The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-02-01


: farm where Harry was born, wheri
his father and mother had died, anC
which was the boys sole patrimony
The rent of his domain scarcely
sufficed to clOthe the young clerk, but
he had been winning his way in the
house of I. & Co., and now, ifhe could
raise three thousand dollars, might be
a partner. The farm might bring part
of that sum, but where was the rest To
come from? queried Gertie. Yet ovel
HarTy's memory picture the little
maiden fingered lovingly. There was
J upon as that where he figured. Long
walks and talks, duets over the old
piano, chats by moonlight, freight
and gaslight- He was so tender and
loving, so honorable and true, so re-
spectful to her mother, so tender TO
Jane, and and so ready TO advise or
assist James betrothed, fellOw-clerk,
who was waiting the turn in fortunes
wheel that would enable him to mar
Try. Was not such love as he offered
worthy Of any sacrifice?
Leon Payne came to this scene only
six months before this musing fit upon
Gertie. She had met him at party,
and had bewitohed him by her pretty,
piquant beauty, her grace and her
beauty; he had dazzled her by his
handsome face-Harry was not hand
some, poor fellow, Gertie sighed-and
wealth. But the young girl knew,
with Woman's intuition, that under
the courtly manner, fiattering devo-
ton and devoted air, there was hard,
selfish nature, cruel jealousy, and a
suspicious and hot temper. Yet he
was 30 rich, and Gertie knew all the
privations of genteel poverty.
BE true to my own heart ?" she
said aloud, as she rose and walked
across the room. tDo I love Leon
Payne? If he sh1uld lose his wealth,
would 1 be q true and loving wife to
/ him still? Could wear old bOnnets
and turned dresses for his sake ?"
She took up the diamonds and put
them on as she spoke. They flashed
brilliantly against the deep crimson of
her neat dress, and heightened the ef-
feet Of her young, fresh beauty.
"lf he were poor and i'll, could l
work for him as-ss I could do for
Harry?"
Il burst from her lips in a sort Of
cry, and she tore of the jewels and re-
placed them on their velvet bed.
"I could bear all this for Harry, but
not for Leon Payne. will be true to
my own heart.
The winter was gliding into spring,
when Mrs. Jameson sat in q luxurious
house on - street, waiting the COM
ing Of two brides. The parlOr in
vEhfnh ct vrvosko1 - -,
ed. Velvet carpets covered the floors,
velvet curtains draped the windows.
long mirrors threw back the light Of
large chandeliers; costly pictures, in
heavy gilt frames, hung upon the
walls. Above, large bedrooms were
filled with handsomely appointed
furniture. In one room, laces, velvets,
flowers and silks fit fer q royal
trousseau, filled drawers and ward
robe. 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. Jane |
son, softly, chow will she reign over
this palace?"
A quieter home, but pleasant, too,
was waiting for Jane; whose husband |
had received an anonymous gift that |
enabled him to accept a business
opening long looked upon as an unat-
tainable felicity. But Jane was to |
spend few days with Gertie before
going to her own home, and the |
mother looked for the two brides, as I /
said before. \
1t was nearly midnight when the
carriage drove up. Gertie was the
first in her mothers arms, and then,
as Jane took her place, the little bride
stood in the center Of the long'parlors,
pale with astonishment. She had !
tossed off her bonnet, and the soft
gray travelling dress of the mistress of
the houseySoonaed oddly out ef place.
"Wnere am 1 ?' she gasped at last.
"At home, darling," and her hus-
band passed his arm around her
waist.
Home? ?'
'Tt is not such very long story"
he said, looking down into her wonder
ing eyes, "but did not tell you be-
fore, because 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,
twas full Of OF"
"Onw
at 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 ofths
fnegy there suits you"
"But it Is nearly midnight
"Never mind. We want a.queento
preside over this supper"
Mrs. Jameson led her away, while
Jane and her husband stood as bewil-
dered as Gertie had been. Suddenly
the bridegroom started forward to
grasp Harry's hand.
"Are we not brothers ?" said Harry
quietly.
There was a little talk then with :
husky voices and moist eyes, and Jane
was still looking gratefully into
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 should
ers while rich lace fell in full folds
around the sweeping skirts. Upon
her clustering curls rested wreath of
flowers, and rare bracelets clRsped her
wrists. She made low bow in rever-
ence to her husband.
"Lovelyp' he cried; "but, pet, wear
the diamonds tonight"
"What diamonds? ?"
"The ones sent you for a valen-
tine"
"You sent me, Harry sent them
back to Leon Payne"
1t was certainly ten years later
when, one evening, at one Of Mrs.
Clark's receptions, Mrs. Leon Payne
said to her, pointing to her jewels:
sit was the oldest thing about these
Somebody sent them to
Leon for a valentine, years ago. He
never could guess where they came
from, for, of course, the lady must
have been wealthy, though why she
sent lady's pdrtItre to a gentleman
is mystery. Are they not lovely,
Mrs. Clark?
"Very lovely" said Gertie, and
smiled as she thought Of the day, ten
years ago, when she was true to her
own heart.