The Portland daily press., 1879-08-12
THE PRESS.
THE UNWILLING BRIDE.

civilized lanQ.
Thirty years ago, many men of broken
down fortunes from other states came to
northern Georgia with the hope that the
tickle goddess would prove kinder to them
in this new avenue to wealth than she had
deigned to be in other vocations.
Among these was family named Loser,
who had become much reduced in circum-
stances, and were as unsuited to their
present surroundings as it was possible for
people to be. Luis Loser was a middle
aged man, of singular grace of person and
elegance of manner; and his wife was a
FADED, helpless woman of fashion, torn
from her native sphere, and transplanted
to this uncongenial land against her own
consent.
Mrs. Loser had married twice. Her first
husbands name was Leslie, and daughter
of eighteen, named Kate, and one of four
teen years, named Edna, were her children
by her first marriage.
AT the time our story opens, Mrs. Loser,
a delicate-looking woman with peevlsh
expression on the face which had once been
radiant with the ephemeral beauty OF illles
and roses. lay on an old-fashioned sofa in
the spacious hall of the dwelling.
Her toilet correspondent with her sur.
roundings-a much-worn morning dress OF
dark silk with frayed trimmings, was finish
ed at the throat with tie OF cotfee-colored
lace, and pair of well-worn satin slippers
covered the small feet, thrust out as if
their owner was proud to display them.
Her slender, useless looking hands were
ornamented with glittering rings, and in
one of them she held a worn looking vol
ume which she seemed to be reading With
some interest.
Suddenly rush was heard, and Kate
Leslie, her daughter, came swiftly across
the veranda and entered the hall, carrying
in one hand a package of papers and let
tiers, and swinging from the other large
straw hat simply trimmed.
A more striking contrast to the inert
creature on the sofa could hardly have
been found. The girl was full of life, en-
ergy, ambitious to run a brilliant career,
and it was evident to those who knew her
that she did not intend to be disappointed
in her aspirations if the consummation OF
her wishes depended ON herself.
Kate was in the heyday of youth-a bril-
liant, sparkling brunette, the roses OF
health on her cheeks and lips, and The light
of hope and Joy in her dark, expressive
eyes. A magnificent suit of dark brown
hair with a CLINT of red in it gave character
to her bright face.
As Kate rushed across the floor toward
her mothers place of INDECENT repose, she
''Such lot of papers and letters never
came to this house at one time before! !
I've been to the Office. myself on FlyaWay.
Here is letter for you, mamma, all the
way from California, and by that token, if
did not recognize the writing, should
know that it is from Dick Stanton. Time
indeed that he should write, for it is two
years since we had line from him, and we
were all so good to him too.'
Mrs Loser flushed slightly as she took
Staunton's letter, opened it and eagerly
read its contents. She seemed to be both
interested and surprised, and her daughter
furtively watched her while she pretended
to arrange the rest of the mail on side
table.
"Well, do declared cried Mrs. Loser,
after a few moments. 81 wondered what
Dick had to say to me, but l suppose it was
best to write to me under the circumstan-
ces."
''What can you mean, mamma, and what
does Mr.. Staunton say? Am to conclude
that Dick has become millionaire, and
wants me to help him spend his money!"
'.Well, do declare! If you haven't hit
on the very thing itself. He doesn't say
that he's worth million, but he gives me
to understand that he is very rich and get
ting better off every day, and he's coming
him, he will stay in the east. and let his
partner manage his mining interests.
There! That's about all; and l think it is
quite enough to settle your destiny. 1t
would mine, if were in your place."
While her mother spoke, Kate had flush
ed scarlet, and then grown pale as death.
She asked, in breathless sort of way:
''Do you believe it is quite true? Do you
think Dick can really be in earnest|'
81 have no doubt he believes what he
says himself, and 1 see no reason why it
should not be true. Why do you grow so
pale. Kate? 1t must be all right, for you
liked him we'll enough when he was staying
here with us, and he made no secret of how
much in love with you he was. Indeed,
till lately. thought there was some sort of
promise between you"
"Why till lately?' asked Kate, hoarsely.
'sWell. do declare! as if you couldn't
answer that Yourself! If you had promised
Dick, did not think you would carry On
with Harry Conrad as you have done since
he came among us. It's regular Irritation,
and he's awfully in earnest, child, though
he hasn't foot of land he can call his own,
nor money in the bank either. Of course,
you will send him adrift now; you ought to
have done it when he first presumed to speak
to you of love-" Et-
'But liked him then, and | more than
like him now," said Kate, abruptly. Il
made a sort of bantering promise to Mr..
Staunton, but I had no idea he would ever
be in position to claim it. He asked me
the day before he left us if | would remain
single two years to give him chance to
make a fortune that would enable him to
place me in such position as | was born to
fill He had tried SO many things and failed at
them all, that thought it quite safe to re-
ply that / would wait ten years if he wished
it. He could not have believed that was
in earnest"
"But he evidently did, my dear, as you
will see when you read what he says. By
this tine Dick is on his way back, and he
may walk in on us any day, expecting
warm welcome from the girl for whom he
comes with a fortune in his hand. Read his
letter and you will see that he does not
mean to give you up."
With an air of listless detection Kate held
out her hand and accepted the letter offered
by her mother. AS she read the lines color
came back to her face, and her eyes sparkl-
ed with aroused temper. She crushed the
paper in her grasp, and scornfully said:
"What does Dick Staunton mean by say
ing that belong to him-that he is coming
to claim his own? That he will tolerate no
interference on the part of any one, and if
I have INDUCED in any girlish fancies l
must put them aside and prepare to well
come my true lord and master when he
comes to take me to himself? neuer bound
myself to him in any way, and WON'T
acOn't be dictated to by him in this manner"
Accustomed to her daughters mode of
expressing herself when greatly excited,
Mrs. Loser sank back on her seat and tran
gully replied:
SIT is natural to Dick to be masterful, and
he says no more than you have given him
a right to express. You admit that you
consented to wait for him, and, to man
like him, that meant everything that such
promise can imply"
''But never meant it. Oh, what shall L
do? What shall do?"
81 can easily tell you. Send Harry Conrad
away at once, and make him understand
that his dismissal is final. Think of the
magnificent future opening before you, and
prepare to receive with cordial welcome the
lover who comes to shower his hardly-earn-
ed gold upon you.'
Poor Kate left her mothers presence in
tempest of feeling it would be impossible to
portray. A fierce battle was raging within
her, and she also trembled before the dread
that she would never be permitted to reject
the lover who came with the power in his
hand to release those she tenderly loved
from the hopeless dreariness of their pres
ent existence.
A young, bright face, with nobility of
soul stamped upon every lineament, arose
before her. and she covered her face with