She was bidding the little ones "goodbye." They were off from her, onthe sidewalk, when the elder child--a bright, laughing boy of five--sangout, kissing his little dimpled hand:
"Good-bye, Annie, darling!"
Edgar Roberts felt as if he would like to clasp the little fellow to theheart he had relieved of all anxiety. No longer a doubt was in his mind.He had found his Annie Grey.
From that afternoon, twice every day he passed the cottage of the widowGrey, frequently seeing sweet Annie. This, however, was his only reward.She never seemed at all conscious of his presence. Often her eyes wouldglance carelessly toward him. Oftener they were never raised from herwork. Sewing by the window, she always was.
What next? How to proceed, on his fixed determination of winning her, ifpossible?
Another bright thought. He felt pretty sure she attended churchsomewhere; perhaps had a class in the Sabbath school. So the next Sundaymorning, at an early hour, he was commanding a view of Annie's home.When the school bells commenced to ring, he grew very anxious. A fewmoments, and the door opened and the object of his thoughts steppedforth. How beautiful she looked in her pretty white suit! Now Edgar felthis cause was in the ascendancy. Some distance behind, and on the otherside of the street, he followed, ever keeping her in view until he sawher enter a not far distant church. Every Sunday after found him anattentive listener to the Rev. Mr. Ashton, who soon became aware of thepresence of the young gentleman so regularly, and apparently so muchinterested in the services. So the good man sought an opportunity tospeak to Edgar, and urge his accepting a charge in the Sabbath school.We can imagine Edgar needed no great urging on that subject; so,frequently, he stood near his Annie. In the library, while selectingbooks for their pupils, once or twice they had met, and he had handed toher the volume for which her hand was raised. Of course a smile and bowof acknowledgment and thanks rewarded him.
Edgar was growing happier, and more confident of final success everyweek, when an event came which promised a speedy removal of alldifficulty in his path. The school was going to have a picnic. Then andthere he would certainly have an introduction to Annie, and afterspending a whole day with her, he would accompany her home and win theprivilege of calling often.
The day of the picnic dawned brightly, and the happy party gathered onthe deck of the steamer. The first person who met Edgar Roberts' eye washis fellow-student, Edward Roberts. Standing beside him were two ladiesand some children. When Edgar hastened up to speak to his friend, theladies turned, and Edward presented:
"My wife; my sister, Miss Grey."
Edgar Roberts could scarcely suppress an exclamation of joy andsurprise. His looks fully expressed how delighted he was.
Three months had he been striving for this, which, if he had only knownit, could have been obtained so easily through his friend and herbrother. But what was so difficult to win was the more highly prized.What a happy day it was!
Annie was all he had believed her--charming in every way. Edgar made aconfidant of his friend; told him what Edward well knew before, but waswise enough not to explain the mistake--of his hopes and fears; and wonfrom the prudent brother the promise to help him all he could.
Accompanying Annie home that evening, and gaining her permission for himto call again, Edgar lost no time in doing so, and often repeated thecall.
Perhaps Annie thought him very fast in his wooing, and precipitate indeclaring his love, when, after only a fortnight visiting her, he said:
"Annie, do you like me well enough, and trust in me sufficiently, toallow me to ask your mother to call me her son?"
Either so happy or so surprised was Annie, that she could not speak justthen. But roses crowded over her fair face, and she did not try towithdraw the hand he had clasped.
"Say, Annie, love," he whispered. She raised her eyes to his with such astrange, surprised look in them, that he laughed and said:
"You think I am very hasty, Annie. You don't know how long I've lovedyou, and have waited for this hour."
"Long!--two weeks," she said.
"Why, Annie, darling, it is over three months since I've been able tothink of anything save Annie Grey--ever since the night I received mydiploma, and your sweet, encouraging bouquet, since that night I'veknown and loved you. And how I've worked for this hour!"
And then he told her how it was. And when he had finished, she looked athim, her eyes dancing merrily, and though she tried hard to keep thelittle rosebud of a mouth demurely shut, it was no use--it would openand let escape a rippling laugh, as she said:
"And this is the work my bouquet went about, is it? This is the good ithas done me--" She hesitated; the roses deepened their color as shecontinued "And you--"
"Yes, Annie, it has done much good to me, and I hope to you too."
"But, Edgar--" it was the first time she had called him thus, and howhappy it made him--"I must tell you the truth--I never sent you abouquet!"
"No! oh, do not say so. Can there be another such Annie Grey?"
"No; I am the one who sent the bouquet; but, Edgar, you received itthrough a mistake. It was intended for my brother-in-law, Edward!"
"Stop, Annie, a moment--Are you sorry that mistake was made? Do youregret it?" said Edgar, his voice filled with emotion.
"No indeed. I am very glad you received it instead," Annie ingenuouslyreplied; adding quickly, "But, please, do not tell Edward I said so."
"No, no; I will not tell him that you care a little more for _Edgar_than _Edward_. Is that it? May I think so, Annie?"
She nodded her head, and he caught her to his heart, whispering:
"Mine at last. My Annie, darling! What a blessed mistake it was! May Igo to your mother, Annie?"
"Yes; and I'll go with you, Edgar, and hear if she will admit thoseflowers did any good. She thought it a useless expenditure."
The widow Grey had become very much attached to the kind, attentiveyoung man, and when he came with Annie, and asked her blessing on theirlove, she gave it willingly; and after hearing all about the way ithappened, she said:
"Never did flowers such a good work before. They carried Edgar tochurch, made a Christian of him, and won for Annie a good, devotedhusband, and for me an affectionate son."
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