The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-06-12
Select Storg,
ONLY A DEPENDENT
A SKETCH FROM REAL LIFE.

N oNElOU nVh nCht III
Adainc Reynolds sat alone in one Of
the many rooms of her unclc's splendid
city mansion Yet the brilliantly lighted
parlors were thronged with gay assem-
blage. Why was she the only one sad9
1t was her cousin Claras birth-night,
and when Clara mad been asked who
Adaline was, the cruel answer was "only a
dependent distant relation of fathers"
Adaline had heard the contemptuous
reply, and hence she was alone and weep
ing
Adaline sat, her eyes resting on the
silvery moon, which was shedding its light
full upon her upturned face. That face
was one Of the most beautiful imaginable.
Tears were gathered in the large, soul-lit
eyes, and one fell upon the small white
hand. Adaline, at this, started up as if
an adder had stung her, and brushed the
tear drops FROM her eyes, saying:
Back, back to your fountain. Al
though am only dependent, win win a
name, and they shall be proud of their
poor cousin r
Slowly Adaline dropped upon her knees,
asking God to guide her in the step she
was going to take.
When she arose the guests were depart
Ing, for she could hear the carriages as they
rolled away. Yet she did not retire until
the dawn of day. Her slender fingers
were flying over the paper on which she
was writing.
The morning sun was shining bright
and beautiful. Mr.. Howard sat alone in
his library, He was thinking of the past
Once more the gray-haired man was a
child, seated around his fathers freside
with his brothers and sisters, listening to
his kind Sire's advice, or looking to catch
bis mothers love-lit smile Then a cloud
& came between him and his life of sunshine
The dea,h-angel claimed his fondly loved
mother; another and another passed away
until all was gone but his idolized sister
Ada.
Her he saw just verging into woman
hood Another vision passed before him,
bis new, proud, aristocratic wife. She had
Deceived him, il mattered not how; it was
loo late now for remedy. His daughters,
three in number, had grown up to woman
hood, and inherited all their mothers
Foolish pride.
He had heard Clara, the eldest, but the
evening before, say Adalinc was only a
dependent. The words had sunk deep
into his heart Was not Adaline his sis
ter's child
Again, and Ada passed before him, ar.
Fayed in her bridal robes. He heard her
farewell words, and felt her farewell kiss.
he was going to her western home.
A few short years passed by, when one
lark day letter came telling him of his
istor's death, then of her husbands, and
sking him to rear her child as his own
Did he not love that child as his own
es, nobly hast thou done thy duty to thy
cad sisters child. But alas thy words
Fere the only kind ones Adaline received.
While he sat thus, recalling the past,
wo soft arms stole around his neck, and a
keet voice said, '.Uncle, what are you
blinking about ?"
Must | tell you it was about my little
et2 Oh, how lonely l shall be when she
gone"
q Gone where, Uncle?"
Why, to Mrs. Westbrooks. Did l
ot promise to send you there next
oonth 2"
:" Yes, Uncle, but thought you had
brgotten It. | am so happy now at the
bought of going back TO dear Walnut hill
pee more; not at leaving you, Uncle 7
pd the tears came into her eyes as she
issed him, who cared more for her happi-
as than for his own.
Again she murmured the words Of the
ght before, II will win name for his
ke." And in few moments she was
liking down the street toward the post
bee, hearing in her hand the treasured
oughts that she had penned when hope
Is almost dead in her heart.
\ Mother said Clara Howard, "do you
low that father is going to send Adaline
ek to school again p
Yes, | know il, and | have told him
she will repay him with uugratefuI-
81
lust then Emma came in with news