Litchfield enquirer., 1867-02-21

true; so respectful to her mother, so tender to Jane, and so ready to advise and assist Jane's betrothed, fellow clerk. who was waiting the turn in fortunes wheel that would enable him to marry Was not such love as he offered worth any sacrifice? Le- on Payne came in only six months before this musing fit fell upon Gertie. She had met him at musical party. She had be- wltched him by her pretty, piquant beau ty, her grace and her voic; he had dazzled her by his handsome face-Harry was not handsome, poor fellow, Gertie sighed-and wealth. But the young girl knew with 8 woman's intuition, that under the courtly manner, tiattering attentions, and devoted air, there was hard, selfish nature. 8 cruel i jealousy, and 8 suspicious and hot temper. Yet, he was so rich, and Gertie knew all 1 the torture and misery of genteel poverty.
 "Be true to my own Leart!" She said the words aloud, as she rose and walked across the room. Do lore Leon Payne? Ii he should lose his wealth, would I be a true, loving wife to him still? Could wear old bonnets and turned dresses for lis sake?' She took up the diamonds, and put them on while she spoke. They flashed brilliantly against the deep crimson of her neat dress, and heightened the effect of her young, fresh beauty ''lf he were poor and Ill, could work for him as-as I could do for Harry?' It burst from her lips in a sort of cry, and she tore off the jewels and replaced them on their velvet bed. "I could bear all this for Harry, but not for heart
 The winter was gliding into spring, when Mrs. Jameson sat in luxurious house on - Street, waiting the home coming of two brides The parlor in which she wait ed was richly furnished. Velvet carpets covered the floors, velvet curtains draped the windows, long mirrors threw back the light of large chandeliers, costly pictures in heavily gilt frames hung upon the walls. Above, large bedrooms were filled with handsomely appointed furniture. In one room, laces, velvets, flowers, and silks fit for royal h'ousseau, filled drawers and wardrobe; the dining-room was spread for rich and varied repast, and the widows own dress, though only black silk, was rich and handsomely made.
 "My little Gertie," said Mrs. Jameson, softly, "how will she reign over this pal ace?'
 Aquieter home, but pleasant, too, was waiting for Jane, whose husband had re- ceived an anonymous gift, that enabled him to accept business opening long looked upon as an unattainable felicity But Jane was to spend few days with Gertie before going to her own home, and the mother looked for two brides as I said before.
 It was nearly midnight when the carriage drove up. Gertie was first in her mothers arms, and then, as Jane took her place, the little bride stood in the centre of the long parlors pale with astonishment. She had tossed off her bonnet, and the simple straw lay upon the velvet carpet, while the soft gay dress of the mistress of the house seemed oddly out of place. Where am F" she gasped at last.
 "At home, darling." And her husband passed his arm around her waist.
 "Home!'
 "It is not a very long story,'' he said, looking down into her wondering eyes: but l did not tell you before because I wanted to see if you loved me-"
 She nestled close to him, letting her head fall upon his bosom.
 "The farm, Gertie," he said softly, sswas full of oil. /"
 "Oil?'
 Petroleum! I sold it for more money than Leon Payne ever possessed. Now, pet, run up stairs, mother will show you the room, and let me see how some of the finery there suits you."
 "But 1t is nearly midnight
 "Never mind We want aqueen to pre- side over the supper"
 Mrs. Jameson led her away, while Jane and her husband stood as bewildered as Gertie had been. Suddenly the bride groom started forward to grasp Harry's hand.
 "Then it was you, he said, 'swho sent | me the bundle of greenbacks?" "Are we not 5''others?" said Harry, qui- etly.
 There was little talk then, with husky voices and moist eyes, and Jane was still looking gratefully into Harry's face, when the door opened and Gertie flashed in. All the light had come back to her eyes, the rich color to her cheeks; and the shining silk revealed snowy arms and shoulders, while rich lace fell in full folds round the l sweeping skirts. Upon her clustering eurls rested @ wreath of white flowers, and rare bracelets clasped her wrists. She made 8 low reverence to her husband.
 "Lovely!' he cried. ''But, pet, wear the diamonds tonight"
 "What diamonds?''
 "The ones sent you for Valentine" " You sent me Harry! I sent them back to Leon Payne"
 It was certainly ten years later, when one evening at one of Mrs. Clarke's recep- tions, Mrs. Leon Payne said to her, point ing to her jewels:-
 "It was the oldest thing about these diamonds Somebody sent them to Leon for Valentine, years ago. He could nev- CT guess where they came from, for of course the lady must have been wealthy; though why she sent lady's parure to gentleman is mystery. Arethey notlove- ly, Mrs. Clarke?"
 "Very lovely and Gertie,smiled, as she thought of the day ten years before, when she was ts'ue to hes' oarn heols" l JOSH BIILNe's EsAs ONTo SWINE. Hogs are generally quadriped. There iz grate deal ov internal revenew in a hog; thare ain't much more waste in them than there iz in an oyster. 1 Even their tails can be worked up into whissels.
 Hogs are good and quiet boarders; they alwuz eat what is set before them, and don't ask eny foolish questions.
 They kan awl rute we'll, hog that kant l rufn well hay haan o1o IT,