Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-11-23
ADRIENNE'S MISTAKE,

Adrienne Huntley sat thoughtfully
reading two letters. Her father anc
brother had long since finished theil
breakfast and departed for their daily
avocations. Still she did not move; hel
barely tasted coffee had grown cold, anG
the spaniel, Floss, waited in vain for his
usual knob of sugar.
Very pretty was Adrienne, though
now an anxious frown contracted hel
delicate brows. The male population OF
Colnwood were not far wrong when they
declared her to be the belle of the town
Not often would you meet with such a
pure-tinted complexion, such lustrous
dark eyes, such coronal of glossy
chestnut plaits, or such perfectly y-pro-
portioned figure.
At length she rose, and ringing to
have the table cleared, went about her
usual household occupations.
She neglected nothing. The pantry
was duly inspected, stores were given
out, pastry was made, and the necessary
amount of busting was accomplished
But during the performance of these
customary duties, her face never lost it's
distraite, pre-occupied expression.
The last post the night before had
brought her an offer of marriage. This
offer was from gentleman whom she
respected, but certainly did not love.
He was, though, very rich, and the own
er of considerable property in the neigh
borhood.
Then by the first post that morning
had come another proposal, strange to
say, from the cousin of her other suitor.
He, however, had neither lands nor mo-
ney to boast Of, being by profession an
artist, and at present only an unknown,
unappreciated one.
Hence arose Adrienne's difficulty. She
liked her rich lover, but alas. for the
contrariety OF human nature, she loved
her poor one. But, then, all her life she
had had to pinch and contrive and man
age. Her father was poor doctor in
a poor parish, and every pound his pa
tients paid him was spent in anticipation
long before it found it's way into his
waiting hand
A new pair of gloves or new ribbon
was subject of deep rejoicing to his
pretty daughter, while the cunning turn
ings and twistings and retrimmings that
her bonnets and dresses underwent
would fairly have astonished young
lady of more ample means.
Consequently, a sharp temptation now
assailed her. Should she bid adieu to
poverty and shabbiness and second-rate
living, and accept George Morely, and
with him the certainty of splendid
home, carriages, plentiful jewelry, and
all those countless luxuries that wealth
alone can purchase? Or should She
bravely resisting the enticing prospect
consent to become Guy Morley wife,
and by her presence and sympathy
soothe and encourage him in his strug-
giles and disappointments?
1t was hard to decide, all the morning
she hesitated and wavered. In the af-
ternoon irresolutiOn was no longer pos
sible. Yet even with her desk open and
writing materials ready, she paused
What should she do? Which should ii
be? At last, with pale face and com
pressed mouth, she dipped her pen in
the ink and wrote two short notes. The
one Of acceptance was for George Nor:
ley, and the one of rejection was for his
cousin Guy.
These dispatched, she hoped her mind
would be at peace. But no, she felt
wretched and miserable, and in the twi
light, when she played to her father, and
sang his favorite old ballads, her voice
had a harsh, strained.ring, and suddenly
in the midst of the concluding verse OF
AUD Robin Gray she broke dowr
completely, and burst into tears
Why, Addie, child are you not well.
Is anything the matter, dear? exclaim
ed her father.
my head aches. | will go to bed
| think. Goodnight, papa"
Once in her room, her pent-up feelings
so long repressed had their way. Now
that it was too late, she would have Civ
en- her right hand to have been able t.
retract her decision. Position and com
fort, dresses and diamonds, of what val
ue would they be to her without him?
A sleepless night passed, and sh,
arose tired and heavy-cyed. Every RIM
of the bell, every knock at the door
caused her to tremble with fear and ap
prehension. She must expect an early
visit from her favored suitor; she mus
expect him to arrive, radiant with tri
umph, and how should she meet him?
1t was evening, but he had not come
Her father had been called to patien
at some distance, her brothers had gon'
to attend a lecture on vivisection, ant
Adrienne was alone in the drawing
room.
She could not sit still; so out througl
the open French window she stepped
and across the smooth-cut grass.
At the end of the lawn was moss
grown path, and up and down this sh
paced, her dress of soft gray making he
moving figure distinctly visible agains
the sombre background of an ivy color
ed wall.
The sunset hour was past the opa
hues of the sky were darkening, when
step on the gravel startled her, and
mans figure came fastening toward
her.
Instinctively she recoiled, and woul
have fed; but in moment she wa
folded in strong arms, and hot kisse
fell on cheeks, and lips, and brow.
Il" she began, trying to re
lease herself.
The waning light revealed who it wa
that held her in such close embrac,
Resistance was at an end then.
| She forgot that her troth was plighte
elsewhere re-forgot everything but th
nreaAnt ranturo ma ahA lak her head dr0