
ately proceeded to have Laura engaged
TO her as a sort of companion.
1t was u great advance for the girl.
She studied music, Travelled a great deal
with her benefactress and mingled with
people of culture. Yet it was at best a
lonely, ~l,yeless existence and rather a
trying one, combining as It did the
offices and duties of maid, companion
and daughter. Mrs. Farnham admired
the slim grace of the girl and delighted
in her voice and was fond of her in a
way, but it was a cold, querulous, pat
r~onizing way that was very bitter at
times to poor Annie Laurie.
One summer evening their train was
delayed at a way station, and they
stopped at the hotel for the night. Mrs.
Farnham retired after a light refresh
ment, but Laura, filed with the vague
restlessness that comes to young things
beneath the vastness of the moonlit
heavens, stepped out into the night.
She had thrown a light shawl over
her head, and with a sense of freedom
and dreamy delight began walking rapid
ly through the quiet, grassy streets, and
along the fragrant lanes, and then down
the wide silent road whose trees cast
somber shadows across its brightness.
A light streamed out from the west
windows of a fine old mansion half hid
den in its grove of naples, and Laura
leaned her arms on the gate and looked
over at it.
Little did she dream that this was
the gate through which she had toddled
Ii years ago on a journey which had
never brought her home again. She
looked at the moonlit lawn where. she
had played SO often, at the old house that
was her own, but never a thrill stirred
her heart, never a whisper of the truth
came to her through the night. By and
by she turned and went on.
1t was growing late, and with a sud-
den remembrance of Mrs. Farnham she
began to retrace her steps and wondered
low far she had strayed.
Just in front of the old mansion a
sound arrested her, and she paused in
the road. 1t was a chord struck on an
old piano in the lighted west room.
Presently a voice Joined the music. a
voice of such unutterable pathos and
yearning that it came through the night
like a cry.
1t was Annie Laurie" the tender old
love song, and the girl in the moonlight
listened spellbound. Strange memories
crowded upon her, shadowy forms and
faces and long forgotten words. 1t seem
ed as if the mists were rolling away;
slowly, slowly, things were growing clear
eT.
Fascinated, she moved forward across
the lawn to the open windows, as if.
drawn by the Lorelei song. She saw a
slight gray haired woman sitting at the
old piano with her back to the window,
and then she stepped over the low sill
into the room.
How strangely familiar, like a dimly
remembered dream! Surely, surely, that
quaint, carved armchair; surely she re-
members that chairl The little whatnot,
with its shells and ornaments; surely she
had seen it beforei That little white,
woolly lamb in the corner, why, that
was her lamb.
The music throbs in her brain, rising,
falling; ali, she has heard that before;
it is the music that is bringing it all
back to her, that song is part of her very
being. Why, she is Annie Laurie!
On a silver thread of music the scatter
ed pearls of memory are being strung un-
til at last they form a perfect chain.
Over and over again comes the touching
refrain bearing such a world Of sorrow
and yearning and resignation.
"Her voice is low and sweet,
And she is all the world to mel
And for connie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doun and deel"
Softly the words die away, and slowly
the gray head droops until it rests upon
the piano. Then like a lightning flash
memory bridges the gulf of years, and
with a great cry the girl filings herself at
the woman's feet.
Mother, mother"
They hold each other close and never
a doubt comes to either, for Mrs. Arnold
sees her dead husband in the features of
the girl before her, and her sore tried
heart finds peace.
What need to bring out the counterpart
of the little cambria dress, or to trace the
lost child's journey step by step? That
is all done by and by, but tonight they
want only each charlottesville Cou-
r~ier-Journal.
hudson COUNTY ORPHANS. COURT.
on the application of Mary Bruins. admins
ID I1@,- 1@~~4-Al 49,