The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-23
SHE'S ONLY A DEPENDENT"

many roOlnS VI Hei on@'eS 9PA
mansion. Yet the brilliantly lighted par
lors were thronged with a gay assemblage.
Why was she the only one sad !?
It was her cousin Clara's birth night
and when Clara had been asked who Ada
line was, the cruel answer was, "only a de-
pendent, distant relation Of fathers"
Adaline had heard the contemptuous
reply, and hence she was alone and weep
ing.
Adaline sat, her eyes rested on the slvery
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. Although
am only dependent, I will win name,
and they shall yet be proud of their poor
cousin l."
Slowly Adaine 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 fin
gers 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 child,
seated around his fathers fireside with his
brothers and sisters, listening to his kind
Sire's advice, or looking to catch his
mothers love-it smile. Then cloud came
between him and his life of sunshine. The
dcath-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,
his now proud, aristocratic wife. She had
deceived him, it mattered not how; it was
too late now for remedy. sHis daughters,
three in number, had grown up to woman
hood, and inherited all their mothers fool
ish pride.
He had heard Clara, the eldest, but the
evening before, say that Adaline was only
dependent. The words had sunk deep
into his heart. Was not Adaline his sisters
childa
Again, and Ada passed before him, ar
rayed in her bridal robes. He heard her
farewell words, and felt her farewell kiss.
She was going to her western home.
6 A few short years passed by, when one
dark day a letter came telling him Of his
sisters death, then of her husbands and
asking him to rear her child as his own.
Did he not love that child as his own Yes,
nobly hast thou done thy duty to thy dead
sisters child. But alas thy words were
the only kind ones Adaline received.
While he sat thus, recalling the past.
two soft arms stole around his neck, and
sweet voice said, "Uncle, what are you
thinking aboutf''
Unjust ! tell you that it was about my lit
tie pet. Oh! how lonely shall be when
she is gone"
"Gona where, Uncle?'
why to Mrs. Westbrook's. Did I not
promise to send you next month";"
eyes, Uncle, but thought you had for
gotten it. I am so happy now at the
thought Of going back to dear Walnut Hill
once more; not at leaving you, Uncle"
and tears came into her eyes as she kissed
him, who cared more for her happiness
than for his own.
Again she murmured the words Of the
night, before, "1 will win name for his
sake.'' And in a few moments she was
walking down the street towards the post
Office, bearing in her hand the treasured
thoughts that she had penned when hope
was almost dead in her heart.
Mother" said Clara Howard, edo YOU
know father is going to send Adaline back
TO school again P"
eyes, know it and I have told him that
she will repay him with ungratefulness."
Just then Emma came in with news
paper, saying, "there is such beautiful
piece Of poetry written in the Gazette, it
is called thoughts of Heaven; and the edi-
tor has complimented the authoress whose
name is Lena"
Clara read it and poured forth her praises
On the writer.
Adaline was in the next room, and her
heart bounded with Joy and hope as she
recognized her own poem.
We will pass over the farewell, and Ada
lines sadness at leaving her kind uncle.
The e'poor dependent is again Mrs. West
brooks favorite pupil. Adaline tells her
secret to her kind preceptress.
The name of Lena soon found its way
out in the literary world. No one suspect
ed, however that Lena, the gifted poetess,
1-as Adalne Reynolds.
Three years passed. Adaline was still
with Mrs. Westbrook, for although she had
long since. graduated with the highest
donors, she preferred remaining with her
kind friend, and assisting her in her duties
of labor and love.
A new light had dawned uron her also,
she loved with true woman's heart, and
was beloved in return. Yet he knew not
hat. he loved the poetess Lena. The world
was ringing with her praise; and he too
mad admired the heaTen-born talent Of
Lena.
Adaline, on her part, knew not yet that
Mr.. Edward Stanley was sometimes called
he Hon. Edward Stanley, and was con- |
FRESHMAN from A.