Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-29
Adrienne'S Mistake.

brother had long since finished their
breakfast and departed to their daily
avocations. Still she did not move ;
her barely tasted coffee had grown cold /,
and the spaniel, Floss, waited il vain
for his usual knob of sugar.
Very pretty was Adrienne, though
now an anxious frown contracted her
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 perfect
ly-proportioned 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 dates, her face never lost its
distraite, 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
sutton. He, however, had neither land
nor money to boast of, being by pro-
fession an artist. and at present an un
known, unappreciated one.
Hence arose Adriennes difficulty.
She liked her rich lover, but alas for
the contrariety OF human nature, she
loved the poor one. But, then, all her
life she had had to pinch, and contrive,
and manage. Her father was poor doc
tor in poor town, and every dollar his
patients paid him was spent in anticipa-
ton long before it found its way into
his waiting hand.
A new pair of gloves, or q new ribbon
was a subject for deep rejoicing to his
pretty daughter, while the cunning
turnings and twistings and retrimmings
that her bonnets and dresses underwent,
would fairly have astonished young
lady Of more ample means.
Consequently, sharp temptation
now assailed her. Should she bid
adieu to poverty, and shabbiness, and
second-rate living, and accept lGeorgt
Morley, and with him the certainty of &
splendid home, carriage, plentiful jew
elry, and all these countless luxuries
that wealth alone can purchase? o.
should she-bravely resisting the en-.
ticing prospect-consenu to become
Guy Morley's wife, and by her presence
and sympathy soothe and encourage
him in his struggles and disappoint
ments?
It was hard to decide, and all the
morning she hesitated and wavered
In the afternoon irresolution was nc
longer possible. Yet even with hel
desk open and writing materials ready
abe paused. What should she do
Which should it be? At last, with pal.
face and compressed mouth, she dipped
her pen in the ink and wrote two shor
notes. And the one of acceptance wa,
for George Morley and the one of re
lection was for his cousin Guy.
These despatched, she hoped he
mind would be at peace. Bat no, sh,
felt wretched and miserable, and in tn,
twilight when she played to her father
and sang his favorite old ballads, he
voice had harsh, strained ring, ant
suddenly, in the midst of the conclud
ing verso of "Auld Robin Grey" sh,
broke down completely, and burst int
tears.
Why Addie, child, are you no
we'll Is anything the matter, dear ?
exclaimed her father.
"1-my head aches. I will 20 Il
bed, I think. Goodnight, papa"
Once IN her room the pent-up feeling
so long repressed had their way. Nov
that it was too late, she would have givel
her right hand to have been able to re
tract her decision. Position ard com
fort, dresses and diamonds, of wha
value would they be to her withou
him?
A sleepless night passed, and sh
arose tired and heavy Ever,
knock at the door. every ring at the bell
caused her to tremble with fear and an
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 lecture on vivisection, an,
Adrienne was alone in the drawing
room.
She could not sit still so out through
the open French window she stepped
and across the smooth cut grass.
At the end of the lawn was a moss
grown path, and up and down this sh
paced, her dress of soft gray maxim,
her moving figure distinctly visibl
against the somber background of al
UNCOVERED 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 fled but in a moment she wa
folded in strong arms, and hot kisse
fell on cheeks, and lips, and brow.
-" she began, trying to releas