Connecticut western news., 1883-05-16
DID HE LOVE HER ?

0tS bb. LIVE 'En Georgette was born with silver spoon in her mouth; indeed, if mistake not, it was gold spoon, richly encrusted with jewels and bearing in it's bowl 8 monstrous lump of good fortune.
 In the first place, she was one of the iovliest girls ever saw, both in soul and body. Her beauty was of dark, mag nifcent type, which suggested to me the diminutive name of "Jet," by which always called her.
 She was barely twenty, and heiress fairly takes my breath away to write it -heiress to e6O,OOO, left her by her uncle. German of high rank, but sin gularly destitute of kindred.
 Georgettes mother had been an Ameri- can girl who had met young Rudolph Schubert during summer tour in the Rhineland.
 They had married against the wishes of Rudolph's family, who were greatly shocked at what they regarded as nse- sasSiarce. It was only after the lapse of years, when death seemed striving to ex- terminate the Schuberts, that the old Herr Uncle, as he was called, opened his heart to the orphan child of his dead brother.
 Georgette had been born in the United States, and she was an American to the hearts core. l remember having thought that afternoon when we sat out on the lawn together under the pink awning that there wasn't the slightest trace of her fathers nationality about her.
 She was sitting in camp-chair with a bit of delicate embroidery in her hands. There was g table near by on which high tea was to be served when Ralph Dearing and his mother arrived. Jet had invited them; but I should have known they were coming if she had not told me, for when did her eyes ever shine so brightly, or when were her cheeks so rich a crimson, as when this penniless barrister was near at handP
 Yes, Georgette was in love with him ; l saw it very plainly, and 1t made me uneasy. If I had only been sure of Ralph Dearing it wouldn't have bothered me an instant. But though it seemed most unlikely that he should not love her, l was haunted by mortal fear that her money had something to do with his devotion.
 Loving Jet, as only solitary old maid knows how to love, it was torture to me to think of my darling as the victim to the grovelling passion of mercenary man. I had never hinted to her the drift of my thoughts, but had made ur my mind to do so, and tried it that afternoon. Jet opened the way for me just as though she had known what ] meant to say.
 Emily" she said, "what would you say if were to get married ?"
 God bless you" answered prompt ly. "That is, of course, provided the match was all that it should be-
 What-what do you-think of Ralpl Dearing ?"
 She was bending low over her work but saw that she was blushing.
 " Are you going to marry him, Jet ? l asked quickly.
 "No-o-that is-I don't know. Tt tell the truth, he hasn't asked me. Blu l thinks he means to-"
 ''Of course
 "If he were to, what would you d, about it 2''
 'I looked up in suprise, for I knev that she loved him with her who'll !. generous soul.
 'I think I would try to find out hi motive, said bIuntly.
 "He loves meat least he has tolt me so," she answered softly. "And- and think I can trust him!
 "He told you he loved you, and ye went no further p I cried. "That wa unmanly, Jet; hope you did not listel to him."
 She blushed still more deeply.
 "He would ask me if he dared" sh said, defending him not only by word but by expression. ''But he-he think Il know he feels there is differenc in our positions.
 Decidedly" l said laconically, fo what she had told me gave me yer unfortunate impression.
 "He IS very proud and sensitive, she added, and would have said more but I took her hand and spoke to he with great gravity.
 "Jet," I said tenderly, ''you kno, that I have no other wish than to SC you happy. Forgive me, then, if what say wounds you, but cannot help fee ing that Ralph Dearing may ha, thought quite as much of your fortur as of yourself.
 "Do you know" she said, with lit catch in her breath, "that has trouble me, too. It would kill me if I were find it out"
 "No." I answered; "not unless yc found it out too late to avert the cons quences.
 ssBut could not give him up," sl cried. "I wish I were poor, then would know whether he loved me f myself ?
 The tears started in her eyes. and b xed lpa quiYexed,