The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-07-31

Susette.
| had been out on the hills one day try
ing to make up my mind to forget Cedric,
and marry Mr.. Amherst; but whenever |
began to think with some interest of going
to parish meetings, becoming the president
OF Dakota leagues aud sewing circles, Wis
iting the poor, and drinking tea opposite
the Rev. Mr.. Amherst all the rest of my
days, somehow or other Cedric's face
would slip into the picture unlimited, and |
blot out his ival's as strong sunlight fades
a negative photograph.
"There is letter for you, Adrienne," /" |
said Aunt Browne, when | entered the |
house, "in the music room, on the top of |
the dado, under Mozrt's picture"
went into the music room but there
was no letter to be seen.
perhaps one of the girls has removed
it, she suggested. But no one had med
died with it.
"Grandma cooked letter over the tea
kettle, said little Teddy, reaectiyely.
ayes, said grandma, II wrote a letter
to your pa, child. hadn't any blotting-
paper, but the FIRE answers the purpose
quite as we'll"
At that time | had never heard of
opening letters by steam. Well, we ran
sacked the house for that truant letter,
but in vain.
"Who was it from, aunt2 r asked.
"HOw should | know, child ?" ---
"But the handwriting-the postmark ?"
"The postmark was blurred"
"Ilad it foreign stamp?' | asked,
with sudden eagerness. Cedric had gone
abroad some months before, and had not
heard of his return.
"a foreign stamp No. Were you
expecting foreign letter.
"N-o; but it is the unexpected that
always happens, you know
ats awfully provoking" said Susettc.
"Perhaps it was only the recipes Mrs.
Clark was going to send you.
Nothing more likely; but what has be.
come of it? It's prolonged game Of
hunt the thimble"
"And supposing its a letter notifying
you Of the existence of first Mrs. Am
herst, put in Anne, cor of legacy left
by your forty-tifth cousin in Australia
And the door.bell rang.
swell, after that suppose must have
accepted Mr.. Amherst. Everybody be-
haved as If had received congratu-
lations and ring, aud the parish began
repairs upon the parsonage, before could
muster up courage to tell Mr.. Amherst all
about Cedric and my mistake, and how |
wasn't at all sure | could ever get over it,
and care for anybody else, but that |
would do my best. And he smiled 10
sort of absent way when | told him, but
seemed content to take me as | was, for
better or worse; only it did strike me
sometimes that he was the most undemou-
strative loveri in Christendom; but / hadu't
much experience in lovers, and perhaps
they weren't as gushing in real life as
novels pictured. He used to kiss my
hand when VIC parted; that was all. He
was very gentle, but little sad, | faucied,
with look which might mean that he
was afraid Of so much happiness or that |
to marry the woman he loved wasn't all |
fancy had painted ii; and often | thought
| had perhaps done wrong to tell him
everything about Cedric so unreseryedly; |
yet ! had only meant to be honest. But
the day appointed, aud suddenly Cedric
appeared among US, when | thought he |
was at the worlds end, aud he and the
girls decorated the little church with white
field daiscs and grasses for the occasion.
You may believe that | avoided the sight
Of Cedric in the interval before the we'd
ding as much as possible, but somehow |
was always stumbling upon him; he-seem-
ed TO be perpetually at my elbow; he sur
prised me more than once with traces Of
tears, upon my face; the sound Of his voice
made my heart turn and quiyer within
me. If had dared to withdraw at this
juaciure, I'm afraid | should have done
soi but Il was too late; and though l felt
like hypocrite whenever Mr.. Amherst
appeared, his looks Of sober satisfaction,
which reminded me of those lines Of
Matthew Royden on Sir Philip Sidney,
"A fun assurance given hy looks,
Continual comfort IN lace
The hneamenls Of gospel books"
might have taught ME that all was we'll
with him.
'sYou are the oldest sweetheaTts ever
saw, gosslped Susette. Il wouldn't give
a straw for such lover; and as for you,
Adrienne, you resemble ghost more than
a bride."
in short, a thousand years Of purgatory |
woald III represent my suiIeriugs during
those last weeks before my wedding, Wen, |