Year: 1861

ently inquired.


"In May-little less than one year"


"And then :"


"And then we are to be married-so
hold yourself in readiness to be my brides.
maid"


The summer passed season of ear
nest, untiring and prayerful toll with the
young student, and of patient, hopeful, and
sustaining love, on the part of his betroth-
ed. Then came the chill of autumn, fol.
lowed by winter of uncommon severity.
Our dear Annie, while on night visit to
a dying friend, was exposed to sudden
and fearful storm took cold-oh, does not
my reader anticipate the mounful conse-
quence Her mother and elder sister had
died of consumption, and soon, very soon,
the seat of death was on her blue veined
brow, and the very voice Of the grave
sounding in the hollow cough which shook
her fragile frame. We knew that she
must die, and she, unlike many consump
tives, knew it also, yet she was strangely
averse to acquainting her absent lover
with the fearful truth She wrote to him
that she had been ill-was still suffering
from debility but that he must not be trou.
bled about it, nor be painfully sur
prised by her changed appearance when
he should return in the spring. Not one
word Of the dread, last parting before them
of the grave-which might


Rival the bridegroom, and take from his side
To repose in its bosom, his beautiful bride


AT length came round again, and with
it returned William Gordon, the young
clergyman. He was bowed to the earth
for the great and unlo ooked for afflction
which awaited him-yet meekly drank he
the bitter cup, for his God had mingled it.


Sweet Annie was passing rapidly from.
earth growing more and more fragile in
form, and angelic in spirit day by day and
poor William became intensely desirous
that their union might take place, Annie
friends readily asacutcd, bat she to our
surprise firmly refused to grant the mourn
full request of her brokeu-hearted lover.


One evening he was sitting alone by her
side as she was half reclining on couch
the hectic flush was more startling bright
than usual on her cheek, for she had sut-
fered much that day, and as he thought
how very near might be the dark wing of
Gods dread angel he took her wasted
hand in his, and said


Oh, my Annie, let me call you wife, be.
fore you leave me! You would not be so
utterly lost to me then, for | would know
you bearing that sacred name in Heaven.
Refuse me not love


Oh, William, William urge me no
longer, she replied, it must not, cannot be.
l am the bride of heaven, you must not be
my husband, and hear me dearest, you
must no longer be near me-your love is
precious, but it is earthly, and it comes as
cloud between me and the glores of that
upper world, to which 1 hasten, Your
voice my own, is sweeter to me than the
hymns of the angels heard in my dreams
of Heaven! We must part now-for every
hour renders you dearer, and how can l
leave you at last.


With heroic and martyr.like calmness
spoke the mistaken girl mistaken, for a
pure love, for one worthy, is the holiest
and sweetest preparation for His presence
who is love.


William Gordon saw her 6rmuess, and
that she was weak and trembling from the
excitement of the scene, and


"In close heart shutting up his pain"


resolved to yield instant and uncomplain-
ing obedience to her wishes. He rose up
calmly, and imprinting on her forehead a
kiss of mingled love and anguish, turned
and was gone! Annie buried her face in
her thin, white hands, and remained in an
agony of prayer and grief Then came
vague regrets for the course she had taken,
and painful doubts of the necessity of the
sacrifice she had made. Presently she
heard a well-known step-William had
returned His calmness had forsaken
him, and he murmured imploringly-


If must leave you to die alone, An,
mic, let me fold you once more to my heart
before go--it will give me strength"


He knelt on one knee before her, reached
forth his arms, and sobbed like child as
she leaned upon his bosom.


No word was spoken by that pair, loving
and faithful unto death, while the flood of
sorrow swept over their hushed spirits, as
the fountains of the souls great deep were