Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-08-09

sort OF thing. But are not these
diamonds magnificent! II is the
very set l admired -IRnea when
we were cut the other day. aizs
"Gertie, it is eleven o'eioek, and /
must 90 to Mrs. Lewis u ale
daughter, you may nave callers
white / am out" She drew her
child into her arms and looked with
anxious love into her eyes.
@Gertie, nay darling, be true to
EyOur own heaFt.' And so she left
her.
True to her own heartl Gertie
Jameson sat down to ponder over
these words. The diamonds flashed
out their glorious waves of light
before her eyes; the copy of verses
lay open upon the little work table,
and Gertie sat musiug. Pictures OF
the past came in succession into her
memory.
II was ten years ago, but she could
still remember the day, when her
father had been called to the shadow
land. TheluxuriOus country home,
where she and Jane, her eldest sis
ter, were born, was sold, and they
had come to the city. Her mother,
one of the finest amateur pianiIts of
her time, had began 20 teach music,
and they lived upon her earrings
until Jane was old enough totake
the French class in q large Seminary,
and Gertie to have singing sch,lars
at home; but even with these tddi-
tions, their income was very Init
ed. Close economy, self denial,
and humble fare, and qniet dress,
Gertie could recall mach more dis
tinetly than the wealth her f4ther
had squandered.
Where did Harry Clarke come
upon the seene2 Gertie SCARCELY
knew. lie was a step-son of her
mothers brother, and had come to
the city TO make his fortune. Far
away in the central part of Penn.
sylvania nestled a small farm where
Harry was born, where father and
mother had died, and which was the
poor boys sole patrimOny. The
rent of the domain scarcely sufficed
TO clothe the young clerk, but he
had been winning his way in the
house of L & Co., and now, if he
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 h? queried
Gertie. Yet. over Harry's memory
picture, the little maiden fingered
lovingly. There was no part Of her
life so pleasant to dwell upon as that
where he figured. Long walks and
talks, Duets over the old piano,
chats by moonlight and dgas-light.-
He was so tender and loving, so
L. III.
her mother, so tender e . Is, ana
SO ready to advise or assist James
betrOthed, felloW-clerk, who was
waiting the turn of fortunes wheel
that would enable him TO marry
Was not such love as he offered
worthy Of sny sacrifice?
Leon Payne came on the scene
only six months before this musing
fit upon Gertie. She had met him
at q party, and had beWitched him
by her pretty, piquaRt beauty, her
grace and voice; he had dazzled her
by his handsome face-Harry was
not handsome, poor fellow, Gertie
sighed-and wealth. But the young
/ girl knew, with WOman's intuition,
that under the eourtly manner, fiat
tering attentions and devoted air,
there was . hard, selfish nature, q
cruel jealousy, and a suspicious and
hot temper. Yet he was so rich,
and Gertie knew all the torture and
misery of genteel poverty.
'Be true to my own hearts she
said aloud, as she rose and walked
across the room. ''Do love Leon
Payne? If he should lose his
wealth would I be a true and loving
wife to him still2 Could wear old
bonnets and turned dresses. for his
sake ?"
She took up the diamonds and put
them OH while she spoke. They
flashed brilliantly against the deep
crimson of her neat dress, and
heightened the effect of her young,
fresh beauty.
"If he Were poor and i'll, could
work for him as-as / could for
Harry?"
1t burst from her lips in a sort of
cry, and she tore off the Jewels and
replaced them on their velvet bed.
al could bear all this for Harry, but
not for Leon Payne. l will be trae
to my own heart"
The winter was gliding into
spring. when Mrs. Jameson sat in a
luxurious house on street, wait
ing the coming OF two brides. The
parlOr in which she waited was
richly furnished. Velvet carpets
covered the floors, velvet curtains
draped the windows, long mirrors
threw back the light of chandeliers;
costly pictures, in heavy giltframes,
hung upon the walls. Above, large
bedrooms filled with handsomely
appointed furniture. In one room,
laces, velvets, flowers and silks, fit
for royal trousseAu, filed drawers
and wardrobe; the edining-rOom was
spread for q rich and varied repast,
and the widows dress, though only
black silk, was rich and handsomely
made.
''My little Gertie," said Mrs.
Jameson, softly, chow win she
reign over this palace ?'
A quieter home, but pleasant, too,
was waiting for Jane, whose hns-
band had received an anonymous
gift that enabled him to accept 3
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 l said before.
1t 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 center of the long par
lors, pale with astonishment. She
had tossed OF her bonnet, and the
straw lay upon the velvet carpet,
while the soft gray travelling dress
of the mistress of the house seemed
oddly out of place.
"Where am II" she gasped at
last.
CAT home, darling," and her hus-
band passed his arm around her
/ waist. -
sEHomer
sit i. not such very long story, y
he said, looking down into her won