The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-05-07

|
about Morris Tucker, rejoicing sin
cerely when his engagement with
Meta drew him into nearer brother
| ly relations with herself She re-
spected his worth, his devotion to
his uncle; she admired his talents,
his noble, frank beauty, and she
grieved deeply over the sorrows SO
suddenly thrown into his life. Shy
ly as she had liked him, so she
crept away to weep for him. The
heartlessness that would throw him
aside in his trouble was only com
prehensible to her from knowing
well how her mother and sister
worshipped wealth.
She heard the door OF the draw
ing-room open and her sisters clear
voice say coldly:
Good evening, Mr. Tucker. You
have my best wishes for your future
success"
"Thank you. 1 have the honor
to wish you good evening"
The drawing-room door closed
and Clarice could see Morris stand
ing under the hall lamp, silent, and
evidently wishing to recover some
what from the pain of the trying
interview before 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. This sad,
paid face conquered all Clarice's
shyness. With a sudden, irresisti-
BILE impulse she glided down the
stairs and stood beside Morris. He
did not hear the light football upon
the carpet, nor see that he was not
alone until soft touch on the arm
startled hiB. Looking down, he
saw a sweet, pleading face, soft
brown eyes, misty with unshed
tears, raised to his own, while Clar-
ice said in a low voice:
morris, I must tell you how sor-
ry feel for you and Uncle John.
"Thank yOu," he said, gravely
covering 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 l done one
who feels more deeply any misfor-
tune that can happen to him"
Il will carry your message. And
will you wish me God speed, too,
Clarice? l shall sail for California
in 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 carried
her into the library. Ii was dark
there and no one saw the kiss he
pressed upon the pale lips before he
put Clarice gently upon the sofa
and left her. He did not linger
again in the hall. Snatching his
coat and hat hurriedIy from the
rock, he strobe into the streets and
walked rapidly homeward.
Five years passed swiftly, and
Meta Cresswell 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 number of invited guests.
Time had matqred her beauty and
taken nothing from her great at
Clarice, shy as ever and
pretty as a violet, stood near her
sister, while Mrs. CressweIl, magui-
fcent in velvet and diamonds, spoke
hurriedly:
''Here is strange news, Meta. Mr..
Jarvis has asked permission to bring
q friend, and who do you suppose
it ISL"
81 cannot guess" said Meta Ian
guidly; "some musical man, l sup
pose, as Mr.. Jarvis Is so devoted to
Euterpe."
mo; it is Morris Tucker! Oh,
Meta, 1 am so glad you have not
positively accepted young Cooker
81 thought you were very anx-
ious to be mother-in-law to his |
s2OO,OOO?'
"But not since 1 have heard Mr..
Jarvin's news. Ny love, John
Tucker has some land claims in
that Morris hunted up |
and sold for more than double |
young Cookies fortune. He has
come home now, and is settling his
unele's estate, being heir for every !
thing"
"Uncle John deadr cried Clar-
ice.
eyes, more than "a year ago,
though Norris has just returned.
The bell! Some one is coming"
In the crowded drawing-room, an
hour later, Morris Tucker bent |
over Metals hand, and !
politely to her cordial
greeting. He met all her advances
with such evident pleasure in his
welcome that her heart beat high |
with hope. Life had been a strug-
gle for q rich husband ever since
she had made her debut in society,
and now there was one paying her
attention upon whose
heart she had at once made deep |
Would he forget that |
cruel parting interview, and lay his
fortune once more at her feet?
Mr.. Cooke, a young man about
half-witted, possessed of 100000 !
watched the brilliant beauty who |
had smiled so sweetly upon him all
winter, with jealous eyes, after
Morris entered the room, but Meta
forgot him in her newborn hope |
All the evening Morris lowered |
about Meta, wondering where Clar-
ice had hidden herself; but when
the supper call thinned the room,
Meta missed her cavalier. In the
Morris had seen a
vision of golden head and white
huttering dress; and Clarice, halt
hidden by a Towering screen, saw
him desert Meta to come to her
side.
Longing to see him, in an agony
of maideuly shame at the secret she