The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-04-30
BY PEARL CLIFFORD.

WALT STRATHMORE and his youn.
ger brother, had been frequent visitors
at our lovely mansion in Elton, and
some ancient spirits nodded their heads
sagely and limited at marriage" while
young girls fairer than /, tossed their
curls and wondered "what Walt and
Gerard Strathmore could see in that
Ivy Wayne to admire; for she had nei-
ther beauty nor style"
And i, Ivy Wayne aforesaid, listened
and smiled, for had learned the sweet
est lesson girl can learn-the lesson of
Glove"
For many weeks Gerard and Walt
had established themselves in Elton,
principally at our home, and one day
in September, Walt came alone, and in
a quiet sort ofway, confessed she loved
me-" This sudden confession annoyed
and startled me, 1 had been so en-
crossed with gay Gerard, and as l lis
tened to his passionate words and his
quiet, almost stern manners, L did the
most foolish thing woman could do,
burst into flood of hysterical weeping.
He sIothed me in tender, calm way,
and spoke of his love being rewarded
at last, and l entreated him to leave
me and let me think.
He pressed my hand to his lips and
left me, to dream of-his brother. Gle.
rard had paid me no particular atten-
ton; he had turned my music when |
was called to the piano, he had held my
bouquet of flowers, and entreated for
'Just one" as many others had done,
but he had never shown in any other
way, that was dearer than other girls
to him. All this / recalled, and at last
remembered how assiduous Walt had
been towards me. l had been so long
in love with Gerard, that Walt had Oh,
ly occupied a small niche in my heart,
as Gerard's brother, that and nothing
more.
Never were two brothers more unlike.
Walt, the elder by two years, was slight
and of medium height, with brown
hair and browner eyes, but with stern
severe look about the finely chiseled
mouth, that had produced most unfa-
vorable impression on me. Gerard, on
the contrary, was tall and dark, with
laughing blue eyes and jet black curling
hair; the jetty lashes gave particularly
fascinating expression to the eyes, in
deed his entire face; a finely shaped
nose, and eXquisitely beautiful mouth.
shaded by dark moustache, compile.
ted as fine picture as ever won mai
denis first affections. But alas as / re-
called Gerard's fair form and face, l
smiled bitterly at myself-how dare l,
so plain and unpreposscssing, aspire to
the love of so glorious specimen OF
manly beauty and excellence.
Both brothers were accomplished, but
Gerard was best liked, in society his
wit and polished compliments were
courted by fair feminines, and many a
heart beat tumultuously at his approach.
Why did not respond to the love Of
fered to me by Walt Strathmore All,
me, who can tell wOman's heart.
l decided in my own mind to wait a
little longer, and then if Gerard did not
profier me the cup of joy, would ac-
cept his brother.
1t was weak, and wicked / know, to
trihe with another's happiness, but l
knew Walt loved me, and, must / con-
fess the truth? | would be happy in
having even the brothers. love Gerard
would give me, as the wife of Walt
Time flies by, and Gerard scarcely no.
! ticed me; in many instances he openly