Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-04-26

came no more to school. Mother and
Mrs. Cotton exchanged calls, but there
was no intimacy between the families,
and / seldom saw Adelaide or Emily, ex-
cept at church. They we're constant in
their attendance on divine service, and
certainly remembered the Sabbath day
all the week, and anticipated its return
as much as any of the good people of
s.. One summer the sisters left
town to attend school-how desolate the
church looked and how little / cared to
60 to the post office, directly opposite the
store! The next summer I was uuex-
pectedly thrown in company with Ade-
laide, for a few hours. The room was
full. had often wondered whether she
retained her childish partiality for me,
but had only the negative consolation of
never hearing her name coupled with
any admirer. | was but eighteen, and
though / had loved for eight years,
was yet too young to form matrimonial
engagements-an she was younger-so
| remained silent. Once our eyes met,
and in answer to my earnest and impas-
stoned gaze, the eloquent coloring Of
nature told all most wanted to know.
| was bewildered, and could have COM
marded my voice, should probably have
uttered some egregious nonsense, but
Emily, wild as bird, and quick as a
woman, perceived her sisters embarrass-
ment, and began to talk of their proposed
change of residence. Iwas-I had been
silent, but now my cup of happiness was
dashed to the ground; was completely
stupefed; | only heard the Vest
The next Sabbath | attended church,
and gazed-what could ] do more? |
wished ] were few years older-could
| not have spoken when we were togeth-
er? | would have written, but my
thoughts were too tumultuous. l could
not expose my feelings A few days and
they were gone. Superior in mind and
education, the girls had few associates.
And as so many years have now elapsed,
probably the girls are married, and | am
forgotten"
Forgotten" exclaimed Mary, "for-
gotten no, uncle Fred Adelaide is not
the person you represent; if she has for
gotten, / love you better for remaining
so faithful to your early love; but did
you never make an effort to learn more
of herr"
Ycs," said uncle Fred, "my journey
to the west four years since, was to seek
her, but | could learn nothing further
than that, Mr.. Cotton having died, his
widow and daughters had again removed
Even yet, after the lapse of twenty
years, l sometimes think may meet her
whom so long have enshrined in my
soul. / can converse with ladies, and
like to do SO. / can play the agreeable
to room full, but none has ever come
in competition with Adelaide"
A few months from the time this
tale of his early hopes was unfolded, be-
held uncle Fred on his way to Boston,
Mary had exchanged the name of Free
man for that of Barton--and uncle Fred
must accompany her to her new home.
Edward Barton took his bride to his
fathers residence.
Bland and courteous as uncle Fred
usually was, taciturnity seemed to have
closed his lips upon the wedding journey.
Mary related the account of this early
attachmentto Edward, but a strange CLEAN
of intelligence irradiated hiscountenance,
as the name of Adelaide Cotton met his
ear. Desiring her not to be discomfort
ed if Miss Cotton should meet them at
dinner, he added
She is a cousin Of my mothers, and
| am sure is worthy Of all uncle Fred's
love-"
Vain would be any description of the
dinner party.
Adelaide had accepted an earnest in
vitation of Mrs. Barton's to visit New
England, little suspectng that she would
meet her old acquaintance, uncle Fred.
A few days after, uncle Fred returned
to s.. The curiosity of the post
master was excited by the uncommon
circumstance of two letters, directed by
feminine, but dissimilar hands, to Mr..
Frederick Rathbun. One was from
Mary. The other told tale of woman's
love.
"Tbe first bloom of girlhood is pass
ed, but the heart grows not old with
years. When / was child, no scheme
of happiness was formed in which you
were not participant, and as | grew
older, any airy castle would have been
dcsolate without your presence but the
interview which occurred shortly before
| left S., manifested most clearly
my heart to myself, and. / felt, unveiled
that heart to you. My woman's pride
was alarmed, what might be a childish
folly was an inexcusable weakness in a
woman, for your love had not been spo-
ken. Now let me add, that though !
have formed some pleasant acquaintance
with gentlemen, and have received at
tention and respect sufficient 10 satisfy
rational mind, have never received adj
vances matrimonial. II is not 10 be ex-
pected, that at seven and twenty there
should be as much enthusiasm as might
have been evinced ten years ago, but
you cannot doubt the sincerity Of my
affection p
Such was Adelaide's reply to an ovow-
al of uncle Fred's long cherished prefer
ence. Another winter beheld their des-
tiny for life united. Uncle Fred felt
that earth contained for him but one, to
be loved with measureless intensity, and
Adelaide too was happy.
While single she had endeavored 10
be sufficient 70 herself,"-now she was