The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-12-03
GERTRUDE's sTRATAGEM.

Ny sister Patricia was an heiress.
Strange eAough, for we had always been
terribly poor down at Lowbridpe, nv
widowed mother Bringing up her four
daughters with the greatest difficulty: !:
put when brought up, were worth look
ing at, L believe. Healthy habits and
frugal living are apt to make good condi-
tiOns, and BeS and Amy and Patricia
and were as bright and handsome girls
as are often seen.
Bess and Amy were twins. with ewes
as blue as the sea near which they were
born, rosy cheeks, and long, Iight-brown
cqrls; Patricia was sparkling brunette;
Whlle l was a perfect blonde, with
crlIKled hair like molten gold. Great
had been our excitement when Aunt
Betty wrote from FairhaTen:
DEAR SIsrEa-tE-LAw---I am going to do
myself tho pleasure of visiting you this sBrsz
mer. / hear that brother Abel left four girls,
and I want to see them. am getting on in
years, and viii make one of them my heiress."
Aunt Betty, OF Fa1rhaven, was worth
100000 if she was worth a 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
she spent the larger half of three days
with us.
We al thought Bess would be her
choice, for father had named her Eliza
beth for Aunt Betty, though she had
always been "Bess' with lis. But it was
neither of the twins and it was not |.
1t was Patricia.
"Where did that girl get her black
hairT' Aunt Retty asked, as soon as she
saw her.
II think she looks like my brother
Luke, don't you3" asked my mother,
with a wistful look. :
''The very image of him." answered
Aunt Betty, turning pale.
L diyined then, as l learned afterwatd,
that Uncle Luke had been a lover of
Aunt Bettys, when both were young
before their marriage, and the fact
seemed to have power over her.
She looked at Patricia until the girl
blushed rosy red, and would have slipped
cut OF the room when she called to her,
and drawing her down upon her knees
upon a footstool before her, she put
Withered hand each side of the young
checks, and said, warmlyi
'My DEAR you shall be my heiress"
So it wRs Patricia she chose to leave
her money to, but we were not out in
the. cold, for she seHt the twins, who
were only sixteen, to school for two
years, and invited me, with Patricia, to
the Hermitage.
tt was her home-a stately old mah-
sion of gray stone, gloomy looking on
the outside, but luxuriOusly comfortable
within, without beng IN the least mod
ern. We had each a maid, and the free
use of the horse and carriage. After
making this provision for our comfort,
Aunt Betty excused herself from max
ing company of us, and we were as free
as air to enjoy ourselves as we chose,
provided we did not interfere with her
nap. We chose to make a great many
acqusintances, guided cautiously by
Aunt Betty's wisdom, and the result was
that [ returned to LOwbridge in the
summer engaged to Mr. Clyde Sherring- |
ton. He was wealthy, handsome, agree |
able, we'll connected. Everybody said, |
Gertrude has done we'll for herself"
That autumn Aunt Betty died. Pa !
.ricia was to come in possession of her
fortune in year. when she was twenty
,ne-fun and undisputed possessor of
100000.
It was arranged that we were all to !
come to the Hermitage to live. We did |
20, 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 funeTal-of all |
occasion caused by the
death of our next door neighbor, Gen. |
no nv n pox-Y,oOD1 hoinor 17oicrb-
Dor of his He was well connected, but
as poor as a church mouse, people said;
so, of course, he was after Patricia's
mamma declared.
patricia is rich and beautiful. Pray,
don't let her marry a fortune-hunter,
said I, looking up from let !
ter was writing to Mr.. Sherrington.
II would not if could help it; but
what authority have /, GertrudeW 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. l have nc
right to control her whatever"
"But your influence, mammal
"Will have very little effect if she
yets her heart on this Gage Redmond
Pray stop staring vacantly out of that
window, Gertrude, and attend to what
say. l want assistance in this matter"
"Please excuse me; am thinking of
my own affairs just now, mamma. They
may be of no consequence to you, but
my letter is matter of some Importance
to me-" e..f
/ did not mean to be saucy, only pet
5ish; but mamma, having had long ex-
peFience with her four headstrong girls,
bore with me patiently.
"Well, finish your letter, Gertrude, |
and then advise me-"
But my train of thought was broken,
md after a few moments put my sheet |
in the writing desk.
"What can't be accomplished openly |
must be done by stratage1n, mamma 1t |
IS probable that this Gage Redmond is |
after Patricia's money. She is great |
prize matrimonially. Well, you say |
Inn prettier than Patty. Suppose l play |
IecoyT
"Whatp' cried mamma.
'Mr. Redmond is dark and reserved. |
am fair and volatile. Don't you think !
ne will appreciate my style and beauty
f / take little pains to make him do |
IoT'
"But, Mr.. SherringtonW
f"IwiIl tell him. He will not object"
tIthink he will"
go, no; he viii be interested in the
rood of the family. He comes next
week Fortunately Patty is sick with
old, and Redmond can see but little of
ler till then"
Quite pleased with my scheme, | ran
upstairs to give Patricia her cough |
lrops, sitting down at the window Of her
oom, and bowling cordially to Mr.. Red |
nond, whom / could see writing in his
lncle's study, in the great mansion
house but that one window. He was
here a good deal, and 1 reflected that
Patty's blue silk curtains We're more be-
coming to my style of beauty than hers
'Pll bring my embro derry up and sit
With you, Patty" | said.