The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-06-05
Select Story,
From Hdrper's Bazar.
ADRIENNE'S STORY.

- AAI4N L. - - L OIl i
| 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 repressed could
come out, but might as well have staid
in. only sat in corners, talked with the
chaperons, or listened to some garrulous
octogenarian. Aunt Brownies interest 10
me, such as it was, died n natural death
after my first season--it had always been
weakly-and the result was sad defcien.
cy in my wardrobe. She had married of
two daughters without difficulty, but a
niece, 1t seemed, stuck closer than burr.
However, it was not my fault that | re.
maiued unmarried. had done my best
to bo fascinating Though | hated the
idea Of marrying for homo or position, yet
| was sure should not fnd il 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 ehoOsers, by my younger
cousins, Susette aud Anne. But | had
bad one opportunity 10 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 piazzas
for Susettes birthday fcte | sometimes
wondered what Aunt Browne would have
thought OF the proceeding, as she had set
her heart upon marrying Susette to Ced.
ric. Perhaps | refused bin because was
taken nnawares, because | was not enough
interested to care about frustrating Aunt
Brownies plans; perhaps did not expect
to be taken at my word, but imagined it
the proper way to decline, in order to be
impOrtuued. | believe all my favorite
heroincs had conducted in this wise. How
ever, we rowed home through the sunset,
our boat heaped with the pink flowers, in
silence.
"fou 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 thunder
cloud.
The next day was the fete. Everybody
brought presents for Susette. Cedric gave
her an antique necklace of turquoises; |
was sure he had meant 1t for me. We
had supper out Of doors, under the great
pine.trees, aud dancing by moonlight.
That day began 10 regard Cedric Browne
attentively. had known him under the
same root for weeks at time; | had laugh
ed and talked with him, believing him
fore-ordained to minister to Susette's hap.
piness, "as inaccessible as a star 10 heaven"
so far as | was concerned. lie 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 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
we're as tender as stars, that his face was
like that radiant countenanee Of Mozart in
the music room, that his smile was simply
enehantmeut. II was rather late to make
these discoveries.
lie did not leave us at once; it seemed
as il 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 af-
fection that kept him on his back, and mc
by his side; and though Cedric used to re-
lieye me often by day and by night,
could see from my window, aud from ac.
easional glmpses into tue drawing room,
that the balance Of his time was spent in
Susettes company
Aunt Susettcs beau is going to make
me kite" Teddy eoufded to Walter one
day.
"Who's hep asked Walter from his
bed.
"Why, Cedric, ofcoursc- Cedric Browne.
Bridget says so herself" as if that put the
matter beyond dispute. 81 gf4D 'eia
The next day, When Cedric ealne up to
amuse Walter with the affairs downstairs,
that youth demanded. IL say, are you
really Aunt Susette's beau, Cedric p
Adrienne's ever so nicer When I'm
man III marry Adrienne."
"Then you'll be lackier than l." said
Cedric, winding up top, and spi ming it
on his palm,
Ii was year since then. | no longer
went out; | wac fairly passe. Aunt
Browne had abandoned all hopes of me.
| was n good nurserymaid, cheap Cover.
ness, an Inexpensive qompaniOp' in the
family. In The mOantime l could have
married any day, if had chosen TO ac.
ccpt the Rev. Abel Amherst, aud transier
my labors to the parsonage. To be sure,
this would not have proved the brilliant
marriage my aunt had expected Of me,
nor the romantic one / had dreamed of
myself aud il was not till Icane into pos
session of certain family secret that
began to royolys the possibility in my mind.
II seems that when my aunt married her
second husband, MIR. Browne--S -Susette aud
Anne were both Lowells-they had sub.
sisted upon the patrimonY left 70 Cedric
by his mother, aud that after bis fathers
death, Cedric had turned In the same
yearly income from the estate for the fam.
ny use, and that |, Adrienne Isennox,
owed my daily bread to the mau whom |
had refused, and who had forgotten me.
Earning my own livelihood was out Of the
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