Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-05-06
ADRIENNE'S STORY.


Twas never happy at Aunt Brownies.
but there seemed no prospect that I
should ever leave her. 1 had come out.
so to speak, as far rs any one so repressed
could come out, but I might as well
have staid in. / only sat in corners,
talked with the chaperons, or listened
to some earrulous octogenarian. Aunt
Brownies interest in me, such as it was,
died natural death after my first sea-
son-it had always been weakly-and
the result was a sad deficiency in my
wardrobe. She had married off two
daughters without difficulty, but a
niece, it seemed, stuck closer than a
burr. However, 1t was not my fault
that remained unmarried. had done
my best to be fascinating. Though I
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 the 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 hus-
band, 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
niazzas for Susette's birthday fete. I
sometimes wondered what Aunt Browne
would have thought of the proceeding,
as she had set her heart upon marrying
Susette to Cedric. Perhaps / refused
him because was taken unawares, be-
cause l was not enough interested to
care about frustrating Aunt Brownies
plans; perhaps / did not expect to be
taken at my word, but imagined IL the
proper way to decline, in order to be
importuned. 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 am
certain that Cedric looked like thun-
der-cloud.
The next day was the fete. Every.
body brought presents for Susette.
Cedric gave her an antique necklace of
turquoises; was sure he had meant it
for me. We had supper out of doors.
under the great pine-trees, and dancing
hy moonlight. That day began to re-
gard Cedric Browne attentively. had
Known him under the same roof tor
weeks at a time; / had laughed and
talked with him, believing him fore
ordained to minister to Susette's hap
piness, "as inaccessible as a star in
heaven" So far as / 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 regard me with any tender emo
t'ons i had never even dared to wish.
In fact. I had thought little about him
Iii to-day. had never observed till
to-day that his eyes weTe as tender as
stars, that his face was like that radiant
countenance of Mozart in the music
room, that his smile was simply en-
ehantment. 1t was rather late TO make
these discoveries.
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
Ind been with Us once again for n whole
month; but little Walter was i'll with n
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, i could see from my win
drw, and from occasional gIimpses into
30 edrawing-room, that the balance of
his time was spent in Susette's COM
pany.
AUNT Susette's beau Is going to
make me kite" Teddy confided to
Walter one day.
"wbo's heF" asked Walter from his
bed.
"Why, Cedric, OF Cedric
Browne. Bridget says so herse'f," as II
thst put the matter beyond dispute.
The next day, when Cedric came up to
amuse Walter with the affairs down
stairs. that youth demanded: II say, are
you really Aunt Susette's beau, Cedric?
Adrienne's ever so nicer. When I'm n
mar I'll marry Adrfenne."
Then you'll be luckier than l." said
Cedric. winding mp top. and spinning
1t on bis palm.
TWAS year since then. / no longer
went out; ] was fairly pdssee. Aunt
Browne Ind abandoned ell hopes Of me.
] was n good Burserymaid, cheap
governess, an inexpensive companion.
in the family. IN the meantime could
have married any day, If / had chosen
to accept the Rev. Abel Amherst. ind
transfer my labors to the parsonage.
To be sure, this wouldnot have proved
the brilliant marriage my aunt had ex-
pected Of me, nor the romantic one I
had dreamed Of myself. and IL was not
ill came into possession of certain
family secret that began 10 revolYe