The Grenada gazette., 1888-02-18

Yes! Oh. mamma, lookr'
She had torn off the cover from
dainty package in her band and opene,
morocco case inside. Upon tho blacl
velvet lining lay a parure of glitter
ing diamonds flashing up whore .
stray sunbeam fell upon them into ;
glorious sea of color.
Leon Payne!' cried Gerlie. 'Ar,
they not exquisite?'
Mrs. Jameson's lips quivcred little
as she looked at her daughters flushed
face and bright eyes. and her hear
sent up a silent but fervent prayer fol
the future trembling before her eyes.
Look At the other she said,
quietly.
Only copy Of verses" said Ger.
tie Violet eyes and all that sort OF
thing. But are not these diamonds
magnificent L. is the very set ad.
mired so much when we were out the
other day."
"Gcrtie, it is eleven o'clock. and
must go to Mrs. Lewis. Little daugh.
ter, You may have callers while am
out" She drew her child into her
arms and looked with anxious love
into her eyes. "Gertie, my darling.
be true to your own heart" And so
she left her.
| True to her own heart. Gertie
Jameson sat down to ponder over the
words. The diamonds flashed out
their glorious waves of light before
her eyes; the copy of verses lay open
upon the little workable, and Gartie
sat musing. Pictures of the past came
in rapid succession into her memory.
1t was ten years ago. but she could
still remember the day, since her
father had been called to the shadow
land. The luxurious country home
where she and Jane, her elder sister,
were born, was sold. aud they had
come to the city. Her mother, one of
the finest amateur pianists of her time,
had begun to teach music. and they
had lived upon her earnings until
Jane was old enough to take the
French class in large seminary
and Gertie to have singing scholars
at home; but even with these additions
their income was very limited.
Close economy, seli-dcnial. humble
fare and quiet dress, Gertic could re.
call much more distinctly than the
wealth her father had s9uandered and
lost. Where did Harry Clarke come
upon the sccneo Gerte scarcely
knew. He was step-son Of her
mothers brother. and had come to
the city to make his fortune. Far away
in the Central part of Pennsylvania
nestled small farm where Harry was
born. where father and mother had
died, and which was the boys sole
patrimony. The rent of this domain
scarcely suficed to clotho the young
clerk. but he had been winning his
way in the house of Ingraham & Co..
and now. if he could made three thou
sand dollars. might be a partner The
farm might sell for part Of that sum,
but where was the rest to come from?
qnrried Gertie.
Yet. over Ha,ry's memory picture
the little maiden fingered longingly.
There was no part of her life SO
pleasant 10 dwell upon as that where
he figured. Long walks and talks,
duets over the old piano, chats by fire.
light. moonlight and gaslight. He
was so tender and loving, SO honora-
bic and true; so respectful to his moth
er, so tender to James betrothed, a
fellow clerk. who was waiting the
turn Of fortunes wheel that would en-
able him to marry. Was not such
love as he offered worth any sacrificeP
Leon Payne came in only six months
before this muslng fit fell upon Gcrtie.
She had met him at musical party. |
She had bewitched him by her pretty.
piquant beauty. her grace and her
voice; he had dazzled her by his hand
some face Harry was not handsome.
poor fellow. Gertio sighed-and
wealth But the young girl knew with |
n woman's intuition that under the |
courtly manner, flatteriDg attentions.
aud devoted air there was a hard, |
selfish nature, a cruel jealousy. and a
and hot temper. Yet. he
was so rich. and Gertie knew all the
torture and misery of genteel poverty.
BE true TO my own heart!" She
said the word, aloud. as she rose and
walked across the room. ''Do ! love
Leon PayneP II he should lose his
wealth. would l be true. loving wife |
to him siill2 Could l wear old bun.
nets and turued dresses for his sake?"
She took up the diamonds and put
them on while she spoke. They flash
ed brilliantly against the deep Grim.
son Of her neat dress and heightened
the effect Of her young, fresh beauty.
III he were poor and i'll, could l |
work for him as-as ! could do for |
Harry?" 1t burst from her lips in a |
sort Of cry. and she tore of the Jew
els and replaced them on their velvc,
5sd. Il could bear all this for Harry. |
but not for Leon Payne. Twill be true
TO my own heart"