Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-02-27
CLIO u D s .
By w. X.

Oldte, ana pale lace pressed against
the window pane looked out upon it
with sorrowful eyes, seeing in the
gloom of the landscape and shadowy
skies the symbol of her future life.
The face itself was not remarkable;
there was no special beauty-of outline,
no dazzling complexion, no solft-col-
ored wavy hair. 1t was white and
slender, and would have been spirit.
less only for the restless eyes and
blood-red lips. The forehead was
broad and thought-lmpressed, with
brown hair brushed back and closely
braided from the face which happiness
might have beautified, but which was
now undcniably plain, and tinged with
the cold gray hue which pervaded
earth, air and sky.
Annie Raymond stood for an hour
looking persistently out, not on the
dreary landscape alone, but into her
drearier future. Since her mother S
death, which occurred during her child
hood, she had experienced no bitter
made her daily life unlovely and un-
pleasant.
The family was large and in very
moderate circumstances, and, like all
poor people of the present day, strug-
Cling to make one dollar show for two,
and so appear richer than they really
are.
Jane, the elder sister, took charge
of the house and ruled the younger
children with a rod of iron. The two
girls who came next were both mar
ried, and struggling with large fam
lilies and poverty. A brother next
younger had left home and was seek
ing his fortune-a hopeless task. Then
came Annie, age 81, and then sisters
younger still. The father was grave,
hard-working man, who usually dozed
away the time he spent at home.
Annie's life had been monotonous
enough thus far. There was house
work in the mornings, and in the after
Moons the sisters sewed for a fur
nishing store in the village, barely
earning a sufficient sum to clothe
them in the plainest apparel
But they were sprightly, intelligent
girls, and were received in the So
ciety of the village upon an equal foot
ing with those who were better sup
piled with this worlds goods.
There had been a time when Annie
INDUCED in rosy dreams of the fu-
ture, but her life was too monoton-
Gus, so lacking in incident, these were
soon dispelled. Her older sisters fur
nished striking examples of what her
own life would be.
Should she choose single blessed
ness and become a cross, unhappy old
maid like Jane? or follow in the foot
steps of Sarah and Sue, and be sick
ly, task-burdened wife, with scarcely
an hours peace and quiet?
Neither picture looked inviting to
young girl who had a passionate
longing fer the luxurious and beauti-
full things of this life. So she grew
graver as she went about the same
simple, homely tasks day after day,
and James reproving voice grated
more and more harshly upon her SEN
sitive ear, until it seemed as if 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
certain degree, and was her life hard
er to bear than theirs?
"They never think" she said; Il do;
so much the worse for me: but l can
not make them understand how terri
BILE life like theirs seems to me, it is
SO utterly devoid of beauty, and even
comfort"
But during the previous winter n
change came over the spirit of her
dreams. George Hastings came to
Glenville, and from her first acquain.
tance with him her life frightened.
He was only merchants clerk, but
capable and energetic, and a favorite
with his employer.
When Annie met him first she only
saw a rather small and uninteresting-
appearing young man. who conversed
agreeably. When sne saw him for the
second time she thought he had fine
eyes, and before the evening was over
she confessed that his smile was beau
tlful. Then. as their acquaintance pro-
gressed, she found their tastes were
very similar in many things.
After this he often called upon her
evenings, and read aloud to her while
she was busy with her sewing. Num-
berless little attentions followed,
rendered in a tender, delicate way,
and for a time was supremely happy.
George was slowly but surely ap-
preaching declaration-she was GER
tain 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 small
sum as yet laid aside for a rainy day.
Would her life, after all her tender