The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-04-10
CHOICE FICTION.
ADRIENNE'S STORY.

ADRIENNE' STORY.
was never happy at Aunt Browne'S ),
hut there seemed no prospect that
should ever leave her. ! had come out.
so to speak. as far rs any one SO repreSsed
could come out, but might as well have
staid ill., | only sat in corners talked
with the chaperons, or listened to som,
garrulous octogenarian. Aunt Browne :
interest in me, such as it was, died q
natural death after my first season-ir
was Il sad deficiency in my wardrobe.
She had married off two daughters with
ont difficulty. but a niece it seemed
stuck closer than burr. However it was
not my fault that remained unmarried.
| had done my best to be fascinating.
Though ! hate the idea of marrying for
home OF position. yet | was sure | should
not find it hard to love one who was kind
to me, if on account of the novelty.
was thirty now. and not unused to hear
ing changes rung upon the old maid. ana
the beggars who shouldn't be choosers.
But | had one opportunity to change fol
better or worse of which they had nevcl
dreamed. The son of Aunt Browne :
second husband. Cedric Browne. ha,
asked me to marry him, three years be
fore. as we rowed up the river i'll Jun,
for the rosy laurel blooms to decorate the
house and piaZZas for Susette's birthday
fete. | sometimes wonder what Aunt
Browne would have thought of the pro
ceedin@, as she had set her heart upp"
marrying Susette to Cedric. Perhaps /
refused him because | was taken una
wares, because | was not enough inter
ested to care about frustrating Aunt
Brownies plans; perhaps | did not eX-
pect to he taken at my woA, but imagin
ed it the proper way to decline. in order
to be importuncd. believe all my iav-
orite heronies had conducted in this wise
However, we rowcG home through til,
sunset, our boat heaped with the pink
flowers. in silence.
You look as ii YOU were ladcned with
sunset Clouds said Su>ettc, who was
Watching for us on the shore: but am
certain that Cedric looked like IA thunder
cloud.
The next day was the iete. Every
body brought presents for Slisette. Cedric
gave her an antique necklace of tuI-
quuises: ! was sure he had meant it ion
ne. We had supper our-oi-doarS. under
the great pine trees, and dancing h;
moonlight. That day began to regard
Cedric Browne attcntively. | had known
him under the same roof for weeks at IA
time: had laughed and talked with him
believing him fore-ortltincd to minister
to Susette's happiness, ''aS Inaccessible
As Il star in heaven" ~ far as | was con-
cernetl. He had helped me with .ttcle's
children, who had come to live at Aunt
Browne < when their mother died. Blu;
that he should regard me with any tender
emotions | had never even dared to wish.
In fact, had til ,ught 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 count
enanee Of Mozart in the muSie-room, that
his smile was simply enchantment. 1t
was rather late to make these discoveries.
He did not leave us at once: it seemed
as ii he staid just long enough for me to
know all had lost. Since then lie had
been with US once again for Il whole
month; but little Walter was il! with Il
spinal affection that Kept him on his back
and me by his side: and though Cedric
used to relieve me often by day and by
night. | could see from my window, and
from occasional glimpses into the drawing
room, that tho balance Of his time was
spent in Susctte's company.
Aunt Susettc's bean is going to make
me Il kite" freddy coniided t. Walter one
,ay.
Who's he?" asked Walter tram his
bed.
why, Cedric, Of coarse-Cedric
Browne. Bridget says SO herself" as il
that put the matter beyond dispute.
The next day. when Cedric came up IL
amusc Walter with the affairs down stairs
that youth demanded: Il say. are you
WEAKLY Aunt Susettc's beau, Cedric?
Adrienne'S ever So nice. When I'm Il
man shall marry Adricnne."
Then you'l be luckier than L. said
Cedric, winding up top and spinning it
on his palm.
1t was year since then. no longer
went out; was fairly In&See. Aunt
Browne had abandoned all hopes OF me.
| was good nursery maid. cheap gov
ernesS. AN inexpensive companion i'll the
family. In the mean time could have
married auy day. II had chosen to accept
the Rev. Abel Amherst, and transfer my
ldhors TO the parsonage, To be SIRE this
would not have proved the brilliant mar
riage my aunt had expected of me, Nor
The romantic one had dreamed Of my
silt. and it was not till came into pos
session Of Il certain family secret that
began to revolve the possibility in my
mind. 1t seems that when my aunt mar
ried her second husband. Mr.. Browne
Susctte and Anne were both Lowelis-
they had subsisted upon the patrimony
left to Cedric by his own mother and that
after his fathers death, Cedric had turn
Ell in the same yearly income from the
Adlienne LcnnoX. owed my daily bread
to the man whom had refused, and who
had forgotten me. Earning my own live
iihood was out of the question. drudgcry
was my only vocation. and that was too
badly paid to be encouraging. | looked
at tie Rev. Abel Amherst often at this
period. with Il view to installing him in
Cedric's place. if Cedric would only
vacate. Oddly enough, Mr.. Amherst
renewed his suit at this time, and pressed
it with the eagerness of lover. and foY
the first time began to hesitate. The
woman VIII" hesitateS is lost said
Suseiic.
| had been ont nn the hills one day try
ing to make up my mind to forget Cedric.
aud marry Mr.. Amherst; but whenever
began to think with some interest OF
going to parish meetings, becoming the