Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-08-06
DIAMOND OR PASTE.

want to get marriedP
Vivian Severn laughed, showing his
handsome teeth-a good humOred, Joyous
laugh, in no wise affected by his uncle's
sharp ungraciousness; for Mr.. Severn
had not been acquainted with Mr.. Daniel
Somerset 25 years for nothing.
as it so very alarming, Uncle Danielr'
he asked, promptly.
az think so. Alarming-yes, beyond
question. You're an extravaganza young
dandy, without an idea in your nOddle
besides the cut of your clothes or the
composition of buttOnhOle bouquet in
February, with no judgment greater than
that required to decide the flavor of the
soup at your club dinner. And you
want to get marriedp"
Vivian was used to it, and he knew the
irascible old bachelors bark was infin-
itely worse than his bite. He leaned
back in his chair and listened to the
patient TRADE.
"That may all be so, Uncle Daniel;
all the same, think BERTHE and l will
risk it,"
"Bertiep BERTHE who9"
"Miss Ethelbertha Gray, uncle"
"Why didn't you say so then2 A very
beautiful, accomplished girl-after you
because she supposes you are my heir"
"Uncle Danp
Vivian Strengthened up in his chair, a
sudden little fire in his blue eyes.
"Uncle Daniel, that is not true"
81 lie, do II Very we'll, sir. Pm used
to such accusations from you. Go ahead
and make consummate idiot of your
self, if you want tO-but mark my words,
you'll rue the day you ever married
Ethelbertha Gray. l know the ways of
the wOrld-I have been taught its treach-
cry, its policy, its utter want of human
kindness, before you were out OF dresses"
Mr.. Somerset jumped up from his chair
in a passion.
Don't speak to me about It'll Mind,
not another word, unless you wish to be
disinheritedp'
Then Vivian looked angry and rose
from his chair.
81 would not hesitate second between
your money and the woman love. DO
as you please; shall"
And after he had gone Mr.. Somerset
walked uneasily up and down his elegant
library, his forehead all puckered up,
his mouth cOntOrted in a savage p0ut,
his bright little grey eyes swapping and
flashing.
"The fool Not to see it is his money
only and solely his property that has
won the girl. know her. Pretty as a
picture, great big dark eyes and COM
plexiOn like lily leaf, and little red
mouth and yellow hair-a girl brought
up to paint on velvet and bet on races,
and fiirt through summer at Newport
and winter in the city. A pretty Vassar
college finished girl, whose sole end and
aim of life is to make good match. And
the young idiot imagines she is in love
with him."
Twenty-fOur hours later, just as Mr..
Vivian Severn was taking dinner at
DelmOnicO's waiter handed him note
from Uncle Daniel Somerset, in which
that gentleman, always very cratic in
his habits, briefly stated that he was off
for trip to the Yosemite valley, to be
gone for couple or three months, and
advised Vivian to consider what he said
to him on certain subject.
And Mr.. Severn folded up the note and
went on with his stuffed eggplant and
roasted turkey in discounted cOmpOsure.
81 wish he knew BERTHE BETTER" he
thought, with glad thrill of fond pride.
But it was destined that Mr.. Daniel
Somerset should never know pretty
BERTHE Gray any better; decreed by the
fate that he never even should see her
again; for six weeks later, as she set in
her elegant bOudOir, sewing some fOamy
lace in the neck and sleeves of black
velvet evening costume, Mr.. Vivian made
his appearance, pale and grave, as she
never had seen him before.
81 thought you were not coming till
evening, VIVIAN" she said, in sweet
way that showed how welcome he was.
"He took seat beside her little, low
chair, and gently, yet authOritively, took
the laces from her lap.
II have bad news for you my darling,
and 1 wanted to break it to you at once"
BERTHE nestled her little dimpled hands
in his. conidingly, alphabetically.
"Tell me, Vivian, at once. Only-with
YOU alive and we'll here beside me, no
news could be so very dreadful, because
know papa and mamma are both safe.
I saw them a minute ago. What is it,
dearp"
"My Uncle Somerset is dead, BERTHE, in
California, where he has been travelling
several weeks. always supposed was
heir to his three million dollars, butt
and his strong, brave voice quivered ever
so slightly-"fOr your sake am appalled,
to be notified that he has left all his
fortune to a charitable institution.
am beggar, Bertiep
"Her soft, dusky eyes grew wider and
more serious.
"Oh, vivianl A beggar! 1t sounds
awfulr"
eyes, it does. But l wouldn't care If
it wasn't for you, my darlingl 1t means
that must give you up, for am not
c0wardly enough to ask you to share
poverty with me on a clerkship of
thousand year."
She looked at him with rich crimson
flush surging into her cheeks and the
tears rushed to her eyes as she released