St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-02-11
TRUE TO HERSELF.
Gertie's Two Valentines, and tho
Choice She Made.

'.It is such bother to be poor!'
There had been a long interval oi
silence i'm Mrs. Jameson's little sitting
room, when Gertie made this exclama-
ton.
What is the new bother Gertie?"
The pleased voice and look of kind
~ inquiry made the young girl blush
deeply as she replied:
'-Oh. mamma, never mind. was
only thinking aloud"
Thinking of whatf'
OF some velvet flowers I saw yes
terday at Lees. which just matched
this ribbon" and Gertie held up bon
net she was trimming. '.Vclvet flow
ers are so lovely for a winter bonnet
and this one needs something"
Il am sure it looks very nice,
Gertie."
''Nice!" said the girl. with scornful
EN-. 'hasis; Eyes, it is very nice. and
that turned silk is nice, and the short
sack made out of your old cloak is
nice. and cleaned gloves are mic e
and"--
"Why. Gertier' cried her mother, in
voice of amazemcnt
But there is nothing stylish or
handsome in cleaned gloves. and re-
trimmed bonnets. and old cloaks turned
into sacks. and SO I say poverty is a
bother"
''Gertie. put away the bonnet and
come here. Now. little daughter"
said the widow, gently. tell me the
meaning of this sudden TRADE against
poverty; of the restless tossing l heard
from your room last night; of the
nervous unquiet of my contented little
girl since yesterday?'
There was no answer.
''Gertie. what did Leon Payne say
to you last EVENING""
He asked me to be his wife" The
words were jerked out hastily.
"And you answered.
'Janc came In to shut up the parlor,
not knowing he was there. and she
stayed; SO he had no answer at all"
But he must be answered. Gertic.
He has spoken to me, and 1 told him
1t must rest with you.''
"Mammar' this was after a long.
deep silence. He is very rich. When
he marries his wife can have every
luxury. lift it is me, we can have
You with us, and Jane need not teach
IN that horrid school any longer. We
were on - street the other day, and
stopped to look in jewelers. window,
and he pointed out the kind of Jewels
nc would wish his wife to wear. II
need not wear old silks then, mammar'
Then You intend to accept his Of
fer?"
Il don't know. You sec, here is
Harry"
But Harry can not offer You Jew.
els"
mo. poor Harry! If he had only
three thousand dollars Mr. Ingraham
would take him into the firm. He
told me all about it last week. But
think how long it will take him to
save three thousand dollars. and of
course his wife must save and pinch
aud economics till he is able to spend
more freely"
''Yes, dear. there would be no yari-
alton on the returned cloth and re.
trimmed bOnnets. no velvet flowers
no jewels"
But such a noble. true heart, such
tender lover
Leon Payne loves YOU"
AS much as he loves any thing be.
yond his own pleasure and comfort.
He is so thoroughly selfish. SO hard.
and thinks SO much of himself 1t is
his wife that must be handsomely
dressed. ride in her carriage AMI re-
fleet credit upon his choice. Mamma.
he loves me because am pre- tty and
can sing well and can manage his
house nicely. Harry loves me because
il is me-"
There was sudden. violent jerk at
the door-bell at that instant that
called Gcrtic to the door. She came
back with flying feet
Two valentines. mamma. / had
forgotten it was the fourteenthr'
..Two?"
Yes! oh. mamma. lookr'
She had torn off the cover from a
dainty package in her hand and opened
a morocco case inside. Upon the black
velvet lining lay a parurc Of glitter
ing diamonds flashing up where
stray sunbeam fell upon them into q
glorious sea Of color.