The Feliciana Democrat., 1857-11-07
Gbc ftlitiaaa Iltnotrat.
THREE TIMES 4 DAY.
Adela, my darling Adelo y

here alone with you, Juctta !"
Little Mary IS here, grandpa, playing with
the dog and Marianne is in the kitchen, get
ting dinner ready"
"'rhis conversation was held between lit
tie girl, about nine years old aud the Baron
st. Andres, an old man Of eighty. lie was a
knight of the order of st. Louis, and had re-
ccived his knighthood and insignia from the
hands of Louis the XVI, King Of France
lie was now, however, quite blind, and, con.
scquently, almost helpless Little Mary, Il
child of six years Of age, made the third one
OF the party.
"Julietta," res lmed the old man, after n
short silence, !" did your sister say anything to
you when she went out 7"
" Yes, grandpa" replied Julietta, =" she said
to mc-'Tukc care that little Mary doesn't
trouble grandpa, and if he wishes to 90 into
the garden, give him your hand and take care
not to let him stumble over anything, because
he can't sec, poor grandpa and God has Civ
Ell him to us his children, to take care Of him,
and to obey him, and make him rs happy as
we cam Oh, l know it all by heart grandpa,
because Adcla tells it to me three times day:
every time before she goes OUT
:" How every time before she goes out i
Does She often 90 out ~ asked the old man.
whose venerable brow seemed ruilled by some
painful thought.
"Thrce times every day y answered Juliet
ia, in some surprise three times every day
once III the morning, before you come down,
from to . O'clock another from IL till ! +;
and the third from 3 to 5, when you are asleep,
You see three times day. Did you think
] couldn't reckon "
"What o'clock is it now ?" asked the Baron,
rather sharply, doubtless with the hope O
finding some discrepancy in Julietta's reckon
ing.
at struck l. Just now" Julietta answered.
"And here comes Adela hear the garden
gate opening and she is speaking to Mary
and the dog. They have gone to meet her"
In few moments Adcla entered. She was
q young and lovely girl SO young she seemed
as if she had. scarcely emerged from childhood
and yet SO serious and so thoughtful was the
expression of her countenancc, that the pre-
Mature care of life had, as it were, blighted
the flower Of youth.
"Adela !" said the Old man, III q tone 50 sad
and serious that it brought the quick color to
the young girls face, "whcnce came you "
and stretching forth bis hand, he seized that Of
Adela, which she had extended towards him,
took it between both his own, gently stroked
it, and at last said in mournful manner,
You are agitated my child ! you are trou.
bled you tremble Whence came you"
The young girl did not reply
Obtaining no answer the Baron ST. Andres
continued, and the slow, solemn accent with
which he uttered each word showed the saf
feelings of his heart " In 1914 was a wild
over, Adela, and, of all my numerous family
only one was left me, my sainted daughter
Henrietta, yonr mother * i Your ia
thcr fell at Waterloo you were then onl,
twelve, Adela Adela what can | say ?
BY all my past miseres by my unceasins
grizzly my gray hairs--I cntreat you, tel
me whence came you? Whittier go You thrc
times a day "
"My father" said Adea, 81 am only sey
cnteen years old, it is true and yet, young a
| am, sorrow and care have already left thei
impress on my brow. Three years ago m
mother died, yet that sad scene is ever prcsen
to my mind, as wildly as if it had been bu
yesterday. | still hear the weak voice, regain
ing momentary strength, address me: Adela
she said, ] leave you two daughters be
mother TO them. And my poor father; il
trust him to you. Guide the two first in thei
course through life show them its thorns an
its dangers. Hide from the second everything
that would pain him. Such were her words
and | have tried to obey them. / go out tire
times day, and that troubles you; but you d
not consider that am the mistress of a fam
ly-the housekeeper; and yet MORE haY
TO take care of you all. Are not these dutie
enough to call me out three times a day ?
Have you confidence in yonr Adela, my dea
grandfather trust in her y
"lhat is all desire it is all my heal
wishes, my daughter Well, well, you hay
been out to-day--you will not go out again
Am ] right? You do not answer, Adea !"
Adcla, as if she had not heard his las
words, turned to Julietta and questioned he
concerning the studies which she had to recit
to her in the evening, and thus adrotly chang
ed the conversation. She then remained som
time with the little party Oh the piazza, unit
Marianne summoned them to the dinner table
Notwithstanding her cXcrtons to please am
entertain her grandfather, she observed wit
pain that his mind was still troubled, and fea
ing that he might resume his attempts to di
suade her from again yenturlng out, she col
troIIed her own feelings and clatted incessan
ly with the little ones--all the time, howeye
carefully administering to the old mans want