The New York herald., 1879-08-11
LITERATURE.
THE UNWILLING BRIDE.

The northern part Of Georgia is wild. picturesque
| country. The gold found in this region had, in
earlier days, drawn to the vicinity adventurers from
| nearly every civilized land.
Thirty years ago many men OF broken down for
tunes from other States came to Northern Georgia
with the hope that the tickle goddess would prove
| kinder to them in this avenue to wealth than
she had degned 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 surroundings as it was
| possible for people to be. Luis Loser middle
aged man. OF singular grace of person and 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
Mrs Loser had married twice. Her first husbands
name was Leslie. and 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, delicate
| looking woman with q peevish expression on the
| face which had been radiant with the ephe
| neral beauty of lilies and roses, lay Oh old
fashioned sofa in the spacious hall of the dwelling
| Her toilet correspondent with her surroundings-a
| much worn morning dress of dark silk with frayed
trimmings was finished at the throat with tie of
| slippers covered the small feet, thrust out az if
their owner proud to display them. N
Her slender. useless looking hands were orna-
mented with glittering rings. and III one of them
| she held worn looking volume which she seemed
| to be reading with some interest.
Suddenly rush was heard and Kate Leslie her
| daughter. came swiftly across the verahda and
tered the hall. carrying in one hand package Of
| papers and letters and swinging from the other
| large straw hat simply trimmed.
| more striking contrast to the inert creature on
the could hardly have been found. The girl
full of life energy. ambitious to run brilliant ca
reer and il evident to those who knew her that
sue did not intend to be disappointed in her aspra-
tions II the contamination or her wishes depended
| on herself
Kate was in the heyday of youth-a brilliant.
and lips aud the light Of hope and joy in her dark.
expressive eyes. magnificent suit OF dark brown
hair with CLINT Of red in it, gave character to her
AS Kate rushed across the floor toward her moth
ers place OF indolent repose. she exclaimed. in
..Such q lot OF papers and letters never came to
this house at one time Defore I've been to tie Of
fce myself on Flyaway. Here is a letter for you.
mamma, all the way from California; and by that
token. II did not reco1Lize the ting. should
know that it is from Dick staunton. Time. indeed.
q line from him. and we were all 30 good TO him.
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
| 20 arrange the rest OF the mail a side table.
'well. do declared! cri d Mrs. Loser. after few
moments. II wondered what Dick had to say to
me. but suppose It was best to write to me under
| the circumstances"
| Staunton say? Am to conclude that Dick has be-
come millionaire. and wants me to help him spend
| his money!
very thing itself He doesn't say that he's worth
million but he gives me to understand that he IL
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 aud let his partner manage
his mining interests. Thers That's about all and
think 1t is quite enough to settle destiny 1t
| would mine. II were in your place.
| While her mother spoke Kate had flushed scarlet.
and then grown pale as death. She asked. in
''Do you believe it is quite true? Do you think
| Dick can really be in earnesty
II have no doubt he believes what he says himself
| and see reason why 1t should be true. Why
do you grow pale. Kate? 1t must be all right. for
| you liked him well enough when he staying
here with us, and he made secret OF how much in
love with you he Indeed. till lately. thought
| there was some sort OF promise between YOU"
| "wny till latelyY' asked Kate, hoarsely. t.a..i
"Well. do declared rs IL you couldnt answer that
| you would carry on with Harry Conrad you have
done since he came among u.s. It's regular firta-
tion. and he's awfuily 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
adrft now; you ought to have done it when he first
| presumed to speak to you of love-"
but liked him then, and more than like him
| now" said Kate abruptly. "I-I made q sort OF
banterine promise to Mr. staunton. but had no
idea he would ever be in position 10 claim it. He
asked me the day before he left il would rcmain
single two years to give him chance to make his
fortune that would enable him to place in such
position as was born to fill. He had tried many
things and failed at them ALL that thought 1t quite
safe to reply that would wait years ii he wished
it. He could not have believed that I'm
earnest"
| "But he evidently did, my dear. as you will see
when you read what he says. BY this time Dick IL
on his way back and he may walk in on us any day,
expecting warm welcome from the girl for whom
ter and you will see that he does not to give
| you up"
| With air of list ess 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 sparkled with aroused temper. She
| crushed the paper in her grasp and scornfuly
| said:-
what does Dick staunton mean by saying that
belong to hm--that he is coming to claim his own !?
That he will tolerate interiors on the part OF
any one. and that IL have INDUCED in any girlish
fancies 1 must put them aside and prepare to vel
my true lord and master when he comes to take
me to himself? never bound my self to HIM in apy
| way. and WON'T won'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 aud TRANQUILITY repiied-
1T is natural to Dick to be nastcrfu and no says
more than you have given him 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 to9 What
shall dor
| 81 can easily tell you. Send Harry Conrad away
at aud make him understand that his dismissal
| IL Anal. Think OF the magnificent future opening
before you. aud prepare TO receive with cordial wei
come the lover who comes to shower his hardly
Poor Kate lett her mothers presence in a tempest
OF feeling 1t would be impossible to portray. fierce
battle was raging within her. and sue also troubled
before the dread that she would never be permitted
to reject the lover who with the power in hs
handto release those sho tendcrly loved from the
hopeless drcarness OF their present existence
young, bright face. with nobility OF soul stamped
upon every ineament, before her and she COW
cred her face with her hands and moaned In her
anguish -
'.'rhey will tear mo from my Harry--my darling
and my pride; they will preach to me of my duty 10
them auu to myself. until wrong will seem right and
l shall become mere puppet in their hands. And
he--he-tAst man OF strong will. is coming 10 COM
pei me 10 fulfil contract never meant to make.
Oh, what shall do? what will become of me?"
she had sat down on the upper step OF the wind
ing stairs and now rising abruptly she went into her
room aud closed the door.
Shortly afterward Mrs. Loser knocked trcmulously
at her daughters door and asked to be admitted.
lhur o limit ftr l.lt.
voice rcpIicd:--
Il had rather not any one Just yet, mainma.
Give mo time 20 bathc my eyes and get calm, and
will see and talk with you Obi IL you love me.
leave me alone now.''