Sharp County record., 1888-02-23

forgotten it was the fourteenth.
"Twop'
! Yes! Oh, mamma, lOOkn'
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 paruro Of glitter
ing diamonds flashing up where 4
stray sunbeam fell upon them into q
| glorious sea Of color.
Leon Paynem cried Gertie. Are
they not exquisite?'
Mrs. Jamesoa's lips quivered q little
as she looked at her daughter flushed
face and bright eyes and her heart
sent up 4 silent but fervent PRAYER for
the future trembling before her eyes.
Look at the other, she said,
quietly.
Only 4 copy Of verses" said Ger
tie. Violet eyes and all that sort Of
thing. But are not these diamonds
magnificent? It is the very set I adj
mired so much when we were out the
other day
"Gertie, it is eleven O'Clock, and I
must 20 to Mrs. Lewis Little daugh-
ter, you may have callers while I 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 10 the shadow
land. The luxurious country home
where she and Jane, her elder sister,
were born, was sold, and 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 a large seminary
and Gertie to have singing scholars
at home; but even with these additions
their income was very limited.
Close economy, selt-deniaI, humble
fare and quiet dress, Gertie could re-
call much more distinctly than the
wealth her father had squaudered and
lost. Where did Harry Clarke come
upon the scene2 Gertie 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 4 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 sufficed to clothG the young
clerk, but he had been winning his
s-.~ayy-tn sfp horse-vf f1fgrshurn 50 Go. :,
and now if he could made three thou
sand dollars, might be partner The
farm might sell for part of that sum,
but where was the rest to come frOma
queried Gertie.
Yet, over Halry'5 memory picture
the little maiden fingered lOngingly
There was no part of her life so
pleasant to 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, 50 honOra-
BILE and true; so respectful to his moth
er, so tender to James betrothed,
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 sacrifice?
Leon Payne camein only six months
before this muslng fit fell upon Gertie.
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. Gertie sighed-and
wealth. But tho young girl knew with
a wOman's intuition that under the
cOurtly manner iattering attentions,
and devoted air there was a hard,
selfish nature, a cruel jealousy. and a
suspicious 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 words aloud, as she rose and
walked across the room. "Do I love
Leon Payne? If he should lose his
wealth, would be 4 true, loving wife
to him still? Could | wear old bum
nets and turned dresses for his sake2'
She took up the diamonds and put
them on while she spoke. They flash
ed brilliantly against the deep crim-
son of her neat dress and heightened
the effect of her young, fresh beauty.
If he were poor and i'll, could I
work for him as-as l could do for
HarryP" It burst from her lips in
sOTt Of A cry and she tore off the low