Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-02-03

malicious; for Erancla DOrmer took In
at glance Gertrude's beauty, and she
was not yet secure of Eric Chumleigh's
b. art.
She nodded carelessly.
The governess, l suppo5eg Come,
! Eric, tie count Is downstairs, and
wants to consult You about something
whether tomatoes will grow in
Saxony, believe. He has learned to
dote on them, and wishes garden OF
them around bis castle"
| Eric took leave with a polite bow,
and Rod, who had been silent for the
space of tive minutes, said:
hate Francia Dormer. She's q
snake!s
/ Gertrude kept the irrepressible ones
quiet till their tea time with her inven-
tions She lad some talent IN that line,
rand felt glad and relieved to find that
she held most potent weapon to be
used in her new kingdom.
Rod had really an active mind, and
1 she won him by her praise; Nina fol-
lowed his example; and when he found
he could gain the pleasure of hearing q
story by diligence, he began to apply
/ himself.
| Eric said the children were growing
SO tolerable he quite enjoyed looking in
on them once in {. while; to which Rod
replied: !" What makes you look at
Miss Gertrude.all the time, then II
Gertrude blushed. and began to feel
uncomfortable about the visits.
Sometimes GEL ltrude was requested TO
come down in the evening to play, and
! then she saw Bertha and her betrothed.
The elder sister was too busy just now
to look into the scho0lro0m. Her In
! tended, Won ArnheiEi, who was an
officer in the Prussian army, was a
rather stolid- looking German, with
scant blonde hair, good natured blue
eyes and beaming smile. Bertha was
sallow, but had fine dark eyes ssnd
dazzling white teeth.
Sometimes Francia bestowed her
company and confidence on Gertrude;
at others she assumed naughty and dis
tant airs. She delighted In oulre
toilets, wore the most wonderful COM
binations, glowed and glittered like
some rare tropical bird. So the months
went on of that winter, and the wedding
day drew near.
How do look ?" exclaimed Francia
one night as she opened the schoolroom
door. Goodp hoped the imps were
| in bed. Heavens and earth how hate
childrenl Ipity you, Miss Winthrop!
| suppose you dream OF an escape some
day some fairy prince will open your
prison with a golden keyl''
No; expect nothing" answered
Gertrude. '' am trying to cultivate
the spirit which TennysOn eulogizes !:
g Not to desire or admire is better by far
Than to walk all day like the sultans OF old in
a garden of spice."'
$50 away, Francia Dormer," cried
Rod. from the next room. You keep
me awake with your chatter. You're
worse than nigStmsTe."
"Oh, you angel! are you awakeP"
cried the girl. Then goodbye. Miss
Winthrop. Comfort is at an end. You'll
have the house to yourselves tomorrow !;
we're off on an excursion, all Of us. The
snow is just right, SO hard and white
bah! what a poor fire you have" And
she disappeared.
eShe has everything" thought Ger
trude, beauty and fortune (she had
heard fabulous accounts of Francia's
estates in Cuba), 'sand she will win
Eric at last-who can doubt itpn
Still Gertrude, remembering certain
words and looks, did doubt it in her
heart. The next morning, when the
party whirled away and she saw Eric
tuck in the sables about Francia, and
heard the CHEEKY sound OF their voices,
the old schoolroom looked very cod
and bare; and she took up the dogs
cared history very absently.
Enter Betsey with note and q bouquet
cream white camelias, blue heliotrope
and crimson bouvardia.
"Sure they was both left thegither,
O ~ Eor
as the post-by brought the letther"
Gertrude dropped the history and
gloated over the flowers in delight. She
had never owned bouquet Of hot-house
flowers before, and then she knew
whose kind heart had remembered her
when all the others were absorbed in
their own pleasure. 1t seemed as if
they would make the whole day fra
grant. She had almost forgotten the
note.
There was only one person in the
world to write to her, so she opened
the note leisurely as those do who have
little to hope or fear. But as she read
she started anxiously. Betsey had not
lett the room.
.sOh, must co. she said, decidedly.
/" shall have to give the children holi-
day; shall have to leave them in your
care. My aunt is very sick and alone.
will return this evening If can ar
range things. You will explain to Mrs.
Chumleigh if am not here"
Sure and wull that. said the girl
good -naturedly, and q holiday viii do
the young wons good.
ssGolly, a holiday!n cried Rod, in
great ecstasy. "Oh, I've got famous
planr'
No michief," said Gertrude, anx-
iously; /" shall think of you.n
"Oh, wen be quiet; you'll be SO
plea sed ~ exclaimed the boy, with do
ciIity that would have alarmed Gertrude
if she could have stopped TO think about
it.
As it was, she hurried her prepara-
tions only remembering to take the
flowers with her, as she thought they
might cheer the sick room, to say moth
ing of her own reluctance to lose sight
of them.
Her ride in the cars lastes. only half
an hour, and she found herself before the
little brown cottage which was the only
home she remembered, as she had been
left an orphan to this aunt's care in her
earliest childhood. Poor and plain as
everything appeared a thrill came over
her at sight of it, and she hurried with
real anxiety into the house, whose door
stood open.
Aunt Rachel was in bed, and neigh
boris girl had come in to wait on her.
The old woman had q sweet, patient
face, and her eyes lighted up as she saw
the young girl in whom all her love and
earthly hopes we're centered.
: feared bad done wrong to send
fnr Won ,, she said - by.f there was a