Year: 1875

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and her funds fast dwindling away.
No wonder, she said, (and that doz-
en- times a day. oh fool, to ever visit
this country, even for the sake of
health, better had / stayed back in the
old home, though humble it was then
! to have come to this pulled up coun-
try, not Il soul, not friend to bid me
be of good cheer. All, Annie, little
darling, were it not for her how
soon | could find a home, though it
eavored not of this earth, but Annie
what will she do when / am gone, and
that time must soon come, and here
the tears commenced to fall, and then
long she set and mused, and at last a
resolution seemed to he formed for
she spoke. Yes, l will do it, but oh,
how, how humiliating that must
have to ask Of him such favor All,
Harry Vale, you will soon have your
revenge on me, but perhaps he will
not design TO notice me, he who is so
rich and | alas - but her soliloquy
was here interrupted for on the thresh-
hold stood Harry Vale holding little
Annie by the hand.


Why Harry, Mr.. Vale, and rising
feebly from her chair, she extended
her thin transparent hand, which
was warmly grasped by Harry.


Annie you here and suffering to in
this lonely place,


No Harry Vale not suffering save
in bodily pain, but how have you
found me out for | did not intend that
you should see me again after that
night at the Hotel, when you and
your friend took tea there.


Then you saw and knew me there.


did.


And would not even recognize me
by so much as a look, and he looked
into her sad face as though trying to
read her innermost thoughts.


Harry Vale, would you then, could
you now ask me to recognize you af
ter all that has transpired III the past,
could you who | am told are so veal
thy, and who holds cities government
under your control, could you wish to
be noticed by poor, faded, poverty
stricken Annie Holland, for | have
married since l saw you last Harry,
and here she stroked the sunny curls
OF her little child. Yes, Harry, this
is the bond which binds me to earth.


And have you nothing else, is there
no body but her for you to live for,
have you no friends?


None. Father, mother, all, and she
cast her eyes on the floor as though
waiting for him to speak.


And him your husband, Annie ?


Is dead, thank G0d


Then may not be friend to you
and this little cherub.


Oh God, and the poor soul sank
back in her chair, weeping sad and
penitent tears as the thoughts Of
her past life filtered through her
mind.


Is it possible, sir, can it be true
that you who SO cruelty used years
long gone bye can now offer to be my
friend, who am so far beneath your
station in life?


Stop, don't mention that Annie,
that separated us once, it must not
again; affluence, and position should
not make ssany difference when the
souls are pure, 1 am called wealthy,
and perhaps envied by many; but did
those same ones know the void which
has filed my soul, then they would
say, seek pleasure where you can find
it. Annie it will be a pleasure if you
will but let me be your friend. May 1?


Yes, Harry, for the little time | have
to stay here You shall be my friend
and after | am gone oh, then, if you
will be her friend. Darling child,
how can | leave her!


You will not leave her Annie, you
will live to make us both happy
come, throw off this despondent mood
and let us see that old sweet smile
once more; and he smoothed the dark
tresses as tenderly as brother could
have done.


l cannot smile, Harry, those days
are passed and did you but know the
heart pangs l have endured since | lived
with George Holland, you could not
ask me too, but twas just punishment
for my flitblessness to you. No Harry,
my friend, my days are numbered on
this earth, and just before you made
your unexpected appearance | had
made a resolve that on nv diving bed |