The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-01
ADRIENNE'S STORY.

WAS never happy at Aunt Brownies,
but there seemed no prospect that [
should ever leave her.. had come out,
so to speak, as far as any one so re-
pressed could come out, but might as
well have staid in. only sat in cor
ners, talked with the chaperons, or
listened to some garrulous octogenarian.
Aunt Brownies interest in me, such as
it was, died natural death after nv
first season-it had always been weakly
and the result was sad deficiency in
my wardrobe. She had married off
two daughters without difficulty, but a
niece, it seemed, stuck closer than
burr. However, it was not my fault
that l remained unmarried. Ihad done
my best to be fascinating. Though l
hated the idea of marrying for home or
position, yet was sure should not find
it hard to love one who was kind to me,
if only on account of the novelty. was
thirty now, and not unused to hearing
changes rung upon the old maid, and
the beggars who shouldn't be choosers,
by my younger cousins, Susette and
Anne. But / had had one opportunity
to change for better or worse of which
they had never dreamed. The son of
Aunt Brownies second husband, Cedric
Browne, had asked me to marry him,
three years before, as we rowed up the
river in June for the rosy laurel blooms
to decorate the house and piazzas for
Susette's birthday fete. sometimes
wondered what Aunt Brown would have
thought of the proceeding, as she had
set her heart upon marrying Susette to
Cedric. Perhaps 1 refused him be-,
cause was taken unawares, because l
was not enough interested to care about
frustrating Aunt Brownies plans; per-
haps did not expect to be taken at my
word, but imagined it the proper way
to decline, in order to be importuned. l
believe all my favorite heroines had
conducted in this wise. However, we
rowed home through the sunset, our
boat heaped with the pink flowers, in
silence.
You look as if you were laden with
sunset Clouds" said Susette, who was
watching for us on the shore; but l am
certain that Cedric looked like a thun-
der-cloud.
The next day was the fete. Every
body brought presents for Susette. Ced-
ric gave her an antique necklace of tur-
quoises; was sure he had meant it for
me. We had supper out of doors, I'M
der the great pine-trees, and dancing
by moonlight. That day l began to
regard Cedric Browne attentively. | had
known him under the same roof for weeks
at time Il had laughed and talked with
him, believing him fore-ordained to
minister to Susette's happiness, f" as in
accessible as star in heaven" so far
as 1 was concerned. He had helped
me with Adele's children, who had come
to live at Aunt Brownies when their
mother died. But that he should re-
gard me with any tender emotions /
had never even dared to wish. In fact,
/ had thought little about him till to-
day. had never observed till to-day
that his eyes were as tender as stars,
that his face was like that radiant coun-
tenance of Mozart in the mushroom,
that his smile was simply enchantment.
was rather late to make these discov-
cries.
He did not leave us at once; it seemed
as if he staid just long enough for me
to know all had lost. Since then he had
been with us once again for whole
month; but little Walter was i'll with a
spinal affection that kept him on his
back, and me by his side; and though
Cedric used to relieve me often by day
and by night, l could see from my win
dow, and from occasional glimpses into
the drawing room, that the balance of
his time was spent in Susette's con-
pany.
"Aunt Susette's beau is going to
make me KITE" Teddy confded to
Walter one day.
"Who's heP'' asked Walter from his
bed.
"Why, Cedric, of course-Cedric
Browne. Bridget says so herself as
if that put the matter beyond dispute.
The next day, when Cedric came up
to amuse Walter with the affairs down
stairs, that youth demanded: 81 say,
are you WEAKLY Aunt Susette's beau,
Cedricp Adrienne's ever so nicer.