Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-03-14

ing her daughter to meet the emer
gency.
" Did you write to Morris, Meta ?" she
asked, languidly stirring her coffee.
Not yet" was the reply. &" He viii
probably call, being an honorable gentle
man, mamma"
81 hope you win be firm, Meta. Re-
member that you have been the injured
party throughout. From the time your
poor papa died I have had every reason
to believe Mr.. Tucker would make you
and your sister the heiress Of his proper
! ty. He W9rshipped your aunt, and he
never spoke of any relatives of his own
/ till this nephew appeared. 1 believe
| there was some quarrel between the broth
ers that ended IN the younger one going
/ West while John, the elder, remained
| here. At all events it is very clear now
! that Morris would haYe been heir TO the
business and property if this failure had
not happened. You are to be cOngratu-
| lated that 1t came before the wedding,
| instead of after"
Meta shrugged her shoulders.
"Yesl Love IN q cottage is not my
styleP And while she spoke the bell
rang, and she knew her lover was waiting
to test her cold, worldly heart. She
sauntered with easy grace into the draw
ing room, while up stairs in her own
room her sister Clarice Wept for the pain
that was to fall upon Morris fuckers
heart.
She was a hroWn-eyed, golden-haired
girl, whose quiet, unpretending charms
had long been OvershadOWed by the bril-
liant beauty Of her sister Meta. She was
timid to a fault, and was her mothers
greatest affliction in her career of fash
iOnable gayety. With a higher intellect
than Metals, with more command of for
eign tones, with a true musicians love
and knowledge Of music, a sweet, clear
voice, and wonderful powers of express
sion, she was so painfully shy that so
ciety was a misery to her. Her 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,
nd when Morris came she was only glad
that her dear old uncle, as she called
him, was to have a companion and
friend. She had never questioned her
heart about Morris Tucker, rejoicing
sincerely when his engagement with
Meta drew him into nearer brotherly re-
lations with herself She respected his
worth, his devotion to his uncle; she adj
mired 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 knowing well how her mother and
sister WOrshiped wealth.
She heard the door Of the drawing
room open and her sisters voice say
coldly:
"Good-evening, Mr.. Tucker. You
have my best wishes for your future sue
cess"
Then a voice as cold and naughty an
swered:
wish you good evening"
The draWing-rOoln door closed, and
Clarice could see Morris standing under
the hall lamp, silent and evidently wish
ing to recover somewhat from the pain
of the trying interview before going into
the street. He was very pale and the
brigh tness that had formed one Of the
greatest attractions Of his face was all
stricken from it. The sad, pallid face
conquered all CIarice's shyness. With a
sudden, irresistible impulse she glided
down the stairs and stood beside Morris
He did not hear the light foot fall upon
LLlC LLAlGh CELL EEL5 44O4 6CO L44GlG l1C va
not alone until a soft touch on his arm
startled him. Looking down he saw a
sweet, pleading face, soft brown eyes
misty with unshed tears, raised to his
own, while Clarice said, in a low voice:
morris I must tell you how sorry L
feel for you and Uncle John"
THANK yOu," he said graveIy, cover
ing the little white hand upon his arm
with his own; 81 will tell my uncle what
you say"
Tell him." she said earnestly, Chat
he has no friend who loves him more
truly than I dO-nO one who feels more
deeply any misfortune that can happen
to him."
al will carry your message. And Will
you wish me God-speed, too, ClariCe? 1
shall sail for California in a few days"
The large, brown eyes dilated, while
the sweet face grew white as snow. The
blow was too sudden. Without word or
murmur Clarice fell forward, fainting.
Morris caught her in his arms and car
ried her to the library. 1t was dark
there, and no one saw the kiss he pressed
upon her pale lips before he put Clarice
gently upon the sofa and left her. He
did not linger again in the hall. Snatch
ing his coat and hat hurTiedly from the
rack, he strobe into the street and walked
rapidly hOmeWard.
Five years passed swiftly, and Meta
CressWeu had altered little when, five
years after her parting interview with
Morris Tucker, she stood in the wide
drawing room of her mothers house,
waiting to greet a number of invited
guests. Time had matured her beauty
and taken nothing from her great attrac-
tions. Clarice, shy as ever, and pretty as
a violet, stood near her sister, while Mrs.
CresWell, magnificent in velvet and dia-
monds, spoke hurriedly:
"Here is strange news, Meta. Mr.. Jar
Wis has asked permission to bring afriend,
and who do you suppose it is?"