Connecticut western news., 1880-04-07
THE LOST LETTER.
A Love Story.

l WaS never happy dG AulG bEOWue $, but there seemed no prospect that I should ever leave her. I had come out, so to speak, as far as any one so repressed could come out, but I might as well have staid in. I only sat in corners. talked with the chaperons, or listened to some garTulous octogenarian. Aunt Browne's interest in me, such as it was, died a natural death after my first season-it had always been weakly-and the result was a sad. deficiency in my wardrobe. She had married off two daughters with out difficulty, but niece, 1t seemed, stuck closer than 8 burr. However, it was not my fault that I remained un- married. I had done my best to, be fascinating. Though I hated the idea of marrying for home, or position, yet was sure would not find it hard to love one who was kind to me, if only on account of the novelty. I was thirty now, and not unused to hearing changes rung upon the old maid, and the beggars who shouldn't be choosers, by my young cousins, Susette and Anne. But I had had one opportunity to change for bet ter or worse of which they had never dreamed. The son of Aunt Browne's second husband, Cedric Browne, had asked me to marry him, three years be- fore, as we rowed up the river in June for the rosy laurel blooms to decorate the house and piazza for Susette's birth day fete. I sometimes wonder what Aunt Browne would have thought of the proceeding, as she had set her heart upon marrying Susette to Cedric. Per- haps I refused him because I was taken unawares, because I was not enough interested to care about frustrating Aunt Browne's plans perhaps I did not ex- pect to be taken at my word, but imag- ined it the proper way to decline, in order to be importuned. I believe all my fa- vorite heroines had conducted in this wise. However, we rode home 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 am certain that Cedric looked like thunder ! cloud.
 The next day was the fete. Every body brought presents for Susette. Cedric gave her an antique necklace ot turquoises I was sure he had meant il for me. We had supper out-of-doors, under the great pine-trees, and dancing by moonlight. That day I began to re- gard Cedric Brown attentively. I had known him under the same roof fol weeks at time; I he'd laughed and talked with him, believing him fore. ordained to minister to Susette's happi ness, as inaccessible as star ir heaven," so far as I was concerned. He had helped me with Adele's children who had come to live at Aunt Browne's when their mother died. But that ht should regard me with any tender emo tions I had never even dared to wish
 In fact, I had thought little about hin
 until to-day. had never observed til
 to-day that his eyes were tender as stars that his face was like that radiant coun
 tenance of Mozart in the music-room
 that his smile was simply entertainment
 It was rather late to make these dis
 coveries.
 He did not leave us at once it scene,
 as if he staid just long enough for me t
 know all I had lost. Since then he ha.
 been with us once again for whol
 month but little Walter was ill with
 spinal affection that kept him on hi
 back, and me by his side ); and thoug
 Cedric used to relieve me often by da
 and by night, I could see from my win
 dow, and from occasional glimpses int
 the drawing-room, that the balance C
 bis time was spent in Susette's company
 "Aunt Susette's beau is going to mak me a kite," Teddy confded to Waite one day.
 "Who's he 2" asked Walter fro1 his bed. ..
 ,I "Why, Cedric, of course - Cedri l Browne. Bridget says so herse1f,' q
 if that put the matter beyond dispute. The next day, when Cedric came u z to amuse Walter with the affairs dow stairs, that youth demanded ssI sa, : you are aOeally Aunt Susette's beat r Cedric ?" Adrienne's ever SO nice
 When I'm man I'll marry Adrienne. "Then you'll be luclier than I,'' sai ? Cedric, winding up a top, and spinnin f it on his palm.
 ;, It was year since then. I no long, lwsnt out; I was ..fairly passee. Y Au,