The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-08-07
had decided the matter for her, as
che 1oo:lol z-.-

papers into the fire, with the yellow
letters that Granduncle Fossett had
written her before they we're mar
ried, and the lock of faded faxen
hair that she had cut off from the
coffned head of her only baby, dead
sixty years since.
This letter is a different color
from the rest" she said mechanical
ly, as she sorted out the discolored
heap. Look, Aurora, do you
think"
She checked herself abruptly as
she fitted on a pair of spectacles
Chat first concession to the standard
of approaching old age) and scruti-
nized the folded piece of paper still
more closely.
why" said she, "the seal amt
broken! Why, it's directed to mel
It was directed to her, and in DR..
Hunts peculiar angular handwrit-
ing that she would have known if
she had seen it in China or Pata-
gOnia. She turned pale and began
to tremble.
why, Addie, what's hematter?"
said Aurora, looking upfrom achest
of widowed garments, which she was
examining.
Don't come near mel flashed out
Addie. It's my letter-1'm going
to read it myselfl'
It's from DR.. Huntl" gasped
poor Adcline. written twenty odd
years ago, and asking me to be his
wife. And Grandaunt Miriam had
hidden it away, and l never knew
anything Of it. Oh, Auroral Oh,
Aurora, what must he have
thOught?'
Its queer enough, amt it?" said
Aurora.
"What would you do, Aurora?"
faltered Adeline. "Would you go to
him-would you
Il don't know what l would do"
Aurora answered slowly. "Twenty
years ago is twenty years ago!'
But he wrote this letter to me,
and l never got it! And he has a
right to an answer"
Yes, I s'pose he has"
Adeline thought it over all day.
There was no more work for her.
She sat at the window, with the
time-yellowed letter in her lap, star
ing out at the autumn leaves as they
foated down through the misty air.
outside, Misunderstanding! Aurora
glanced at her sometimes, but she
did not speak. She herself, a hard
favored masculine woman, had never
had a lover; she could not help feel
ing a secret reverence for the sister
who had attained this crown of wOm-
anhOOd.
At sunset Adeline rearranged her
hair, bathed her face and tied on her
little Grape bonnet, with the stiff,
white frill in front.
what r you going to dO?" Au-
rora asked.
I'm going to him." said Adeline.
I'm going to show him this letter
and tell him all-how it happened"
But as she trudged along the leaf
carpeted autumn lanes DR.. Hunts
carriage whirled by. He was sitting
in it, and he was not alone. AS AIDE
line stopped and looked after it, the
doctor checked his horse. A pretty,
red-cheeked girl got out. And then
the doctor drove on. Still Adeline
stood there, looking at the dust that
followed the wheels.
"Oh, Adeline," said Eustacia
Bent, eve were just going to your
housed I wanted to see if l could
get you and Aurora to do some sew
ing for me. DR.. Hunt was TAX
ing me there when | met you. He
asked me to be his wife. I am to
be married to him in January"
Eustacia Bent's fair, dimpled face
was all aglow; her blue, ong-lashed
ewes shone ~like-stars; the S Of
last June were not pinker than her
checks. She was twO-and-twenty.
AdeIine Field was forty. The elder
woman, with a pang, recognized the
contrast, and in that moment all the
newly revived hope died out of her
heart forever.
No." said she, I'VE can't take in
any sewing. We're getting ready
for boarders. We are busy. guess
you'll have to get some n else,
Eustacia. But-but wish you Joy,
all the same. l hope you'll be very
happy-you and DR.. Hunt"
She turned and crept home again.
The sun had dipped below the
horizon now; the air was chill and
gray and frosty-Gt omen OF her
coming years of solitude. AS she
walked spiritlesslv along, she felt as
if her heart were q lump of lead