The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-05-11
AFTER MANY DAYS.

Annie Prescott had come from the
city to live with her grandmother.
Her parents were not too well blessed
with the worlds goods, but had
ma, wishing TO help her son little,
and also needing a companion to wait
on her, offered to take Annie and keep
her until she was eighteen. Grandma
was in her way very kind to the child,
but she was brought up in the old
school" and believed that idleness
that she must never allow herself to
be idle a minute from the time she
arose at o'clock in the morning I'M
til at night, when the work was fold
ed and put carefully aside, the tired
hands were clasped for a moment in
prayer at grandmma's knee, then with.
a goodnight, my child" but with no
tender caress and loving kiss, Annie
crept into her bed, the long lashes
closed over the blue eyes and the
veal Nullu was last dSiGGp. NV
doubt many times the tender heart
longed for her dear mother to kiss her
goodnight, but she was a brave little
lassie and never murmured at her lot.
Boy though | was. how | admired
the trim, dainty figure in it's white
pinafore as she stood waiting for the
teacher
Soon he came in, and the merry
voices were hushed and the armchair
suddenly vacated, as with pleasant
good morning" he advanced into the
room.
He gave Annie seat and proceeded
! at once to open the school.
Much to my delight l found that
| Annie was seated just across the aisle
! from me, and through the medium
| OF smiles and shy glances we became
acquainted. Many were the offerings
of rosy apples and other dainties that
found their way mysteriously into
Annie's desk.
The next day my father decided to
send me away to school, Accordingly
went to live with an uncle in a dis
tant city, and with the exception of
one or two flying visits l did not see
my home for several years. When I
returned | was urged to teach the
district school that winter. Nothing
loath, | consented, and as | entered
the familiar old room one winters
day my eyes fell once more upon the
sweet face of my former playmate, now
grown to be tall girl of II. Even
more beautiful was she than her child
hood had promised. Is it any wonder
that my heart returned to its old al
| legiance, from which in reality it
never had wandered.
My parents were called wealthy
farmers, and were looked up to by
the community as "aristocracy"
After l had obtained my darlings
consent to become my wife, inform.
ed them Of my intentions Great was
the storm thereof! That their son
, should think of marrying a poor girl
! who was almost bound out to earn her
living The idea was not to be en-.
tertained for a moment.
This conversation took place on
| Sunday afternoon, and when evening
came l went to Annies home, told
her what had happened, and once
more asked her to become my wife.
My proud little lady, | can see ner
now as she drew her slight form I'D
! to its full height, and with her naughty
little head thrown back gave me my
dismissal. she would wed no one
whose family refused to receive her.
In vain were my pleadings 1t never
could be and we must not meet again.
/ went home almost broken-hearted
Next morning her place was vacant
at school and l never saw my little
sweetheart again until long years had
passed and we were both old and
gray.
At the end of ten years | returned
to my native town, my nature entire
ly changed, broken-down, prema-
turely old man. My parents, having
died meanwhile, settled down on the
farm with a younger sister as house
keeper. She soon left me for a home
of her own, and l. after time, mar
ried the daughter of one of the neigh.
boring farmers.
Annie left her grandmother's house
when she was IS and returned to her
native home, where she met and mar.
ried good man, with whom she lived
happily many years. Time passed.
my wife died suddenly, and, as the
children were happily settled in
homes of their own, l was left alone
once more.
Seeing in city paper an advertise
ment Of widow who wished to OBJ.
tain situation as housekeeper, I re.
piled to it, hoping by that means to
find a quiet, elderly woman who would
take charge of my house. received
an answer, and after some little cor.
respondence the lady agreed to keep
house for me for a month on trial.
Accordingly at the station next day l
awaited the arrival of the train which
was to bring her. AS it pulled in |
was conscious of curious sensation.
a rapid beating OF my calloused old
heart which for years had not known
thrill. A tall slight person alighted,
and fastened to meet her, feeling in.
tuitively that she was my housekeep.
er. SIS this Mrs So" | said; then
as l took second look, "Annie!" l
exclaimed. Yes, it was she. The
same calm, blue eyes, the same dear
face, the same sweet smile undimmed
by years of cares and sorrow.
She had engaged to keep house for
me for a month and this time would
not give her I'D. Long before the