The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-06-25
HEART-TRUE.

" 1t is such bother to be poor !"
There had been a long interval of 81.
lence in Mrs. Jameson's sitting room
when Gertie made this exclamation.
tie P" -
The pleased voice and tone of kindly
inquiry made the young girl blush
deeply as she replied:
!" O, mamma, never mind I was only
thinking aloud"
" Thinking of what ?"
"Of some velvet flowers I saw YES
terday, which just matched this rib
bon" and Gertie held up a bonnet she
was trimming. " Velvet flowers are SO
lovely for a winter bonnet, and this one
needs something"
81 am sure it looks very nice,
Gertie."
Nice" " said the girl, scornfuIly en-
phasizing the word Eyes, it is very
nice, and that turned silk is nice, and
the short s ok made out of your old
coat is nice, and cleaned gloves are
nice, and"
"Why, Gertie " cried her mother.
in a voice of amazement
But there is nothing ssylish or
handsome in cleaned gloves and re-
trimmed bonnets, and old cloaks turned
into sacks, and so I say poverty is a
bother"
Gertie, put away that bonnet and
come here. Now, little daughter, " said
the widow, gently, "tell me the mean
ing of this sudden TRADE against pow
erty of the restless tossing I heard
from your room last night of the nerv-
GUS unquiet of my contented little girl
since yesterday
There was no reply.
"Gertie, what did Leon Payne say to
you last evening ?"
He asked me to be his wife. " The
words we're ierked out hastily.
And you answered."
"Jane came in to shut up the parlor,
not knowing he was there, and she
stayed so ne got no answer at ALL"
But he must be answered, Gertie
He spoke to me and told him it must
rest with you"
Mamma this after long, deep
silence.
"He is very rich. When he marries,
his wife can have every luxury. If-if
it is I, we can have you with us, and
Jane need not teach that horrid school
any longer. We were on - street
the other day, and stopped to look into
a jewelers. window, and he pointed out
the kind of Jewels he would wish his
wife to wear. need not wear old
silks then, mamma"
"Then you intend to accept his
offer?"
"I don't know; you see, there is
Harry"
90 But Harry cannot offer you Jewels"
"No, poor Harry If he had only
three thousand dollars, Mr.. Ingraham
I u ~ L II L
me all about it last week. But think
how long it will take to save three thou
sand dollars, and of course his wife
must save, and pinch, and economize
till he is able to spend more freely"
" Yes, dear, there would be no vari.
atiSns on the turned cloth and retrim-
med bonnets /; no velvet flowers, no jew
els"
"But such a noble, true heart such
tender love !"
Leon Payne loves you"
As much as he loves anything be-
yond his own pleasure and comfort.
He is so thoroughly selfish, so hard,
and thinks so much of himself. It is
his wife that must be handsomely
dressed, ride in her carriage, and re-
fleet credit upon his choice. Mamma,
he loves me because I am pretty and
can sing we'll, and can manage his
house nicely. Harry loves me because
it is l."
There was violent jerk at the door
bell at that instant that called her to
the door. She came back with flying
feet.
"Two valentines, mamma I had
forgotten it was the fourteenth"
1.-TWO ?"
Eyes, oh, mamma, look !"
She had torn the cover from a dainty
package in her hand and opened mo-
rocco case inside. Upon the black vel
vet lining lay a pGrttre of glittering dia-
monds, flashing up, where a stray sun
beam fell upon them, into a glorious
sea of color.
Leon Payne = cried Gertie. care
they not exquisite?" ?"
Mrs. Jameson's lips quivered a little
as she looked at her daughters flushed
face and bright eyes, and her heart sent
up a silent prayer for the future, trem-
bling before her eyes.
"Look at the other" she said
quietly.
I" Only a copy of verses" said Gertie.
g Violet eyes and all that sort of thing.
But are not these diamonds magnii-
cent? Il is the very set l admired so
much when we were ont the other day.
"Gertie, it is IL o'clock, and I must
90 TO Mrs. Lewis. Little daughter,
YOU NAV have callers while I am out.
She drew her child into her arms, and
looked with anxious love into her eyes.
"Gertie, my daughter, be true to
vour own heart" And so she left her.
True to her own heart. Gertie jane
son sat down to ponder over those gio-
rious waves of light before her eyes;
the COPY of verses lay open on the little
workable, and Gertie sat musing.
of the past came in succession
into her memory.
It was ten years ago, but she could
still remember the day, since her father
had been called to the shadow land.
The luxurious country home where she
and Jane, her eldest sister, were born,
was sold and they had come to the city.
Her mother, one of the best amateur
pianists of her tine, hal begun to teach
music, and they had lived upon her
earnings until Jane was old enough to
take the French class in a large semlna-
~, and Gertie to have singing scholars
at home; but even with these additions
their income was very limited. Close
economy, self-denial, humble fare and
quiet dress, Gertie could recall much
more distinctly than the wealth her
father had squandered.
Where did Harry Clarke como upon
the scene? Gertie scarcely knew. He
wss a step-soR Of her mothers brother,