Litchfield enquirer., 1877-11-15
LoAMlNc A LOVER

| 6VeA0hW0 A 6VV6W 1 My sister Patr cia 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 looking at, believe. Healthy habits and frugal lisiAg are apt to make good ts condi- tions, and Bess and Amy, and Patricia and l, were as bright and handsome girls as are often seen.
 l Bess and Amy were twins, with eyes as blue as the sea near which they were born. rosy cheeks and long brown curls; Patricia was a sparkling brunette while was as perfect blonde. with erin kled hair like molten gold. Great had been our, excitement when Aunt Betty wrote from Fair Haven:
 Dear sister-in-tDaU; I am going to do myself the pleasure of visiting you this summer. I hear that brother Abel left four giris. and want to see them. am getting onin years. and will naske one of them any flefress. etc. A
 hundred thousand dollars if she was I a cent. -<~'s-sss
 l Well, q. "a she came. She put l up at the hoge., for our cottage at Low bridse wasn't big enough to hold her, with her mAid, coach man, and carriage; but fortunately that was close by, and she spent the larger Laf of three days 1 with us
 We all thought Bess would be her choice, for father had named her Elizabeth l for Aunt Betty. though she had always been ''Bess' with us; but it was not eith- CT of the twins and it was not I-t'was 1 Patricia. S~1a
 "Where did that girl get her black hair?" Aunt Betty asked, as soon as she saw her. ah a -vas ...su .a.s [
 s'I think sue looks ike my brother Luke, don't yon?" asked the. mother, with wistful look. ts #
 sThe very image of him." answered Aunt Betty, turning pale.rs divined then, as learned afterward, that Uncle Luke had been a lover of Aunt Betty's, when both weres young, before l her marriage, and the fact seemed to have power over her. She looked at Patricia until the girl blushed rosy red, and would have slipped l out of the room, when she called her to her. and, drawing her down upon her l knees on a foot-stool before her, she put withered hand on each side of the young ch .ek. she said warmly; "My dear, you shall be my heiress." So it was Patricia she chose to leave her money to, but we were not left out in the cold ,shesent the twins. who were only sixteen, to convent-school for two years. and invited me with Patricia, to the Hermitage. a... It was her home-a stately old man. sion of gray stone. gloomy looking on the outside, but Iuxuriousiy comfortable and beautiful within, without being in the least modern. We had each maid and the free use of the horse and the carriage. After making this provision for our com fort. Aunt Betty excused herself from making company of us, and We were free as air to enjoy ourselves as we chose, pro- We chose to make great many pleasant acquaintances, guided conscientiously by Aunt Betty's wishes. and the result was that l returned to Lowbridge in the sum- mer, engaged to Mir. Clyde Sherrington. He was wealthy. handsome. agreeable, well-connected. Everybody said, ''Ger- trude has done very well for herself" That Autumn Aunt Betty died. Pa trlcla was to come in possession of her fortune. when she was twenty-one-fuH and undisputed possession of one hun dred thousand dollars.
 It was arranged that we were all to go to the Hermitage to live. We did so and had lived there quietly, as was be. coming, for nearly year, when Patricia made the acquaintance of MT. Gage Red mond.
 She met him first at a funeraI-of all places!--the occasion caused by the death of our next neighbor. Gen. De Lacy, Gage Redmond being nelghbor of his He was wellTconnected, but poor as a church. mouse, people said; ''So of course he was after Patricia's fortune," mamma de clared
 Patricia is rich and beautiful. Pray don't let her marry fortune hunter, mamma" :" said I, looking up from letter I was writing to Mir. Sherrington,
 II would not. if could help it; but what authority have I, Gretrude?" said my mother. ''In few months Patricia will be in undivided possession of her fortune. We are here only by courtesy. The Hermitage is her home. have no right to control her whatever"
 ''But your influence, mamma"
 s.Will have very little effect if she sets her heart on this Gage Redmond: Pray stop staring vacantly out of the window O0E1kuuOS &uu dtt0uU GO Wuat ! say. want assistance in this natter
 'Please excuse me. l am thinking of my own affairs just now, mamma. They may be of no consequence to you, but my letter is a matter of some importance to me-" x did not mean to be saucy, only pet tish: and mamma, having had long exper- fence with four headstrong girls, bore it Wifl, me rui&a ratinntlv
 Well, finish your letter, Gertrude, and then advise with me-"
 But my train of thoughts was broken, and after few moments put the sheet in my writing desk.
 What can't be accomplished openly must be done by stratagem. mamma. It is probable this Gage Redmond is after Patricla's money. She is great prize matrimonlally. We'll. you say I am pret- tier than Patty. Suppose play decoy?"
 ''Whatl" cried mamma.
 ''Mr. Redmond is dark and reserved. I am fair and volatile. Don't you think he would appreciate my style of beauty if I took a little pains to make him do sop
 But MT. Sherrington?"
 Il will tell him. He will not object"
 'I think he will"
 ''Oh, mol He will be interested in the good of the family. He comes next week. Fortunately, Patty is sick with 8 cold ,and Mir. Redmond can see but but little of her until then =
 ''Quite pleased with my scheme, ran up stail to give Patricia her cough-drops sitting down at the window of her room, and lowing cordially to Mir. Redmond, whom could see writing in his uncle's study. in the great mansios across the way. The larches hid all the house but that one winter. He was there a good deal. and reflected that Patty's blue silk curtains were more becoming to my style of beauty than hers
 '.I1l bring my embroidery up aud sit with you. Patty, ]" said
 Do, she said. ''I am tired of watch. ing the eyergTerns swaying about against that gray Spring sky"
 So l filled my lap with rose-colored worsted, and framed myself in the blue n -R-- sA