Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-04-09
ADRIENNE'S STORY.

Twas never happy at Aunt Brownies,
but there seemed no prospect that L
should ever leave her. | had come out,
so to speak, as far as any one so repressed
could come out, but might as well
have staid in. l only sat in corners,
talked with the chaperons, or listened
to some earrulous octogenarian Aunt
Brownies interest in me, such as it was,
died natural death after my first sea-
son-it had always been weakly and
the result was sad deficiency in my
wardrobe. She had married off two
daughters without difficulty, but a
niece, it seemed, stuck closer than a
that remained unmarried. l had done
hated the idea of marrying for home or
position, yet | was sure should 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 the changes rung upon the old
maid, and the beggars who shouldn't
be choosers, by my younger, cousins,
| Susette ard Anne. But / had had one
worse of which they had never dreamed.
| L lit SUI VI huuU DlOW uC oSCOHu
band, Cedric Browne, had asked me to
marry him, three years before, as we
rowed up the river in June for the rosy
laurel blooms to decorate the house anC
piaZzas for Susette's birthday fete.
sometimes wondered what Aunt Browne
would have thought of the proceeding
as she had set her heart upon marrying
Susette to Cedric. Perhaps l refused
him because | was taken unawares, be
cause l was not enough interested t.
care about frustrating Aunt Browne
plans; perhaps | did not expect to b
taken at my word, but imagined it tn
proper way to decline, in order to b
importuned. / believe all my favorit
heroines had conducted in this wise
However, we rowed nome through th
sunset, our boat heaped with the pin
flowers, in silence.
"You look as if you were laden wit
sunset Clouds" said Susette, who wa
watching for us on the shore; but l ar
. certain that Cedric looked like thur
der-cloud.
The next day was the fete. Ever,
) body brought presents for Susett
Cedric gave her an antique necklace
turquoises; | was sure hr had meant
tor me. We had supper out of door
under the great pine-trees, and dancii
by moonlight. That day 1 began to +
gard Cedric Browne attentively. I HI
known him under the same roof +
y, weeks at time; l had laughed al
talked with him, believing him fol
ordained to minister to Susette's ha
r piness, "as inaccessible as star
- heaven" SO far as was concerned.
had helped me with Adele's childre
who had come to live at Aunt Brown
D when their mother died. But that
Il, should regard me with any tender en-
tions l had never even dared to wis
In fact, had thought little about b
- till to-day. had never observed
to-day that his eyes weYe as tender
stars, that his face was like that radi;
countenance of Mozart in the mus
+ room, that his smile was simply
- chantment. 1t was rather late to mi
these discoveries.
He did not leave us at once; 1t seen
as if he staid just long enough for
- TO know all / had lost. Since then
. had been with us once again for wi
month; but little Walter was i'll wit
. spinal affection that kept him on
back, and me by his side; and tho
Cedric used to relieve me often by
y and by night, / could see from my '
&. dow, and from occasional glimpses
tie drawing room, that the balanc
his time was spent in Susette's C
pany.
"Aunt Susette's beau is goini
. make me kite" Teddy confide
. bo @ Walter one day.
y ho UWhois hepn asked Walter from
ion ho ho' "oho" w "oi
and bed.
"Why, Cedric, OF course-C'
D Browne. Bridget says so herself," -"
- that put the matter beyond dispute
The next day, when Cedric came
amuse Walter with the affairs d
aie stairs. that youth demanded: II sa
usiin m YOU really Aunt Susette's beau, Ce
we & - Adrienne's ever so nicer. When
9ugn man I'll marry Adrienne."
,hieS l HeS "Then you'll be luckier than /,
.a,vm ,a,'aa Cedric, winding up top. and spil
lousS S 1t on his palm.
anu 1t was year since then. l no
uilhg went out; / was fairly paSSee.
WIZ Browne had abandoned all hopes
iple'e | was good nurserymaid,
governess, an inexpensive comp
in the family. In the meantime |
argely have married any day, If had
man to accept the Rev. Abel Amber
.ranefer my Lahore to the pare