Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-03-06

/ SAAtS ANSASA tAA4 Has AASAO bdS a.
their coy breakfast table one winter
morning, each with copy of the morn
ng's paper in his hand, each with a
clouded brow and troubled eye. The
elder gentleman was the first to speak.
1T is a bad business. Morrisg'
"A bad business. indeed, sirF'
Then there was another long silence,
while each again read the ominous
news of the failure of firm whose
business was so involved with their
own that the failure of one house was
nearly utter ruin to the other. The
hot chops cooled on the dish, the coffee
was untouched, and the breakfast lit
orally forgotten, when the gentlemen
left the house to ascertain the extent
of their misfortunes. Bad as they
feared these would prove. the realities
were even worse than the anticipa-
ton. and before night the old firm of
Tucker & Co. was in the list of fail
ures.
There was dreary amount of hard,
distasteful work to be done after the
failure was an established fact; but
Norris Tucker never Hinched from
any task or interview till night shad-
ows fell. and he faced his uncle at the
table once more. Then, with set fea-
lures and pale face. he said:
eff you can spare me for an hour,
sir, think had better call on Miss
CresswelI."
Il can spare you, but are you wise
to hurry an interview that, fear, viii
be very painful?"
Better to understand my position
at once, sir. If he moistened the
dry lips here, as if the words choked
him-"if Meta is true to me will re-
main here and try to work my way up
again to the position / held only yes
terday. If she frees me from my en-
gagement, ] accept your proposal to
60 to California.
II think it is good time to look up
those old claims" said MI. Tucker,
sliding easily over the first part of his
nephew's speech; "there may be money
in them.'
1--WE will seel If I do not 60 we may
be allie to find some trusty messenger"
Il am afraid you will go" his uncle
said.
1T may be. Mrs. Cresswell is a
worldly woman"
Meta is a worldly woman! Nay,
let me speak. Morris. 7 have said
nothing before. though my heart was
sore over your choice of wife. Meta
is wonderfully fascinating. beautiful
and accomplished as but few women
are. but she is thoroughly heartless. /
hoped your choice would fall on Clar-
ice"
.'Claricel She IS mere chiIdr'
'Only two years younger than Meta
love her very dearly. Morris"
"But you are fond of Metal''
mol For her fathers sake, the
brother OF my dead wife, | have tried
to love Meta. but she repels mel"
yet you never spoke when / told
you / should seek to win her love.
Because love is too sacred in my
eyes for any one to interfere with its
expression. II Meta loves you / wiz
give her warm welcome and cordial
affection When she becomes your wife,
Morris. 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 his Western
home. al orphaned Lad Of nineteen, to
accept his uncles offer Of i home be
had met Meta Cresswell constantly.
BE had received cordial welcome from
her mother and had not suspected
the schemes and subtle influence that
had led him o.. step By step. from the
| position Of friend to that Of accepted
sutton Of The beautiful girl While
his feet were bringing him slowly 70
the momentous interview after tbs
fa;Inre az the arm az which his nncIa