Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-28
Adrlenne's Mistake.


Adrenue Huntley sat thoughtfully read |
ing two letters Her father and 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 in 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 apure-tinted complexion,
such lustrous dark eyes, such coronal of
glossy chestnut plaits, on such perfectly
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 dust
ing was accomplished. But during the per-
formance of these customary duties her face
never lost its preoccupied 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 suitor. He, however,
had neither land nor money to boast of, being
by profession an artist, and at present only
an unknown, inexperienced one:
-, Hence arose Adriennes aiinculty. one
liked ner rich lover, ouV alas lor tne contra
riety OF human nature, sne loved her poor
one. But then, all her nle s1e mao 10 pihch
ana contriVe ana manage Her IaV1er was
poor doctor IN poor parish, ana every
uoiiai nis Pa,iehS' pau H.iu y. was epene III
anticipation long before IL 1ound It's way
into MS waiting hand.
new par OF gloves or new rlooon was
a SUBJECT OF ueep rejoicing 10 ms pretty
daughter' while the retrlmunihgs that her
bonnets and dresses underwent would ialriy
have astonished young lady OF more am
pie means. =.
Consequently sharp temptation now as
sailed her. should she oid adieu 70 poverty
and shaooiness ana second-rate nVing' ana
accept George Morley, and with him the GER
tainty oil splendid nome, carriages pienti
ful lewelry, and all those countless luxuries
that wealth alone can purchase Or should
she-bravely resisting the enticing prospect
consent to become Guy Morleys wife, and
by her presence and sympathy soothe and
encourage nlm III MS struggles auu ulsaP
pointments
1t was hard to decide, and all the morning
she hesitated and wavered. In the after
noon irresoiution was no longer possible
Yet even with her desk open and writing
materials ready she paused. What shoule
she do. Which should it bef At last, witt
pale face and compressed mouth, she dippec
her pen in the ink and wrote two short notes
Aud the one OF acceptance was for Georg'
Morley, and the one OF rejection was Tor hi
cousin Guy.
These dispatched, she hoped her mine
would be at peace. But no, she felt wretchet
and miserable, and IN the twiiight when sh'
played to her father, and sang his favorit
} old ballads, her voice had harsh, straiue'
ring, and suddenly in the midst OF the con
; cluding verse OF Aud ROBIN Gray, sh
! broke down completely, and burst into tears
!, "Why, Addie child, are you not well
Is anything the matter, dear Z" exclaimed
her father.
! "I-my head aches. l will go to bed.
Once in her room the pentup feelings s.
long repressed had their way. Now that l
was too late, she would have given her righ
hand to have been able TO retract her de
cislon. fositioh ana comfort dresses AM
, diamonds, OF what value would they De
her without him
A sleepless night passed, ana sne aros
: tired and heavy-eyed. Every KNOCK az Tn
Q door, every ring at the bell, caused her =
J tremble with apprehension. She must eS
pect an early visit from her favored suitor
she must expect him to arrive, RADIANT wit
: triumph, and how should she meet him
xua a
> father had been called to patient at som
) distance, her brothers mad gone 10 attend
: lecture on vivisection, and Adrienne wa
n alone in the drawing'room.
e She could not sit still 50 out through tn
It open French window she stepped, and acros
f the smooth cut grass.
g At the end OF the lawn was moss-grow
y path, and up and down this she paced, he
;, dress OF soft gray making her moving ngur
It distinctly visible against the somoer bach
p ground of an ivy-colored wall
n The sunset hour was passed, the opal hue
y of the sky were darkening, when step
It the gravel startled her, and mans fgur
r came fastening towards her.
n Instinctively she recoiled, and would hay
y fed but in moment she was folded
o strong arms, and hot kisses fell on cheek
and lips and brow.
"l-l--, she began, trying to releas
herself.
The waning light revealed who it wa
IT that held her in such close embrace. Resi-
I tance was at an end then.
d She forgot that her troth was plighted els
+, where-forgot everything but the preser
y rapture as she let her head droop forwar
q on Guys breast.
q "Oh my darliug-my darling !" he mu
d INJURED, in passionate accents, "what have
q done to deserve such happiness | scarcel
-e dared to hope that you would be mine, an
v when l had your sweet little letter think
/. was nearly delirious with joy for time"
"a "My letter Why, it-why, /"
!. "You expected me before, dearest? Yo
It thought me tardy wooer did you not
il But | have strange and wonderful news
,e tell you, my beautiful onei"
"Ohl Guy, stay-stay. Have you N
y letter with you Let me see it, please p
4 Reluctantly, and with many fond endea
N ments, he withdrew his arms, and produce
l. the precious epistle.
q She read it, and her bushes were su
IT ceeded by deadly 'pallor, as she discovere
n that she must have put the notes in II
h wrong envelopes, so that the lstter OF accep
IS ance had reached &c. Morley, Esq, care {
d Mrs. Prett, Laburnam Cottage" aud the lie
a ter OF rejection had gone TO &C. Morle
RI Esq, Peterwood Hall" Their initials an
aurnamps bpinp the same had randarp1 suc