Smyrna times., 1880-05-05
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 Con4r out,
but might as we'll have staid in. ! only
sat in corners, talked with the chaner0as,
or listened to some garruous oct 0genaIian.
Aunt Brownies interest in me, such as it
was, died natural death after my first
season-it hal always been weakly-and
the result was a sisl deficiency in my ward
robe. She had married off two daughters
without difficulty, tut niece, it seemed,
stuck closer than bur. However, it was
not my fault that remained unmarried.
had done my best to be fascinating.
Though l hated the idea Of rnarr, ins Tor
home or position, yet | was sure | Shnuid
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
changes rung upon the old maid, and the
beggars who shouldn't be choosers, 10y 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
husband Cedric Browne, had asked me
to marry him, three years before, as we
rowed up the river in June for rosy laurel
blooms TO decorate the house and piazzas
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 refused him because | was taken
unawares, because ] was pot enough inter
ested 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 importuned. | believe all my favorite
hereines had conducted in this wise. How
ever, we rowed home through the sunset
our boat heapSd with pink flowers, in
silence.
"You look as if you were laden with sun
set clouds" said Susette, who was watching
for US on the shore but am certain tha
Cadric looked like thunder.cloud.
The next day was the fste. Everybody
brought presents for Susette. Cedric CAV,
her an antique necklace of turquoises
was sure he meant it for me. We had sup
per out of doors, under the great pine trees
and dancing by moonlight. That day
began to regard Cedric Browne attsntively
had known him under the same roof 70
weeks at time; | had laughed and talkeC
with him, believing him fore-ordainsd t
minister to Susette's happiness, "as mac
cessible as a star in heaven" so far as l wa
concerned. He had helped me with Adele
children, who had come to live at Aun
Brownies wheH their mother died. Blu
that he should regard me with any tende
emotions l never even dared to wish. i
fact, had thought little about him till t.
day. had never observed till to-day tina
his eyes were as tender as stars, that hi
faco was like that radient countenancs q
Mozart in the music room, that his smil
was simply enchantment. 1t was rathe
late to make these discoveries.
He did net leave US at once; it SCENE
as if he staid just long enough for me t
know all | had lost. SiRce then he ha
been with us once again for whole month
but little Walter was i'll with spinal effeC
ton that kept him on his back, and m
by his side; and though Cedric used t
relieve me often by day and by night,
could see from nay window, and from occ
sienal glimpses into the drawing room, ths
the balance of his time was spent
Susette's company.
"Aunt Susette's beau is going to max
nae kite" Teddy confded to Walter or
day.
"Who's he?" asked Walter frem his be-
"Why, Cedric, Of fc0urse-Csdric Brown
Bridget says SO herself" as if that put I'll
matter beyond dispute.
g The next day when Cedric came up
amuse Walter with the affairs down stair
that young man demanded Il say, al
you weaLy Aunt Susett's beau, Cedric
Adrienne's ever so nicer. When 1 am
man l shall marry Adrienne."
"Then you will be luckier than |" ssi
Cedric, winding up top and spinning it G
his palm.
1t was year since then. / no long
went out {; was fairly paSsee. Aunt Brown
had abandoned all hopes of me. was
good nursery.maid, cheap governess, 8
inexpensive companion, in the family.
the meantime / could have married any d.
if / had chosen to accept the Rev. Alb
Amherst, and transfer my labors to the pa
sonage. To be sure, this would not ha'
proved the brilliant marriage my aunt hi
!, expected of me, nor the romantic one hi
dreamed Of myself and 1t was net until
came into possession of a certain fami
~ ~ secret that began to reyolVe the possibili
as in my mind. 1t seems that when my au
an an married her second husband, Mr.. Brow
ey -Susette and Annie were both Lowells
IN they had subsisted upon the patrimony Il
be hbe to Cedric by his own mother, and that aft
'er his fathers death, Cedric had turned in {
y. oF- same yearly income from the estate for t
d. family use, and that /, Adrienne Lenno
RI owed my bread to the man whom ! b
sn sss refused, and who bad forgotten me. Eal
ly ing my own livelihood was out Of the gu
$50 ten, drudgery was my only vocation, a
that was too badly paid to be sncouragiI
looked at the Rev. Abel Amherst sften
this period, with view to installing hin
. Cedric's place, IL Cedric would only vaca
Odly enough, Mr.. Amherst renewed his 81
ON On at this time, and pressed it with the Gag
mt ness of q lover, and for the first tim'
Gis Gd began to hesitate. The woman who hs
ish tatss is lost" said Susstte,
de. | had been out ON the hills one day tryi
W to make up my mind to forget Cedric, q