Daily Republican., 1879-08-15
THE UNWILLING BRIDE

THE UNWILLING BRIDE,
The northern part Of Georgia is a
wild, picturesque country. The gold
found in this region had, in earlier
days, drawn to the vicinity adventure
ers from nearly every civilized land.
Thirty years ego, many men OF bro
ken down fortunes from other States
came to northern Georgia with the hope
that the fickle goddess would prove
kinder to them in this new avenue to
wealth than she had deignedI to be in
other vocations.
Among these were family named
Loser, who had become much reduced
in circumstances and were as unsuited
10 their present surroundings as 1t was
possible for people to be. Lnis Loser
was middls-aged man, of singular
grace OF person and elegance Of manner;
and his wife was faded, helpless wo-
man of fashion, torn from her native
sphere, and transpianted to this uncon-
genial land against her own con-
sent.
Mrs. Loser had married twice. Her
first husbands nams was Leslie, and a
daughter of eighteen, named Kate, and
one of fourteen years, named Edna,
were her children by her FIRST mar
riage.
At the time cur story opens, Mrs.
Loser, q delicate looking woman with a
peevish expression on the face which
had once been radiant with the ephe-
neral beauty Of lilies and roses, lay on
an old fashioned sofa in the spacious
hall of the dwelling.
Her toilet eorresponded with her sur
roundings-e much worn morning dress
of dark silk with frayed trimmings,
was finish ed at the threat with tie Of
coffee -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 ornamehted with glittering rings,
and in one OF them she held worn
looking volume which she seemed to be
Ttdulup WIN bOIA0
Suddenly a rush was heard, and
Kate Leslie, her daughter, came swiftly
across the veranda and entered the hall,
carrying in one hand package OF pa
pers and letters, and swinging from
the other large straw hat sinply trim
med.
A more striking gcontrast to the inert
creature on the sofa could hardly have
been found. The girl was full of life,
energy, ambitious to run brilliant
career, and it was evident to those who
knew her that she did not intend to be
disappointed in her aspirations if the
consumn alton Of her wishes depended
on herself.
Kate was in the heyday of youth-a
brilliant, sparkling brunette, the roses
of healtk Oh her cheeks and lips, and
the light OF hope and joy iu her dark,
expressive eyes. A magnificent suit
of dark Brown hair with CLINT of red
in it gave character to her bright lovely
face.
As Kate rushed across tn floor to-
ward her mothers place of indolent
repose, she exclaimed in clear, ringing
tones
1'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 recog-
nize 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 80 good to him tool"
Mrs. Loser flushed slightly as she
took Stanton'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.
swell, | do declared" cried Mrs.
Loser, after few moments. 81 won
dered 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 to
conclude that Dick has become mil
lionaire, and wants me to help him
spend his money!"
"Well, | do declare! II you haven't
hit on the very thing itself. He doesn't
saw that he's worth a million, but he
gives me to understand that he is very
rich and getting better off every day,
and he's coming back here after you.
II You will marry him, he will stay in
the East, and let his partner manage
his mining interests. There! That's
about all: and think 1t is quite enough
to settle your destiny. 1t would mine,
if were in your place.
While her mother spoke, Kate had
flushed scarlet, and then grown pale as
death. She asked, in a hreathless sort
OF a way:
$40 you believe 1T is quite true3 Do
YOU think Dick can really be in ear
Lest"
II have no doubt he believes wha.
h. saws 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 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 prom
iss bstween you."
"Why till lately 7" asked Kate,
hoarsely. ...a
"Well, i do declare as If you couldn't
answer that yourself If you had prom
ised Dick, l did not think you would
carry on with Harry Conrad as you
have done since he came among us. It's
regular firtation, and he's awfnlly
in earnest, child, though he hasn't a
foot Of land he can call his own, nor