Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-11-03
THE LOST LETTER

I was never happy at Aunt Browne s,
but there seemed no prospect that l
should ever leave her. had come out.
so TO speak, as far as any one so repress-
ed could come out, but l might as well
have staid in. l only sat in corners,
talked with the chaperons, or listened to
some garrulous .octogenarian. Aunt
Brownies interest in me- such as 1t was,
died natural death after my first sea-
son-it had always been weakly-and the
result was a sad deficiency in my ward
robe. She had married of two daughters
without difficulty, but niece, 1t seemed,
stuck closer than a burr. However, it
was not my fault l remained unmarried.
/ had done my best to be fascinating.
Though l hated the idea OF marrying for
home or position, yet was sure l would
not find it hard to love one who was kind
to me, II only on account OF the novelty.
1 was thirty now, and not unused to hear
ing changes rung upon the old maid, and
the beggHrs who shouldn't be choosers, by
my young cousins. Susette and Anne. But
l had had one opportunity to change for
better or for worse of which they never
dreamed. The son of Aunt Brownies sec
ond husband, Cedric Browne, had asked
me to marry him three years before, as
rosy laurel blooms to decorate the house
and piazza for Susettes fete. l some-
times wonder 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
l was taken unawares, because l was not
enough interested to care about frustrat-
ing Aunt Brownies plans; perhaps l did
not expect to be taken at my word but
imagined II the proper way to decline, in
order to be importuned. l believe all my
favorite heroines had conducted in this
wise However, we rode home through
the sunset, our boat heaped with pink
flowers, in silence.
You look as II 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. Every
body brought presents for Susette. Cedric
gave her an antique necklace of tur-
quoises; l was sure he had meant Ii 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 weeks at
time; had laughed and talked with
him, believing him foreordained to min
lister to Susette's happiness, "as inacces-
sible as a star in heaven" so far as
was concerned. He had helped me with
Adele's children, who had come to Aunt
Brownies when their mother died. But
that he should regard me with any tender
emotions / had never cared to wish. In
fact, had thought little about him until
today. 1 had never observed until today
that his eyes were tender as stars, that
his face was like that radiant countenance
of Mozart in the music room, that his
smile was simply enchantment. 1t was
rather late to make these discoveries.
He did not leave us at once; 1t seemed
as If he staid just long enough for me to
| = l. l..
been with us again for a whole month
but little Walter was Ill with a 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 in the drawing room
that the balance Of his time was spent In
| Susette's company
Aunt Susette's beau is going to make q
kite" Teddy confded to Walter one day
who's he?" asked Walter from hi!
bed.
why, Cedric, of course-Cedric Browne
Bridget says so herself" as If that pu
the matter beyond dispute.
The next day when Cedric came up t.
amuse Walter with the affairs down
stairs, that youth demanded: Il say. arr
you WEAKLY Aunt Susette's beau. Cedric
| Adrienne's ever so much nicer. When I'm
man I'll marry Adrienne."
Then you'll be luckier than l. salt
Cedric, winding up top, and spinning
1t on his palm.
1t was a year since then. no longe
went out; was fairly passe. Aun
Browne had abandoned all hopes of me
/ was good nursery maid, a cheap COVER
ness, an inexpensive companion in tn
family. In the meantime 1 could hav
married any day, II 1 had chosen to &C
cept Rev. Abel Amherst, and transfer m
labors to the parsonage. To be sure, thi
would not have proved the brilliant mar
riage my aunt had expected OF me, no
the romantic one had dreamed of my
self, and 1t was not till l came into pos
session OF a certain family secret that
began to revolve the possibility in m
mind. 1t seems that when my aunt mar
ried her second husband, Mr.. Browne
Susette and Anne were both Lowells-
they had subsisted upon the patrimon
left to Cedric by his own mother, an
that after his fathers death, Cedric ha
turned in the same yearly income froI
the estate for family use, and that
Adrienne Lennox, owed my daily brea
to the RAN whom had refused, and VIII
had for ten me. Earning my own live
lihood ! out Of the question, drudgeT
was only vocation, and that was to
badly aid to be encouraging. l locke
at Rev. Abel Amherst often at this perio,
! with view to installing him in Cedric