The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-10-17
MADELINE.

All the. girls who wcre leaving schoo
carried with them anticipationa Of gay
winter, round Of parties. balls anc
operas Not so with Madeline De
launey. The dying will Of her father
made her aunt's house her home, fol
the wears between eighteen and twenty.
one; and if Madeline had been unwilling
to comply, she would still hove gone, sc
great was her respect for her father
memory.
Mrs. Ohathard was an invalid. and hel
family consisted only Of her son--a man
over thirty, and said to be ecceu'ric-
and the only family servants. Decided
ly, net a very brilliant prospect fol
Madeline.
1t was sullen autumn day when
Madeline rode for the first time up the
avenue leading to her aunt's house.
She saw gray sky, flying clouds, and
q white beach. on which the sea beat
heavily, and standing in the midst Of a
cluster of pines, was a low, massive
building, that might have been prison
and possibly was house. No one
came to the door to welcome her. Mrs
Chathard was in the library, and begged
that Madeline would come to her there.
She found her lying on the sofa, busy
with some sort Of knittiDg-a sallow,
delicate, fretful woman.
No she said, shrinking back, as
Mudeliue showed disposition to kiss
her; mo one but Frederic has kissed
me for years. Don't commence. [ am
creature of habit :; | don't like to be
disturbed 10 any of my regular habits.
I only came down to day on your ac-
count, and it has quite unnerved ME.
1 shall not try it again. I must bave
perfect re2ose. Frederic comesto see
me morning and evening ; that is as
much US I can bear
With that, Madeline was waved of
to her room, where indignation sup.
planted strong desire to cry, and
curiosity gradually got the better of
both. 1t was reallS, she decided, on
lookiug about her, a pleasant room, with
crimson curtains and furniture, and a
deep window looking out on the sea-
There was bureau. with great MANY
little drawers, and she pleased herself
with arranging them mentally. There
was vase of flowers that spoke of a
conservatory she had seen that the
library was well filled ) a pretty piano
occupied a recess in her room.
4 shall pass myself very tolerably,
though, Madeline, resiguNdly. i won
dr. what my cousin is like p
Perhaps this last thought had son'
influence in her toilet, else why sh"ulc
she have braided her hoir end pnt OF
her mos, b. coming dress? 1t is hardl,
to be supposed that her charms woul'
have much effect on the quiet parlor
maid who alone was in attendance.
Madelide ate her supper With curling
lip and stormy brow.
,sHe is a barbarian | know shal
hate him y was her inward comment
He mus, have known that would b
here. He might have been civi
However, I shall do very we'll withou
him =
And getting book from the llbrar
shelves, she sat herself down resolutel
, to read; But, try as she would, he
: thoughts wandered back to the pleasar
room where she used to sit with be
girl friends, reading and talkiug-s
different from this great silent, hand
some house. I am afraid the contra'
, was not too favorable, for her pillo
was wet with tears that night
A week passed away. During th'
time Madeline saw Mrs. Chathard ont
that was all. The rest Of the tin
: she passed in solitude. till Saturdo
), evening, when the prim old housekee
er entered the parlor where Madelir
was sitting, work-basket in hand.
} Mr.. Frederic is at home,' she sal'
r 'and Mrs. Chathard thinks it prop
that 7 should sit in the ROOM vii
: which explanation she walked over
r the extreme end of the apartment ar
o vanished behind the curtains OF the b'
9 window.
Madeline curled her lip slightly
these prudential preparations, AID we
= on with her reading, trying to convIp
herself that her heart was not beatiI
fast. She heard quick, mascuIi
a step without in the hail--heard it col
= in the room aud advance toward HI
Ie but did not raise her eyes till he s'o
directly before her. She had ha
3, work to repress her surprise, he was
lie little like: what she had imagine
Not. ohs...f,U51r for If be was really thirty,