The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-24
good, you know, want to lend you to Pa

tricia?''
"Lend me to Patricia?''
Eyes; while lure away most ineligible
sutton she has. Mamma and / conclude that
it is the only way" 1 added. "Patricia has
fortune of one hundred thousand dollars,
you know"
"Yes."
"Well, we think this Mr.. Gage Redmond Ia
after her money. He is only briefless law
yer. We can't afford to let Patty make such
match as that, and so, as don't think Pm
totally uninteresting person-do you Clyde?
i am going to try and flirt little with Mr..
Redmond. Now, you won't be bear and
say no, will you, dear? And you'll try to
help us by devoting yourself bit to Patricia,
won't you?"
At first my companion did not believe that
| was in earnest, but when convinced of my
sincerity his establishment was inexpressible.
| remember that he stammered out some
faint objections, but would not listen, and
before retiring that night l whispered to
mamma that had made it all right with Mr..
Sherrington, and Eshe had only to observe
how nicely would manage the whole mat
ter.
sent Patricia off in the morning to find
arbutus with Mr.. Sherrington, while waited
to receive Mr.. Redmond.
When he came l was in the garden and
had ordered lunch an hour earlier than usual.
My pale blue silk looked beautiful on the
lawn lgrass.
''Pray come and see my tulips, Mr.. Red
mond, I" called, as he walked up the avenue.
He came, pleased enough, and as he was
especially fond of flowers had no difficulty
in OBTAINING him for more than half an hour.
Then, seeing him looking at his watch, I
observed:
"We don't wait for Patricia, for Mr.. Sher-
rington is with her, They have gone roam
ing off after spring flowers, and may not be
back these three hours. Come in and have
a bit of salad, with cup of chocolate, Mr..
Redmond. l made the chocolate myself,
and can recommend it,
So l kept him for another half hour and
he left, pleased with his visit.
Patricia and Mr.. Sherrington came back
only fifteen minutes after thesusual lunch
hour, the former SO delighted with profu-
sion of pink arbutus as hardly to heed when
servant informed her that "Mr. Redmond
had called to see her, and had stayed with
Miss Gertrude tor lunch"
She Ihad put the rosy clusters in her dark
hair and on the bosom of her graceful gray
dress, and flushed with her long rambe, I
think never saw her look so perfectly love-
ly. "He has been here. Very nice of you
to keep her out of the way so long," whisss
pered to Clyde.
He looked at me queerly, but said nothing,
/ did not want him to expostulate with me,
as 1 believed be wished to do, and so kept
apart from him during the evening, leaving
him to play and sing with Patricia.
He was interesting, with his very natural
manner of reserved modesty. / was glad
that Patricia found him So He had pale,
silken hair, that fell in shadowy curls over
beautiful forehead. soft dark eyes, softly mod
uated tones. He contrasted nicely with her
dark, spirited beauty.
"Clyde has an elder brother r Raymond
just the one for Patricia" I unused. 81 won
der if it cannot be brought about.,'
But / soon had my hands full, for at all
hours of the day and night Mr.. Redmond
came to the Hermitage. And it was not long
before my successsas decoy was patent to
the most careless observer. He asked only
for s'Miss Gertrude" He came solely to see
me.
In three weeks the crisis burst upon me-
He proposed to me.
81 used to think Mr.. Sherrington was your
lover" he said, standing before me, the light
on his frank handsome face, shut late obser-
walton has shown to me that his visits here
are for your sister. Since you are free, then
will you not marry me? can support you
well, Gertrude, or I would not ask you to
bihu Joul " IuC uCdlu vi NY
grandfather two years ago. left me $50, 900,
besides some real estate. I have pleasant
home on the Hudson-retired, but elegant
where l would like to take you. What do
you think, Gertrude? Could you be contented
to leave your friends and live at Rose cottage
with meT'
My amazement allowed me to stammer
nothing Ineligible. In some indistinct way
| temporized the matter, and begged Mr..
Redmond to give me time tor reflection.
He went away, making an appointment
for the next evening.
So thunderstruck was by the revelation
Of Mr.. Redmond's wealth that I wandered
about the house in dazed way, not needing
how mamma was fretting about Patricia,
who had gone to ride with Mr.. Sherrington.
"What is the matter, mamma? Is it going
to storm ?" said. at last.
ITO storm? Nonsense! Where are your
eyes, Gertrude? But it is nearly 8 O'Clock.
Patricia has been gone seven hours with Mr..
Sherrington, and I know something is
wrong"
"What9" demand, arousing myself"
81 don't know"
Nine, 10, II and - o'clock passed. No
carriage-no news.
At noon the next day the buggy drove into
the yard. Patricia and Clyde Sherrington
alighted. Patricia coolly presented her hus-
band. They had been married the evening
before, by our pastor at Lowbridge.
$50 nice and quiet" said Patricia, ''No
fuss, no notoriety."
She took her place coolly at the table.
''You needn't hesitate to take Gage now,
Gertrude; he's dead in love with you, and as
l like Clyde best, I thought I'd decide the
matter without any complications
think I was dumbfounded. But found
my tongue when Mr.. Redmond came that
evening, and said "Yes."
give my experience for the benefit of
Others. 1t is dangerous loaning ones lover