Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-30
CEDRIC'S WOOING.

CEDRIC'S W00ING.
never was happy at Aunt Brownies
but there seemed no prospect that |
should ever leave her. | had come out,
but might as well have staid in. | |
only sat in corners, talked with the |
chaperons, or listened to some garrulous
ootogenarian. Aunt Brownies interest |
in me, such as it was, died natural |
death after my frat season-it had always |
been weakly-and the result was sad |
deficiency in my wardrobe. She had |
married off two daughters without diff |
Guilty, but niece, itseemed, stuck closer
than burr. However, it was not my
fault that ! remained unmarried. had |
done my best to be fascinating. Though |
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 80 now, and not unused to hearing
changes rung upon the old maid, and the
beggars who shouldn't be choosers by 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 the rosy laurel blooms to decorate the
house and piazzas for Susette's birth
day fete. | sometimes wondered what
Aunt Browne would have thought of the
proceedings as she had set her heart
upon marrying Susette to Cedric. Perhaps
l refused him because | was not enough
interested 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
heroines had cond lcted in this wise.
However, we rowed 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 Cedric looked like a thunder
cloud.
The next day was the fete. Everybody
brought presents for Susette. Cedric
gave her an antique necklace of tur-
quoises | was sure he had meant it for
me. We had supper out-of-doors, under
the great pine trees, and dancing by
moonlight. That day | began to regard
Cedric Browne attentively. had known
him under the same roof for some weeks
at time had laughed and talked
with him, believing him fore-ordained to
minister to Susette's happiness, "as mac
cessible as a star in heaven" so far as
was concerned. He had helped me with
Adele's children, who had come to live at
Aunt Brownies when their mother died.
But that he should regard me with any
tender emotions | had never even dared
to wish. In fact, | had thought little
about him till to-day. | had never OBJ
served till to-day that his eyes We're
as tender as stars, that his face was like
that radiant countenance of Mozart in the
MUSHROOM, that his smile was simply
enchantment. 1t was rather late TO make
these discoveries.
He did not leave US at once; it seemed
AS if he staid just long enough for me tt
know all had lost. Since then he haC
been with us once again for a Who'll,
month but little Walter was i'll with
spinal affection that kept him on hi
back, and me by his side and though
Cedric used to relieve ne often by da,
and by night, could see from my windoy
and from occasional glinpses into til
drawing room, that the balance of hi
"Aunt Susette's beau is going to max
me kite" Teddy confided to Walter on
day.
"Who's he p asked Walter from hi
bed.
"Why, Cedric, Of course-Cedr
Browne, Bridget says so herself" as
that put the matter beyond dispute.
The next day, when Cedric came up
amuse Walter with the affairs dow
stairs, that youth demanded 81 sa.
are you really Aunt Susette's beal
Cedric Adrienne's ever so nicer. Whe
Pm a man shall marry Adrienne."
"Then you'll be much luckier than l.,
said Cedric, winding up top, and spil
ming it on his palm.
1t was year since then. / no longt
went out | was fairly passe. AuI
Browne had abandoned all hopes Of m
was good nursery maid, Chez
governess, and an inexpensive companiC
in the family. In the meantime | cou
have married if | had chosen to acce
the Rev. Abel Amherst and transfer II
labors to the parsonage. To be sure, tn
would not have proved the very brillia
marriage my aunt had expected of M
nor the romantic one had dreamed
myself, and it was not until | came in
possession Of certain family secret tn
began to revolve the possibility in II
mind. 1t seems that when my au
married her second husband, Mr.. Brow
-Susette and Anne were born Lowells
they had subsisted upon the patrimol
left to Cedric by his own mother, al
that after his fathers death Cedric h
turned in the same yearly income fro
the estate for the family use, and that
Adrienne LennOx, owed my daily bre
to the man whom | had refused and "
had forgotten NE. Earning my oI
livelihood was out of the questio
drudgery was my only vocation, and IL
was too badly paid to be encouraging.
looked at the Rev. Abel Amherst often
this period, with view to installing h
in Cedrio's place, if Cedric would on
vacate. Oddly enough, Mr.. Annie
renewed his suit at this time, and press
it with the eagerness of lover, and
the first time began to hesitate. "T
woman who hesitates is lost" 81
Susette.
had been out ON the hills one day Il
ing to make up my mind to forget Ced
and marry Mr.. Amherst, but wheneye
began to think with some interest of goi
10 parish meetings, becoming hepresidt
of Dakota Leagues and sewing cirel
visiting the poor and drinking tea oppos
the Rev. MIR. Amherst all the rest Of
days, somehow or other Cedric's f;
would slip into the picture unlimited a
blst out his rivals as strong sunlil
fades a negative photograph.
"There is a letter for you, Adriennt
said Aunt Browne, when | entered I
house, sin the MUSHROOM, ON the top
the dado, under Mozart's picture"
went into the music-room, but there "
NO letter to be seen.
"Perhaps one of the girls has reinoy
E it," she suggested. But no one Ii
meddled with it.
"Grandma cooked letter over the t.
KETTLE" said little Teddy, rehectively.
eyes" said grandma, ~ wrote let
~ To your pa, child. | hadn't any blotti
paper, but the fire answered the purp
quite as well"
At that time | had never heard