The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-08-07
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 were worth looking at,
| believe. Healthy habits and frugal
living are apt to make good conditions,
and Bess and Amy, and Patricia and
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, light brown curls.
Patricia was sparkling brunette, while l
was perfect blonde, with crinkled hair
like molten gold. Great had been our
excitement when Aunt Betty wrote from
Fairhaven:
''Dear Sister in-law-I am going to do
myself the pleasure of visiting you this
summer. hear that Brother Abel left
four girls, and want to see them. l am
getting on in years, and will make one of
them my heiress."
Aunt Betty of Fairhaven was worth a
hundred thousand dollars if she was worth
cent.
Well, in the due time she came. She
put up at the hotel, for our cottage at
LOwbridge wasn't big enough TO 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 al
ways 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 her.
81 think that she looks like my brother
Luke, don't you?" asked my mother, with
wistful look.
III :--..5U nIIu, answered.
Aunt Betty, turning pale.
| OWNED then, as | learned afterward
that Uncle Luke had been lover OF
Aunt Betty's when both were young, be-
fore her marriage, and the fact seemed 10
have power over her.
She looked at Patricia until the girl
blushed rOsy-red, and would have slipped
out of the room when she called to her,
and drawing her down upon her knees on
foot-stool before her, she put a withered
hand each side of the young cheek and
said, warmly:
g My dear, you shall be my heiress!"
So it was Patricia she chose to leave hel
money to; but we were not left out in the
cold, for she sent the twins, who were on.
ly sixteen, to school for two years, and
| invited me, with Patricia to the Hermit
tage.
1t was her home "a stately old mansion
of gray stone, gloomy looking on the out
side, but luxuriously comfortable and
beautiful within, without being in the
least modern. We had each maid anC
the free use of the horse and 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
vided we did not interfere with her maps
We chose to make great many pleasan
acquaintance, guided consciously b.
Aunt Betty'y wisdom, and the result wa
that returned to Lowbridge in the sum
mer engaged to Mr.. Clyde Sherrington
He was wealthy, handsome, agreeable
we'll connected. Everybody said: '1Ger
trude had done well for herself"
That autumn Aunt Betty died Pa
tricia was to come in possession of he
fortune in a year, when she is twenty on
full and undisputed possession o
500, 900.
1t was arranged that we were to com
to the Hermitage to live. We did so
and lived there quietly as was becom
ing nearly year, when Patricia mad
the acquaintance of Mr.. Gage Redmond
She met him first at a funeral-of al
placesI the occasion caused by the dealt
of our next neighbor, General De Lacy
Gage Redmond being neighbor of his
He was well connected, but poor as
church mouse, people said; $50 of cours
he was after Patricia's fortune" MANN
declared.
Patricia is rich and beautiful Pra
don't let her marry fortune, mamma,
said I, looking up from a letter I wa
, writing to Mr.. Sherrington?
81 would not, if / could help it, bu
what authority have I, Gertrude?" sal
NV mother. SIN few months Patriot
will be in undivided possession of her fol
tune. We were here only by courtesy
The Hermitage is her home. I have n
r right to control her whatever"
''By your influence, mammal"
"Will have very little effect if she SCI
her heart on this Gage Redmond. Pra
, stop staring vacantlY out of the window
, Gertrude, and attend to what say.
! want assistance in this matter"
| "Please excuse me. l am thinkin
f of my own affairs just now, mamms
They may be of no consequence to yol
but my letter is matter of some impor
$ ance to me"
t l did not mean to be saucy, only pc
fish, but mamma. having had long exp
: rience with four headstrong girls, bore
| with me patiently.
/ "Well, finish your letter, Gertrud
, and then advise me.
But my train of thought was broker
: and after few moments put the she
g in my writing desk.
e ssWhat can't be accomplished openl
r must be done by strategem, mamma
& Is probable this Gage Redmond Is afte
Patricia's money. She. Is = great pril
n fundamentally. Well, you say q
t prettier than Patty. Suppose | play q
4 c0y
= What cried mamma.
Mr.. Redmond il dark and RESERVES
an fir and volatile. aoQ'k VQu thin