The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-20
CNDER A CLOUD.

with a copy of the mornings paper in his hand,
each with a clouded brow and troubled eyes.
The elder gentleman was the first to speak.
at is a bad business, Morrisl"
"a bad business, indeed, sir!"
Then there was another long silence. while
each again read the ominous news Of a failure of
a firm whose business was so involved with their
own that the failure of one house was nearly ut
ter ruin to the other. The hot chops cooled on
the dish, the coffee was untouched and the break
fast literally forgotten, when the gentlemen left
the house to ascertain the extent of their misfor-
tunes. But. as they feared these would prove,
the realities were even worse than the anticipa-
ton, and before night the old firm of Tucker s.
Co. was on the list of failures.
There was a dreary amount of hard, distaste-
full work to be done after the failure was an
established fact; but Morris Tucker never
finched from any task or interview till night
shadows fell and he faced his uncle at the table
once more. Then with set features and a pale
face he said:
eff you can spare me for an hour, sir, l think
[ had better call upon Mrs. Cresswell"
II can spare you, but are you wise to hurry
an interview that, | fear, will be very ~painfulF"
Better to understand my position at once
sir. If" he moistened his dry lips here as if
the words checked him, 'if Meta is true to me l
will remain here and try to work my way up
again to the position l held only yesterday. If
she frees me from my engagement, | accept your
proposal to go to California"
II think it is a good time to look up those old
claims, said Mr.. Tucker sliding easily over the
first part of his nephew's speech; there may be
money in them!"
W will see! If do not go, we may be able
to find some trusty messenger"
Il am afraid you will go" his uncle said;
j $40 ha AT,a H,.r-u-nll g q vuAnlIlvr xun-
man."
Meta is a worldly woman! Nay. let me speak,
Morris. l have said nothing before, though my
heart was sore over your choice of a wife. Meta
is wonderfully fascinating, beautiful! and accom-
plished as but few women are, but she is thor
oughly h~eartless. l hoped your choice would
fall on Clarice."
''Clarice! She is mere child"
"Only two years younger than Nett. L love
her very dearly, Morris"
But You are fond of Metal"
MOI For her fathers sake, the brother of
my dead wife, l have tried to love Meta, but she
repels mel"
Yet you never spoke when 1 told you I should
seek to win her love"
Because love is too sacred in my eyes for any
one to interfere with its expression. If Meta
loves you l will give her warm welcome and cor
dial affection when she becomes your wife, Nor
ris. But nerve yourself for the worst, my boy"
Nerved for the worst, Morris Tucker sought
his betrothed bride. From the time he had
come from ms N6SUefD nome, an orphan TAU Oh
nineteen, to accept his uncle's offer of a home,
he had met Meta Cresswell constantly. He had
received cordial welcome from her mother, and
had not suspected the schemes and subtle in
huence that had led him on, step by step. from
the position of friend to that Of accepted suitor
of the beautiful girl. While his feet were bring
ing him slowly TO the momentous interview after
the failure of the firm of which his uncle had
made him full partner, Mrs. Cresswell was
schooling her daughter to meet the emergency.
Did you write to Morris, MetaP she asked,
languidly stirring her coffee.
''Nor YETI was the reply. "He will probably
call, being an honorable gentleman, mamma"
II hope you will be firm, Meta. Remember
that you have been the injured party through
out. From the time your poor papa died |
have every reason to believe Mr.. Tucker would
make you and your sister the heiresses of his
property, He worshiped your aunt, and he
never spoke Of any relatives as his
own till this nephew appeared. l
believe there was some quarrel between the
brothers that ended in the younger one going
West, while John, the elder, remained hore.
AT all events, it is very clear now that Morris
would have been heir to the business and prop
erty if this failure had not happened. You are
to be congratulated that it came before the wed
ding, instead of after"
Meta shrugged her shoulders.
Eyes! Love in a cottage is not in my style!"
And while she spoke. the bell rang, aad she
knew her lover was waiting to test her cold.
worldly heart. She sauntered with easy grace
into the drawing room, while upstairs, in her
own room. her sister Clarice wept for the pain
that was to fall upon Morris fuckers heart
She was a brown-eyed, golden-haired girl.
whose quiet, unpretendihg charms had long
been overshadowed by the more brilliant beauty
of her sister Meta. She was timid to a fault,
and was her mothers greatest affection in her
career of fashionable gayety. With a higher in
tellect than Metals, with more of for
eign tongues, with a true musicians. love and
knowledge of music, a sweet, clear voice, and
wonderful powers of expression, she was so pain
| FULLY SbV that GOpIptV wa q misery fn mar Hap
beauty was of the delicate order that does not
strike at first glance, and her affections were
carefully hidden in her shrinking. gentle heart.
She had given John Tucker true love since she
was a mere baby and sat upon his knee playing
with his watch-chain. She had never thought of
his money. and when Morris came she was only
glad that her dear old uncle, as she called him,
was to have a companion aud friend. She had
never questioned her heart about Morris Tucker,
rejoicing sincerely when mis- engagement with
Meta drew him into nearer h%rotherly relations
with herself. She respected his worth, his devo-
ton to his uncle; she admired his talents, his
noble, frank beauty, and she grieved deeply
over the sorrows so suddenly thrown into his
life. Shyly as she had liked him, so she crept
away to weep for him. The utter heartless-
ness that would throw him aside in his trouble,
was only comprehensive to her from know
ing well how her mother and sister worshiped
wealth.
She heard the door of the drawing room open
and her sisters clear voice say cOldly:
Good evening, Mr.. Tucker. You have my best
wishes for your future success"
Then a voice as cold and hanghty answered:
THANK you l have the honor to wish you
good evening"
The drawing room door closed, and Clarice
could see Morris standing under the hall lamp,
silent and evidently wishing to recover some
what from the pain of the trying interview be-
fore going into the street. He was very pale,
and the brightness that had formed one Of the
greatest attractions of his face was all stricken
from it, Thu sad. paid face conquered all Oar-
Ices shyness. With a sudden, irresistible i'm
pulse she glided down the stairs and stood beside
Morris: He did not hear the light ~footstep upon
the thick carpet nor see that he was not alone
until a soft touch upon his arm startled him.
Looking down, he saw a sweet, pleading face,
soft brown Dyes. misty with unshed tears, raised
to his own, while Clarice said, in a low voice: