Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-06-24


the many rooms of her uncle's splendid
city mansion. Yet the brilliantly light
ed pariors were thronged with. gay
assemblage. Why was she Che only
one sad
1t was her cousin Clara's birth-night,
and when Clara had been asked who
Adaline was, the cruel answer was only
q dePeadent, distant relation Of faith
er's.
Adaline had heard the contemptuous
reply, and hence she was alone and
l&eept1g
Adalinesat, her eyes resting on the sill
very neon, which was shedding its light
full upon her upturned face. That face
was one of the most beautiful imagina-
bic. 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 stuns
her, and brushed the tear drops from
her eyes, saying:
Back, back to your fountain. AL
though l am only dependent, 1 will
win name, and they shall be proud of
their poor cousin =
Slowly Adaline dropped upon her
knees, asking God to guide her in the
steps she was going to take.
! When she arose the guests were de-
parting, for she could hear the car
riages 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 n child. seated around his father 3
tireside with his brothers and sisters,
listening to his kind Sire's advice, Jock
ing TO catch his mothers love-lit smile.
Then cloud came between him and
his life of sunshine The death-an:el
claimed his fondly loved mother; an
other and another passed away until
all was gone but his idolized sister
Ada.
Her lie saw just verging into woman
hood. Another vision passed before
him, his new, proud, aristocratic wife.
She bad deceived him, it mattered not
how; it was too late now for remedy.
His dau. ;hters, three in number, had
grown up to woman-hood and in
herited all their mothers foolish pride.
He had heard Clara. the eldest. but
the evening before, say Alaiine was
only dependent The words had sunk
deep into his heart. Was not Adaline
his sisters child
Again. and Ada passed before him,
arrayed in her bridal robes He heard
her farewell words, and felt her fare
well kiss. She was going to her west
eIn home.
A few short years passed by, when
one dark dly letter came telling him
of his sisters death, then of her hns-
bands, and asking him to rear her child
as his own. Did he not love that child
rs bis own? Yes, nobly hast thou done
thy duty 10 thy dead sisters child
But alas thy words were the only kind
ones Ada.ine received.
While he sat thus, recalling the past.
two soft arms stole around his neck,
and II sweet voice said, Uncle, what
are YOU thinking about 2
Must tell you it was about nv lit
tie pet? Oh, how lonely l shall be
when she is gone
Gone where, Unclef
why, to Mrs. Westbrook's. Did I
not promise to send you there next
month";
Yes. Uncle, but l thought YOU had
forgotten it. am SO happy now at
the thought Of going back to dear Wal
nut hill once more; not at leaving YOU.
Uncle and the tears came into her
eyes as she kissed him. who cared
more for her happiness than for his
own.
Again she murmered the words of
the night before, L will win n name
for his sake And in few moments
she was walking down the street toward
the postoffice, bearing in her hand the
treasured thoughts that she had penned
when hope was almost dead in her
heart.
Mother said Clara Howard. do
you know that father is going to send
Adaline back to school again z
Yes, know it, and l have told him
that she will repay him with migrate
fulnesS.
Just then Emma came in with a
newspaper. saving, there is such a
! beautiful piece of poetry written in the
Gazette, it is called Thoughts of Heay-
en-; and the editor has com plimented
TIE au;horess whose name is Lena.
Clara read it and poured fourth her
praises on the writer. Adaline was
in the next room, and her heart bound
ed with Joy and hope as she recognized
her own poem.
We will pass over the farewell, and
Adalines sadness at leaving her kind
uncle. The poor dependent is again
Mrs. Westbrook's favori;e pupil Ad-
aline tells her own secret to her kind
preceptress.
The name of Lena soon found its
way out III the literary world. No one
SUSPECTED, however. that Lena, the gift
ed pSetess. was Adaline Reynolds.
Three years passed. Adaline was
still with Mrs. Westbrook, for although
she had long since graduated with the
highest honors. she preferred remain
ing with her kind friend, and assisting
her in her duties of labor aud love.
A new light had dawned upon her
also, she loved with q true womau's
heart, and was beloved in return. Yet
he knew not that he loved the poetess
Lena. The world was ringing with