The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-10-17
GERTRUDE'S STRATEGEM.


Nv sister Patricia was an heiress.
Strange enough, for we had always been
terribly poor down at Lowblidge, my
widowed mother bringing up her four
daughters with the greatest difficulty ;
but, when brought up, were worth look.
ing at, I believe. Healthy habits and
frugal living Are apt to make good condi
lion, and Bess and Amy and Patricia and
/ were as handsome girls as are often
seen.
Be8s and Amy were twins, With eyes as
blue as the sea, near which they were
born, rosy cheeks, and loDg light brown
curl8; Patricia was sparkling brunette ;
while was 8 perfect blonde, with crinkled
hair, like molten gold, Great had been
our excitement when Aunt BETTY wrote
from Fairhaven:
DEAR sIsrEa-Iy-1Aw: IT am going, to
do myself the pleasure of visiting you
this summer. hear that Brother Abel
left four girls, and want to see them. /
am getting on in years and will make one
Of them my heiress. =" .'
Aunt Betty, Of Fairhaven, was worth
100000, if she vas worth cent.
WE'LL 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, coach.nan and carriage,
but fortunately that was close by, aud she
spent the larger half Of three days with
ug.
We all 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 !. 1t
was Patricia.
"where did that girl get her black
bair?" Aunt Betty asked, as soon as
she saw her.
Il think she looks like my brother
Luke, don't you?" asked my mother, with
vistful 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 tc
have power over her. -......
She looked at4'Patricia until the girl
blushed rosy red, and would of slipped
out of the room when she called to her
and drawing her down upon her knees OF
footstool before her, she put 3 gvithered
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 sent The twins, who wert
only l6, t3 school for two years, ano
invited me. with Patricia, to the Hermit
age
II asher home-a stately old mansion
Of gray stone, gloomy locking on the
outside, bat luxurious!y comfortable
within, without being in lhe least modern
We had each asmaid, and a free use. B
the horse and. carriage. After making
this PROVISION :. for our Comfort, AunN
Betty excused herself from making com
pany Of us, and we we're as free as air L
enjoy ourselves as we chose, provided w
did net interfere with Aernap We chost
to make d great many acquaintances
guided conscientiousIy BY Aunt Betty
wisdom, and the result vas. that I returned
to Lowbridge in the summer engaged te
Mr.. Clyde shetrington. tie was wealthy
handsome, agreeable, well connected
Everybody'aai Gertrude has done vel
for herself" ss ..
That Autuma Aunt Betty died. Patt
was I'd cameinte possession Of ofheFfortun
in year,Y whene.she was 2l-foll an'
undisputed possession Of 100000.
1t was arranged that We UeFeRali 7
come to the Hermitage u live. We di'
50, and lived there quietly. as was beeom
ing for nearly . year, Ehen Patricia mad
the acquaintance Of Mr. Gage Redmond
She met hia Erst At . fonsral-of q