Year: 1875

by FLORA f. DREW.


Annabel Lee sat in her elegantly fur
nished drawing-room toying with note
she held in her hand. A tender, mellow
light dwelt in her magnificent dark eyes
and dreamy smile softened her brilliant
face as she glanced at the dainty billet
she held. A little of pride mingled with
her smile too-for what woman can lister
unmoved to the tale of lover "a little
of pride that she should attract the atten
tion of such talented man as Louis
Huntley, he whom all the bellies of the
city had tried in vain to bring to theil
feet; and she cast an admiring glance al
the beautiful face reflected in the opposite
mirror.


Yes, he loved her, he had told her so in
that very note he had asked her to be
his wife, and he was coming that after
noon to receive an answer. The tender
light deepened in her eyes and the soft
smile grew still softer as she thought Oi
him; he was so handsome, so intellectual
so noble; and she blushed unconsciously
as she thought how dear he was to her
how much more she priced one glance OF
his deep, expressive eye, one simple word
spoken in his own sweet voice, than all
the attentions and protestations of the
rest other host of admirers.


How immeasurably superior he was
to them all, and how Odious Mr.. Crever-
ton seemed by the contrast-Mr. Crever.
ton, whom her mother wished her to
marry But then, Mr.. Creverton had
money, plenty Of it, and Louis, though a
poet and genius, was undeniably poor.
Yes, he had said so in his note but he
had told her if she would only be his he
would struggle the harder to win the
smiles of fortune, and with such an in
ducement to exertion he must succeed.
Could she consent, he asked, to trust her
self to him, to leave for his sake the beau
tiful home in which she had been reared,
where all the luxuries of life had been
showered upon her, and share with him
humble lot, receiving in return for
that she sacrificed only the wealth of his
own boundless love?


The dreamy smile fled her face as she
thought of this, and the tender light
faded from her eyes. With her fastidious
tastes, her intense love of the beautiful
her habitual disregard of trifes, how
could she reconcile herself TO the priva-
tions and petty trials of poverty, or en-
dure the sneers of her fashionable &C.
quaintanccs at love in cottage? Oh,
she could not, it was useless to think OF
it BE q poor mans bride-never! And
Annabel drew up her proud form with
berhaughtiest air.


But could she renounce Louis, around
whom the tendrils of her soul seemed
cntwincd with life-grasp? could she give
him up, him, her idol, and marry Mr..
Creverton, as her mother desired? An
mabel repelled the thought. But then
he was wealthy he could maintain her
in the style to which she had always been
accustomed; she would be surrounded by
the elegancies which had become neces-
sary to her fastidious eyes but then the
Odious incumbrance, Creverton, how
, could she renounce Louis for him ? All,
well might check blanch and lip culver,
for terrible struggle began in her
bosom ambition and love fought for the
mastery, the prejudices and tastes of edu-
cation on one side, and on the other the
one thought of the exquisite happiness
she might enjoy as Louis wife.


But at last the dreamy light faded en-
tirely from the beautiful eyes, and the
mouth assumed a cold, stern expression,
such an expression as it had never worn
before Ambition had conquered, and
with an iron will she crushed back the
yearning tenderness which would rise in
her heart; and cold as the marble statue
of which hepelcgant form was q living
type, she descended to the drawing-room
to give Louis Huntley his answer.


III h. l. L.
bay window, so absorbed in thought as
not to heed her entrances but as she ad-
vanced toward him he turned, and with a
beautiful smile breaking over his pale
face, he sprang forward and clasped her
hand, saying, in low, tender tone which
made her whole being thrill,-


"Annabel, dear Annabelp


But his eager glance met 70 response in
the marble face before him, and the pas
sive hand lag like ice in his grasp.


Could it be, he thought, she did not love
him, that he could have deceived himself
all this time No he had seen here eye light
up and her cheek glow at his approach
he had seen her turn away from The gay
crowd which surrounded her for quiet
walk with him, he had looked in her eyes
when he talked of fame, and had read
her sympathy there, and in his pre- ence
she had ever laid aside the brilliant belle
for the true, tender-hearted woman. She
loved him, yes, he knew it, and in tender
thrilling words he told her how dear she
was to him, and asked her to be his
wife.


The struggle recommended in Anna
bel's bosom, and her great love had well
nigh conquered her pride, as halffaintinp
she sank in his bosom. For one brie
moment she rested there, clasped close u
his heart in tight embrace and ther
her consciousness returned, and sitting
with relentless will her passionate long
ing to rest there forever, she withdrew
herself from his arms, and regaining heI
composurc, in cold and guarded term,
dismissed the only man she had evel
loved.


Louis forgot his pride, forgot every
thing but that Annabel rejected him, and
pleaded with her as only lover car
plead 10 give him hope, only TO give hin
hope, and he would wait and toll year,
for her. But all in vain; she remained
immovable, and at last, stung by her cold
ness, despairing, without word of fare
we'll, he left her.


Then her forced composure gave way