Litchfield enquirer., 1877-11-15
ed her beautiful head.

ed her beautiful head. y
 "Has Mir. Redmond called to enquire for me today. Gerty?"
 ''No, believe not. replied indifer- ently. .aes
 She showed a moments surprise, then settled herself on her couch again, and in five minutes was sleeping swettly. ,a.a
 The blue silk suit was finished, and hav-s ing laid aside my half mourning for Aunt Betty and donned it, the family pronoun- ced-the effect charming
 'Is Mir. Sherrington coming to-day. Gertrude?" asked mamma.
 Yes"
 "I want to say. my dear, that on Mir. Sherringtons account, I don't think you had better she whispered, but inter- rupted her by my exit from the apart ment. .lz~ f4
 The next train brought MT. Clyde sher- ington.. .. 6a ....E.r.~.' -.... a.
 "How delightful that the Spring is at hand" said he; ''the sunshine growing warm and the grass springlng! I passed a bit of wood coming up from the station that is full of arbutus We will have some delightful walks, Gerty. am very tired of city life. !"
 ''Yes. Clyde. dear; but you see have been obliged to make little plan which will interfere somewhat with that arrange ment. T I replied, quickly. ''In fact, for the family good. you know, l want to lend you to Patricia?" @
 ''Lend me to Patricia?''
 'sYes. while lure away a most ineligi- ble suitor she has. Mama and I conclude that it is the only way" added. ''Pa- tricia has fortune of one hundred thou sand dollars, you know"
 'sYes. ,'- "se
 ''Well.we think this MT. Gage Redmond is after her money. He is only briefess lawyer We can't afford to let Patty make such match as that, and so, as don't think n totally uninteresting person do you, Giyde?-I am going to try and firt little with MT. Redmond. Now,you won't bea 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, bnt when convinced of my sincerity his astonishment was in- expressible. 1 remember that he stam- mered out some faint objections, but I would not listen, and before retiring that night whispered to mamma that I had made it all right with MT. Sherrington, and she had only to observe how nicely I would manage the whole matter.
 I sent Patricia off in the morning to find arbutus with MT. Sherrington, while I waited to receive MT. Redmond.
 When he came I was in the garden, and had ordered lunch an hour earlier than usual. My pale blue silk looked beauti- ful on the lawn gress .~.......
 "Pray come and see my tulips, Mr. Red- mon6, called, as he walked up the ave- nue. -"
 He came. pleased enough, and as he was especially fond of flowers I had no difficulty in detaining him for more than half an hour.
 Then, seeing him look at his watch, I observed: .7 @
 I've wont wait lunch for Patricia, for Mir. Sherrington is with her. They have gone roaming off after Spring flowers, and may not be back this three hours. Come in and have bit of salad, with cup of chocolate, Mir. Redmond. I made the chocolate myself; and can recommend it." .s-s
 So kept him for another half hour, and he left, pleased with his visit
 Patricia and Mir. Sherrington came back only fifteen minutes after the usual lunch hour. the former so delighted with a pro- fusion of pink arbutus as hardly to heed when a servant informed her that ''Mr, Redmond had called to see her, and stay ed with Miss Gertrude for lunch.''
 She had put the rosy clusters in her dark hair and on the bosom of her grace ful gray dress, and, flushed with her long ramble, l think never saw her look so perfectly lovely. .
 "He has been here. Very nice of you to keep her out of the way so long," I whispered to Clyde.
 He looked at me queerly, but said noth- ing. did not want him to expostulate with me, as l believe he wished to do, and so kept apart from him during the eve- hing, leaving him to play and sing with Patricia.
 He was interesting, with hls very natur- al manner of reserved modesty. I was glad that Patricia found him so. He had pale, silken hair, that fell in shadowy curls over beautiful forehead. Soft, dark eyes, softly modulated tones. He contrasted nicely with her dark, spirited beauty.
 ''Clyde has an elder brother-Raymond just the one for Patricia, unused. 'I wonder If 1t cannot be brought about"
 But I soon had my hands full. for at all hours of the day and night, MI. Redmond came to the Hermitage. And 1t was not long before my success as a decoy was patent to the most careless observer. He asked only for Miss Gertrude" He came solely to see me.
 In three weeks the crisis burst upon me. He proposed:
 II used to think MT. Sherrington, was C0y low Io1 the light on his frank, handsome face, but late observation has shown 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 bind your future to mlne. The death of my grandfather two years ago left me $50, ,000, besides some real estate. have a pleasant home on the Hudson-retired; but elegant-where would like to take you. What do you think, Gertrude? Could you.be content ed to leave your friends and live at Rose Cottage with me?"
 My engagement allowed me to stammer nothing ineligible. In some. indistinct way temporized the matter, and begged Mir. Redmond to give me time for refec- tion.
 AAo "OAS ""oyS Mnh1uS Au hppOAubm0ub for the next evening.
 So thunderstruck was by the revela- tion of MT. Redmond's s wealth, that wan dered about the house in a dazed way mot needing how mamma was fretting about Prtricia, who had gone to ride with MT. Sherrington.
 What is the matter, mamma? Is it going to storm? said at last
 SSYO storun2 Nnnconao1 Uhorn o.o x,o,,r eyes, Gertrude? But it is nearly nine o'clock. Patricia has been gone seven hours with MT. Sherrington, and I know something is wrong."
 ''Wbat?' I demanded, arousing myself.
 ''I don't know"
 Nine, ten, eleven and twelve o'clock passed. No carriage-no news.
 At noon the next day the buggy drove into the yard, Patricia and Clyde Sher- rlngton alighted. Patricia coollY present. ed her husband. They had been married the evening before. by our pastor at Low bridge.
 s'So nice and quiet" said Patricia. "No