The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-11-22
LOANING A LOVER.

My sister Patricia was an heiress.
Strange enough, for we had always been
terribly poor down at Lowbridge, my
widowed mother bringing up her four
daughters with the greatest difficulty !;
but when brought up, we were worth
lookingat, I believe. Healthy habits and
frugal living are apt to make good condi-
tions, and Bess and Amy, and Patricia
and l, were as bright and handsome
girls as are often seen.
Bess and Amy were twins, with eyes
as blue as the sea near which they were
born, rosy cheeks, and long, ight-brown
curls; Patricia was sparkling bru-
nette, while was as perfect a blonde,
with crinkled hair, like molten gold.
Great had been our excitement when
Aunt Betty wrote from Fairhaven:
DEAR SIsTER-IN-LAw: am going
to do myself the pleasure of visiting
you this summer. / hear that brother
Abel left four girls, and / want to see
them. I am getting on in years, and
will make one of them my heiress," etc.
Aunt Betty, of Fairhayen, was worth
q hundred thousand dollars if she was
worth cent.
Well, in due time she came. She put
up at the hotel, for our cottage at Low
bridge wasn't big enoughto hold her,
with her maid, coachman, and carriage !;
but fortunately that was close by, and
she spent the larger half of three days
with us.
We all thought Bess would be her
choice, for father had named her Eliza
beth for Aunt Betty, though she had
always been "Bess" with us; but it was
not either of the twins and it was not
lit was Patricia.
Where did that girl get her black
hair?' Aunt Betty asked, as soon as she
saw ner.
I think she looks like my brother
Luke, don't YOUR asked the mother,
with a wistful look.
The very image of him." answered
Aunt Betty, turning pale.
OWNED then, as learned afteryard,
that Uncle Luke had been lover OF
Aunt Betty Is, when both were young
before her marriage, and the fact seemed
to have a power over her.
She looked at Patricia until the girl
blushed rosy-red, and would have
slipped out of the room, when she called
her to her, and, drawing her down upor
her knees on a footstool before her, she
put withered hand each side of the
young cheek. and said warmly: =
My dear, you shall be my heiress.'
So it was Patricia she chose to leave
her moneyto; but we were not left ou
In the cold, for she sent the twins, wht
were only sixteen, tosa convent schoo
for two years, and invited me, with Pa
tricia, 70 the Hermitage.
1t was her home-a stately old man
sion of gray stone, gloomy looking oI
the outside, but luxuriously comforts
BILE and beautiful within, without helm,
in the least modern. We had each
maid and the free use of the-horse an,
carriage. After making this proyisio,
for our comfort, Aunt Betty excuse
herself from making company of us. an
we were free as air to enjoy ourselye
as we chose, provided we did not intel
fere with her maps. We chose to max
great many pleasant acquaintance.
guided conscientiously by Aunt Betty
wishes, and the result was that I r,
turned to Lewbridge in the summer .,
gagged to Mr.. Clyde Sherrington. n
was wealthy, handsome, agreeable vel
connected. Everybody said. "Gertrud
has done well for herself"
That autumn Aunt Betty died. P
tricia was to come in possession of b,
fortune IN year, when she was twent
one-full and undisputed possession
one hundred thousand dollars.
1t was arranged that we, were all
come to the Hermitage to live. We d
SO, and had lived there quietly. as w
becoming, for nearly year, when P
tricia made the acquaintance of M
Gage Redmon.
She met him first at funeral-of 8
placesl-the occasion caused by Il
death OF our next neighbor, General
Lacy. Gage Redmond being a neighb
of his. He was well-connected. b
poor as church mouse, people said; q
OF course he wasafter Patricia fortune
mamma declared.
Patricia is rich and beautiful. Pr,
don't let her marry a fortune-huntt
mamma, said ], looking up from
letter was writing to Mr.. Sherringto
would not, if l could help it; b
what authority have Gertrude ?d sa
my mother. "In few months Patric
will be in undivided possession of b
fortune. Weare here only by courtes
The Hermitage is her home. have
right to control her Whatever"
But your influence, mammaT
"WhI have very little effect if she s,
her heart on this Gage Redmond. Pr
stop staring vacantly out of the windo
Gertrude, ,'and attend..to what say.