The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-09-21
6.
"Morris, l must tell you how sor r,

"Morris, l must tell you how sof ~
feel Tor you and Uncle john
"Thank you," he said, gravely, cover
ing the little white hand upon his arm
with his own; II will tell my uncle
what You say"
"Tell him." she said, earnestly. THAT
he has no fliend who feels more deeply
sny misfortune that can happen to
him"
II will carry your message. And
will YOU wish me God speed, too. Clar-
ice shall sail for California in few
days"
The large, brown eyes dilated, while
the sweet face grew white as snow. The
blow was too sudden. Without word
or murmur, Clarice fell forward. faint
ing. Morris caught her in his arms
and carried her to the library. 1t was
dark there, and no one saw the kiss he
pressed upon the pale lips before he
put Clarice gently upon the sofa and
left her. He did not linger again in
the hall. Snatching his coat and hat
hurriedly from the rack, he strobe into
the street and walked rapidly home
ward.
Five wears pass swiftly, and Meta
Cresswell had altered little when five
years after her parting Interview with
Morris Tucker, she stood in the wide
drawing-room Of her mothers house,
waiting to greet number OF invited
prests. Time had matured her beauty
and had taken nothing from her great
est attractions. Clarice, shy as ever,
and pretty as violet, stood near her
sister. while Mrs. Cresswell, magniti-
cent in velvet and diamond, spoke hur-
riedly:
Here is strange news, Meta. Mr..
Jarvis has asked permission to bring
f. end. and who do yon suppose it is!"
"I cannot guess" ssid Meta lang
uidlv: "some musical man, suppose,
as Mr.. Jarvis is 80 devoted TO Euterpe.
"No, it lis Morris Tucker! Oh. Meta,
am so glad you have not positively
accepted young Cooke"
II thought you we're very anxious 10
he mother in law to his two hundred
thousand dollars!"
"But not since I have heard Mr., jar
Wis news. Ny love, John Tucker had
some land claims in California, that
Morris hunted up and sold for more
than double young Cookies fortune. He
has come home now. and is settling his
uncle's estate, being his.heir for every
thing"
"Uncle John dead!" cried Clarice.
"Yes, more than year ago. though
Morri. has just returned. The belll
Some one is coming!"
In the crowded drawing room. an
hour later, Morris Tucker bent grace
fully over Metals hand, and responded
politely tv her coIdIal greeting. He
met ali her advances with such evident
pleasure in his welcome, that her heart
beat high with hope. Life had been q
struggle for rich husband ever since she
had made her debut in society, and now
there was one paying her deferential
attention upon whose heart she had
once made deep impression. Would he
forget that cruel parting interview, and
lay his fortune once more at her feet?
Mr.. Cooke, young man, about half-
witted. possessor Of two hundred thou
sand dollars, watched the brilliant
beauty who had smiled so sweetly upon
him all winter with jealous eyes, after
Morris entered the room, but Meta for
got HIM in her newborn hope. All the
evening Morris hovered about Meta,
wondering where Clarice had hidden
herself; but when the supper call thin
ned the rooms, Meta missed her caval-
ier. In the conservatory Morris had
seen a vision of = golden head and
white, futtering dress; and Clarice,
half hidden by Towering serene, saw
him desert Meta to come beside her.
Longing to see him, in an agony OF
maideply sharfe at the secret she had
revealed when they parted. she had hid
den there to watch him unseen. But
he came swiftly across the hower>hor-
dered path to her side, and taking her
hand in his. said:
"Clarice 1 have come all the way
from California to try to win your love!
Little one, with all my heart / love you.
My sole hope of happiness is the hope
that you will be my wife. Must / go
back again desoIate, or will you bid me
stay?"
She looked into the earnest face, the
pleading eyes, and her heart grew faint
with its own happiness as she whisper
ed:
.Stay, for love you, Morris" :"
Meta saw the sister she had always
despised for her timidity, and the lover
she had thrown aside in his poverty,
enter the drawing room together. and
her heart wa. full of jealous anger, a.
she read their secret in their happy
faces.
She has been Mrs. Cooke for three
years-the miserable wife of jealous
miser. whose sole aims in life are to
save money, and to keep his wife out OF
society. In their unhappy home there
is constant quarrelling, while Morris
blesses every hour the temporary pow
erty that led him to appreciate the
heart Of his little wife, and won for him
knowledge of the treasure Of her love.
There is q toddling boy named John,
who calls Morris "papa;" and in the
peaceful happiness of her home life and
motherlove. Clarice is rapidly conquer
ing her timidity. and letting the world
Of society see. sometimes, what an ao-
complished, graceful lady Morris has
won for his wife,
And Morris, holding her to his heart,