The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-12-25
GERTRUDE'S STRATAGEM.

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NY sister Patricia was an hciress.
Strange enough, for We had always been
terribly poor down at Lowbridge, my
widowed mother bringing up her four
daughter, with the greatest difficulty;
but, wre2 brought up, were worth look
ing at, believe. Healthy habits and
frugal living are apt to make good condi-
tions. and Bess and Amy and Patricia
and we're as bright and handsome girls
as are often seen.
Bess and Amy were twins, with eyes
as blue a. the sea near which they were
born, rosy cheeks, and long, light-brown
curls; Patricia WAS sparkling brunette;
while I was perfect blonde, with
crinkici hair like molten gold. Great
had been our excitement when Aunt
Betty wrote from Fairhayen:
DEAR S;STER-IS-LAw--I am going TO do
myself the pleasure os visiting you this sum
mer I hear that brother Abel left four girls,
aud wan. 70 see them. am getting on in
years, and will make one Of them my heress."
Aunt Betty, OF Fairhaven, was worth
100000 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 enough to hold her,
with her maid, coachman and carriage,
but fortunately that was close by, and
ahe spent the larger half of three days
with us
We a,l 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
neither of the twins and it was not I.
1t was Patricia.
'sWhere did that girl get her black
hairf" Aunt Betty asked, as soon as she
saw her.
"I think she looks like my brother
Luke, don't youH" asked my mother,
with wistful look.
"The very image of him." answered
Aunt Betty, turning pale.
OWNED then, as learned afterward,
that Uncle Luke had been lover of
Aunt Betty's, when both were young.
before their 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 to her,
and drawing her down upon her knees
upon a footstool before her, she put a
withered hand each side of the young
cheeks, and said, warmly:
'My dear, you shall be my heiress"!
So it was Patricia she chose to leave
her money to, but We were not out in
the cold, for she seEt the twins who
were only sixteen, to school for two
years, and invited me, with Patricia, to
the Hermitage.
1t was her home-a stately old man
sion of gray stone, gloomy looking on
the outside. but luxuriously comfortable
within, without being IN The least mod
crn. We had each q maid, and the free
use of the horse and carriage. After
making this provision for our comfort,
Aunt Petty excused herself from max
ing company of us, and we were as free
a. air to enjoy ourselves rs we chose,
provided VIC did not interfere with her
nap. We chose to make 4 great many
.acQuaintanccs, guided cautiously by
Aunt Rctty's wisdom, ana the result was
that [ returned to Lowbridge in the
summer engaged to Mr.. Clyde Sherring-
ton. lie was wealthy, handsome, agree
able, well connected. Everybody said,
"Gertrudc has done well for herself
That autumn Aunt Betty died. Pa
tricia was to come in possession of her
fortune in year, when she was twenty
one-full and undisputed possessor of
100000.
1t was arranged that we were all to
come to the Hermitage to live. We did
SO, and lived there quietly as was be-
coming for nearly year, when Patricia
made the acquaintance of Mr.. Gage
Redmond.
She met him first at funeral-of all
places!-the occasion caused by the
death of our next door neighbor, Gen.
De Lacy, Gage Raymond being neigh
Dor of his. He was we'll connected, but
as poor as a church mouse. people said !;
so, of course, he was after Patricia's
fortune" mamma declared.
patricia is rich and beautiful. Pray,
don't let her marry a fortune-hunter,
mamma" said I, looking up from let
ter I was writing to Mr.. Sherrington.
81 would not if l could help it; but
what authority have I, Gertrude" 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. I have no
right to control her whatever"