National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-11
THE UNWILLING BRIDE.

turesque country. The gold found in this
region had, in earlier days, drawn to the vi
entity adventurous from nearly every civil
lied land.
Thirty years ago many men ofbroken-down
fortunes from other States came to northern
Georgia with the hope that the fclSlo 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 circumstances
and were as unsuited to their present surround
ings as IL was possible for people to be. Luis
Loser was a middle.aged man, of singular
grace of person aud elegance of manner; and
his wife was faded, helpless woman of fashion,
torn from her native sphere, and transplanted
to this uncongenial land against her own con-
sent.
Mrs. Loser had married twice. Her first
husbands name was Leslie, and a daughter
of eighteen, named Kate, and one Of fourteen
years, named Edna. were her children by her
first marriage.
AT the time our story opens, Mrs. Loser,
delcate.ooking woman with apeevish express
sion on the face which had once been radiant
with the ephemerel beauty OF lilies and roses,
lay on an old-fashoned sofa in the spacious
hall of tho dwelling.
Her toilet correspondent with her surround
ings-a much.worn morning dress of dark
silk with frayed trimmings was finished at
the throat with tie of coiIee.colored lace, and
pair of wcll-worn satin slippers covered the
small feet, thrust out as If their owner was
proud to display them
Her slender, useless.looking hands were or
namentcd with glittering rings and in one of
them she held worn-ooking volume which
she seemed to DO reading with some interest
Suddenly rush was heard, and Kate Les
lie. her daughter, came swiftly across the
veranda and entered the hail. carrying in one
hand q package Of papers and letters, and
swinging from the other q large straw hat sim
ply trimmed.
A more striking contrast to the inert crea-
ture on the sofa could hardly have been
found. The girl was full of life, energy am
bilious to run brilliant career, and it was
evident to those who knew her that she did
not intend TO BIO disappointed in her aspira-
tons if tho contamination OF her wishes de-
pended on herself
Kate was in tho heyday of youtll-a bril-
liant, sparkling brunette, tho roses of health
on her cheeks aud lips aud the light of hopo
and Joy in hor dark, expressive eyes. A mag
nifcent suit of dark brown hair with u CLINT
of red in it gave character to her bright
| face.
As Kate rushed across the floor toward her
mothers place of indolent repOse she ex-
claimed in clear, ringing tones:
| "Such u 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, l should know that it is from Dick
| Staunton. 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 toow
Mrs. Loser flushed slightly us she took
Staunton's letter, opened it and eagerly read
| its contents. She seemed to be both inter
estcd and surprised, and her daughter fur
lively watched her while sho pretended to ar
range the rest of tho mail on a side table.
| "Well DO declare |" cried Mrs. LOSER after
| q few moments 81 wondered what Dick had
to say to me, but suppose it was best to write
to me under the circumstances"
"What can you mean, mamma, and what does
Mr.. Stanton say? Am 1 to conclude that
| Dick has become a millionaire, and wants me
to help him spend his moneyp
| "We, l do declare! If you haven't hit on
the very thing ITSELF He doesn't say that he's
worth million, but he gives mo to under
stand that he is very rich and getting better
off every day, and he's coming back here after
you. If you will marry him he will stay in
| the East and let his partner manage his min.
| lHtcIcoto. ihoAo' ihap
l think it is quite enough to settle your
destiny. 1t would mine, if 1 were in your
place."
While her mother spoke Kate had flushed
scarlet, and then grown pale as death. She
asked, in breathless sort of way;
do you believe it is quito true2. Do you
think Dick can really be in earnestW
81 have no doubt lie believes what no says
himself, and 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 well
enough when he was staying here with u.s.
and he made no secret of how much In love
with You he was. Indeed, till lately l thought
there was some sort Of promise between YOU
"Why till lately?' asked Kate, hoarsely."
"Woll l do declare as ii you couldn't an
swer that yourself! If you had promised
Dick did not think you would carry on with
| Harry Conrad rs you have done since no came
among us. It's n regular Irritation, and he's
awfnly in earnest, child, though he hasn't O
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 1t whom
he first presumed to speak to you of love-"
"But liked him then, and | more than like
him now" said Kate, abruptly. IL made
a sort of bantering promise to Mr. Staunton
but had no idea he would ever be in a posi-
ton to claim it, He asked me the day befor,
he left us If l would remain single two years
| to give MN n CnnnCe 10 make fortune tna
would enable him to place mo in such posi-
ton as 1 was born to fill, He had tried Sc
many things and failed at them all, that
thought it quite safe to reply that l would
wait ten years If he wished 1t. He could moi
have believed that was In earnest"
"But he evidently did, my dear, as You will
SEQ when you read what he says. BY this
time Dick is on his way back, and he may
walk in on us any day, expecting warm vel
come from the girl for whom he comes with Q
fortune in his hand. Read his letter and you
will see that he does not mean to give you
up"
With an air of listess 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 sparklod witt
aroused temper She crushed the paper In hei
grasp and scornfully said
what does Dick Staunton mean by saying
that belong to him-that he is coming Ia
claim his own? That he will tolerate no in
reference on the part ofany one, and i'll have
INDUCED IN any girlish fances must put them
aside and prepare to welcome my truo lord and
master when he comes to take me to himselff
neper bound myself to him in any way, and
won't-I uon't be dictated to by him in thi:
manner"
Accustomed to her daughters mode of ex'
pressing herself when greatly excited, Mrs
| Loser sank back on hor seat and TRANQUILITY re.