The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-03-15
"She's Only A Dependent. ="

splendid city mansion. Yet the bril-
liantly lighted parlors were thronged
with a gay assemblage. Why was she
the only one sad ?
1t was her cousin Clara's birth night,
and when Clara had been asked who
Alkaline was, the cruel answer was,
"only dependent, distant relation
Of fathers"
Alkaline had heard the contemptu-
Gus reply, and hence she was alone
and weeping.
Adaline sat, her eyes rested on the
silvery moon, which was shedding its
light full upon her upturned face.
That face was one of the most beauti-
ful 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 a dependent, I will
win name, and they shall yet be
proud of their poor cousin |"
Slowly Adaline dropped upon her
knees, asking God to guide her in the
step she was going to take.
When she arose the guests we're de-
parting, for she could hear the car.
riages es 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 mere the gray-haired
man was child, seated around his ia.
theirs freside with his brothers and
sisters, listening to his kind Sire's ad-
vice, or looking to catch his mothers
love-lit smile. Then a cloud came be.
tween him and his life of sunshine.
The death-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 wo.
manhood. Another vision passed be.
fore him, his now proud, aristocratic
wife. She had deceived him, it mat.
tered not how; it was too late now for
remedy. His daughters, three in num-
ber, had grown up to womanhood, aud
Inherited ali their mothers foolish
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 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
ern home.
A few short years passed by, when
one dark day 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 sis
ter's 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 about?"
"Must toll you that it was about
my little pet. Oh! how lonely shall
be when she is gone"
"Gone where, Uncle?"
"Why to Mrs. Wes.brook's. Did I
not promise to send you next month ?"
Eyes, Uncle, but 1 thought you had
forgotten it. / am so happy now at
the thought of going back to dear
Walnut Hill once more not at leav-
ing 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, "I will win name
for his sake" And in few moments
she was walking down the street to-
wards 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, "do
you know father is going to send Ada
line back to school again ?"
"Yes, know it and l have told
him that she will repay him with un-
gratefulness.
Just then Emma came in with
newspaper, saying, "there is such
beautiful piece of poetry written in
the Gazette, it is called Thoughts of
Heavcn; and the editor has compli.
mented the authoress whose name is
Lena"
Clara read Il and nnnrnh forth hnr