The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-02-06
ADELAIDE'S SACRIFICE.

The influence Noble, Loving, Un-
selfish Sister Exerted.
She stood holding the open letter in
her hand, her dark eyes shining with
surprise and delight
1t had really come at last She was
to see something outside OF dull old
Manchester She could not believe 1t,
and read again the words of her aunts
letter:
you need change. want you to get away
from all your cares-from those great toys
who never appreciate you, and even from Kate,
who, hear, imposes upon you. fancy that
hear your protest hear me TO the end. I've
persuaded Cousin Myra that II Is case OF duty
70 give you rest and she will come and take
charge In your absence, and you know how ca
pable she is. She can manage to give you that
much time. as for wonder no one seems to be
in urgent need Of her. Get ready as soon as
you read this letter. / shall give you two
weeks to make all your arrangements. have
waited long enough for this visit. and II should
tell you OF all the gayeties and good times In
store for you, you could not wait even rs long
rs you must"
Adelaide looked at the generous
check inclosed in the letter. With all
Aunt Eleanor's odd. brusque ways to
others, the girl knew that she herself
had a foremost place in her aunt's
heart. Eleanor said she hated boys;
they never sat still, and always did
Just what you we've sure they wouldn't
90. She had been a second Betsy Trot-
wood in her deep displeasure when her
sisters first and third children had
proved to be of the sterner sex, but
took her revenge in lavishing all her
interest upon the second, Adelaide.
When her Observation-Disclosures mother
had died two years before she was de-
termined that Adelaide should live with
her and share her comfortable income
and the advantages of A.. But to
her surprise and dismay the girl gently
but decidedly refused. The gentleness
misled the aunt, accustomed all her life
to rule; she had no children, and her
husband was the meekest and most in
dulgent of men, but she found in the
young girl before her q firmness equal
for once to her own.
''Oh, auntie, how could leave papa
and the children, now in their sorrow?
/ must stay with them always. Do
you think l could betray mammals
trust that way? You know she said at
the last: You will care for them. AIDE
laide?'" and overcome by the remem-
brance of that scene so indelibly
stamped upon her memory poor Ade-
laide threw herself on the lounge in a
passion of grief, and ever since AIDE
laide had been housekeeper and sec
ond mother to the household, which
consisted Of her fat ier, three children,
besides the two ser yants.
The oldest child, Rob, would have
resented being classed with the others.
as he was nearly two years Adelaide's
senior, and Adelaide herself was
eighteen. He was boy neither better
nor worse than ordinary boys-full of
FUN, rather needless and not as fond
Of study as either his father or sister
wished. Louis, the second son, was a
quiet, studious boy, three years AIDE
ladies junior. who had to be fairly
driven out of doors to take proper ex-
crcise. Kate, a girl of ten, was
healthy, active and inclined to be will.
full, but, on the whole, tolerably easy
to govern.
1t was quite heavy burden to fall
on the shoulders of SO young girl as
Adelaide, and of course there were
many trials and discouragements. She
had to give up finishing her last year
at Nine. Ruhrs, and that was q
trial The housekeeping was not easy,
though her two girls were well trained
and capable, for Mr.. Barringer, q
visionary. bookish man, expected that
everything at home should move ON
oiled wheels and was very fastidious
about his meals His wife had care
fully kept all annoying details from
him, and he expected Adelaide to dc
the same The daughter soon learned
that it was worse than useless to come
to her father with her little troubles
either about children or domestic af
fairs Mr.. Barringer was so unfortu
nate as to have all the tastes and
habits of wealthy man. with a very
moderate purse; to have the habits anc
tastes of a scholarly recluse, and yet
be compelled to earn his living a.
cashier of the most important bank in
Manchester.
Rob would graduate the coming june
Ut the Manchester college, end AIDE
laide wondered what would be done
with him then. She hsd her own wor