The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-08
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 repressed
could come out, but | might as well
have staid in. l only sat in corners,
talked with the chaperons, or listened
70 some garrulous octogenarian Aunt
Brownies interest in me, such as il was.
died Il natural death after my first sea-
son-it had always been weakly-and
the result was sad deficiency in nv
wardrobe. She had married off two
daughters without difficulty, but a
niece, 1T seemed, stuck closer than a
nurr. However, it was not my fault
1liat remained unmarried. had done
my best to be fascinating. Though l
hated the idea of marrying for home or
position, yet | was sure | should not
lind it hard to love one who was kind
10 lie, II only on account of the novelty.
l was thirty now, and not unused to
Rearing The changes rung upon the old
maid, aud the beggars who shouldn't
be choosers, by my younger cousins,
Susette ard Anne. But l 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
plazzas for Susette's birthday fete. l
sometimes wondered what Aunt Browne
would have thought of the proceeding,
as she had set her heart upon marrying
Susette to Cedric. Perhaps l refused
hlm because l was taken unawares, be-
cause l was not enough interested to
fc 81 iIa
plans; perhaps l did not expect to be
taken at my word, but imagined it the
proper way to decline, in order to be
importuned. believe all my favorite
herolnes had conducted in this wise.
However, we rowed nome 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 I am
certain that c, dric looked like a thun-
der-cloud.
The next day was the fete. Every.
BODY. brought presents for Susette.
Cedric gave her an antique necklace of
turquolses; was sure he had meant it
Tor me-. We had supper out of doors.
under the great pine-trees, and DANCING
by 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
plness, "as inaccessible as a star in
heaven" So tar 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
tions l 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
countenance of Mozart in the music
room, that his smile was simply en-
chantment. 1t was rather late to make
these discoveries.
he did not leave us at once; it seemed
as II ne staid Just long enough for me
10 know all | had lost. Since then he
had neen with us once again for a whole
month but little Walter was i'll with a
spinal a1ectlon that kept him on his
back, and me by his side; and though
Cedrlc used to relieve me often by dav
and by night, could see from NV win,
dow, and from occasional glimpses into
tie drawing room, that the balance of
his time was spent in Susette's COM
pany.
Aunt Susette's beau is going tn
make me a kite" Teddy confded to
Walter one day.
"Wb0'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: II say, are
you really Aunt Susette's beau, Cedric
Adrienne's ever so nicer. When Pm a
man III marry Adrienne."
Then you'll be luckier than l." said
G;eurie, winding up a top, and spinning
1t on his palm.
twas year since then. I no longer
went out; was fairly passee. Aunt
browne had abandoned ali hopes of me.
l was good nurserymaid, a cheap
goyerness,. an Inexpensive Companion.
in the family: In the meantime I eouid
have m; rried any day, If / had chosen
to accent the Rev. Abel Amherst. and
trai sfer my labors to the parsonage