The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-10-31
Adrienne's Mistake.

Adrienne Huntley sat thoughtfully
reading two letters. Her father and
brother had long since finished their
breakfast and departed to their daily av-
ocations. Still she did not move, her
barely tasted coffee had grown cold land
the spaniel, Carlo, waited in vain for his
usual knob of sugar.
Very pretty was Adrienne, though
now an anxious frown contracted her
delicate brow. The male population OF
Coinwood 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 lus-
trous dark eyes, such a coronol of glossy
chestnut plaits, or such a perfectly 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 dusting was accomplished.
But during the performance OF these
customary duties, her face never lost
Its diStrait, pre-occupied expression.
The last post the night before had
brought her an offer of marriage. This
offer was from a gentleman whom she
respected much, but certainly did not
love. He was, though, very rich, and
the owner of considerable property in
the neighborhood.
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 land nor
money to boast of, beng by profession
an artist, and at present only an un-
known, unappreclated 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 to pinch, and cOntrive and
manage. Her father was poor doctor
in a poor parish, and every pound his
patients paid him was spent in antici-
patton long before it found its way into
his waiting hand.
A new pair of gloves or new ribbon
was a subject for deep rejoicing to his
pretty daughter, while the cunning
turnings and twistings and re-trimming
that her bonnets and dresses underwent,
would fairly have astonished a young
lady of more ample means.
Consequently sharp temptation now
assailed her. Should she bid adieu to
poverty and shabbiness, and second-rate
iyinGRh md accept George Morley, and
II RhA1ne certainty of a splendid
Is Kiss. .Rt6knl iewelry, and
N n 4 \. n 4 & N her
E: e: =: 3. !: !. !.
+, x 4 ( K H 4. .| +. Il, 4, 10 longer
m "A " v y N desk open
/, N NJ W Mhe paused.
y, y *. \ :. " \ \ " (which should it
\ Z n Epalt face and compress
te dipped her pen in the
ink and wrote two short notes. And the
one of acceptance was for George Nor
lev and the one of rejection was for his
cousin Guy.
These dispatched, she hoped her mind
would be at peace. But low she felt
wretched and miserable, and in the twi-
light, when she played to her father,
and sang his favorlte old ballads, her
voice had harsh, strained tone, and
suddenly, in the midst of the concluding
verse of "Auld Robin Grey" she broke
down completely, and burst iato tears
"why, ,Addie, child, are you not well
Is ANYTHING the matter, dearY eX-
claimed her father.
"I-my head aches. will 90 to bed
| think. Good night, papa"
Once In her room the pent-up feelings
so long repressed had their way. Now
that il was too late she would have given
her right hand to retract her decision
Position and comfort, dresses and dia,
,nonds. of what value would they be
without hlmp
A sleopless night passed, and she