The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-03-20

gag mcHt with Meta drew HIM into nearer
bro hcrly relations with herself. She re-
spected his worth. his devotion to his
uncle; she admired his talents, his
noble, frank be .uty. and she grieved
deeply over the SOrrOws SO suddenly
thrown into his life. ShyIy as she had
liked him, so she crept away to weep for
him. The utter heaTJlessness that would
throw him aside il his troubles was only
comprehensive to her from knowing wei
how her mother and sister wOrShipped
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
sweIed:
you good evening"
The drawing-room door closed, and
Clar ce could see Morris standing under
the hail 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
brightness that had formed one Of the
greatest attractions of his face was all
stricken from it. The sad, pallid face
conquered all Cla-ice'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
the thick carpet, nor see that ne was not
alone until soft touch on his arm startled
him Looking down he saw a sweet,
EAGtiAAliss taNEs Ntlb bAOFf II liAAotg WIN
unshed tears raised to his own, while
Clarice said, in a low voice:
Morris, I must tell yOu how sorry /
feel for you and Uncle John"
" Thank you" he said. gravely, cover
ing the little white hand upon his
arm with his own; y viii tell my uncle
what you say"
"TeII him" she said. earnestly, that
he has no friend who loves him more
truly than dO-no one who feels more
= n s-eg . Tr,A Il
81 viii carry your message. And will
You wish me GOd-speed, too, Clarice l
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 OF muir
mur Clarice fell forward, fainting Morris
caught her in his arms and carried her to
the library. 1t 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 Gnger again
in the hall. Snatchiug his coat and hat
hurriedly from the rack ne strobe into the
street and waiEed 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-r0oH Of her mothers house.
waiting to greet a number of invited
guests. Time had matured her beauty
an taken nothing from her great attTac-
tons Clarice, shy as ever and pretty as
a iol f. stood near her sister. while Mrs.
O. esswell. magnificent in velvet and dia
mou,s s. spoke hurriedly:
'' Here is strange news Meta. Mr. Jarvis
has as-ed permission to bring a friend
and VINO do yOU suppose il is -
cgunot guess, said Meta, lauCuidlv:
some musical man. I SUPPOSE, as Sir. Jar
Wis is so deyO ed to EUterpe." ."
d" No it is y Orris Tucker! Oh Meta, I
am so glad you have not positively ac-
cepted young COoke!"
hon NJ r-Fsr
be mOtheT-in-law to his 5000, 900 -
But not since ! have heard of Mr. Jar
Wis news. My love, John Tucker had
some land claims in California that Nft,IFis
hunted up and sold for more than double
young Cooks fortune. lac has come home
now, and is settling his u. cle's estate be
ing his heir for everything
'ucle John dead =" cried Clarice.
Eyes, more than a year ago though
Morris has Just returned. The bell Some
one is coming.
In the crowded drawing-room. an hour
later. Morris Tucker bent gracefully over
MCta's hand. and rcSpCned politely to her
cordial greeting. He met all her advances
with such evident pleasure in his welco ne
that her heart beat high with hope Life
had been a struggle for a rich husband
even since she had made her debut in So
Ciety. and now there was one paving her
dcfereutial attention upon whose he
she had at once made deep impression
Would he forget that cruel parting inter
view, and lay his fortune once more at her
feet
Mr. Cooke, young man about half
witted, possessed of 500, 600, watched the
brilliant beauty who had smiled so sweet
ly upon him all winter with jealous eyes
after Morris entered the room, but Meta
forgot him in her newborn hope Nj the
evening Morris hOvered about Meta Won
dering where Clarice had hidden herself
but when the supper call thiuuCd the rooms
q Meta missed her cavalier. In the couser-
vatory Morris had seen n vision OF a
golden head and white futteriua dress
and Clarice, half hidden by a Towering
screen, saw him desert Meta to come be
side her
Longing 10 see him. in an agony of maid
enly shame at the secret she had revealed
when they parted she hid there to watch
him unseen. But he came swiftly across
the flower -bOrdered path to her side and
taking her hand in his, said
" Clarice, have come ali the way from
California to win your love. Little one
with all my heart / love you Ny sole hope
of happiness is the hope that You win be
my wife. Must 90 back again desolate
orwil you bid me stay?'
She looked into the earnest face, the
pleading eyes, and her heart grew faint
with its own happiness as she whispered
Stay, for ] love you, Morris" :"
Meta saw the sister she had always de-
splsed for her timidity, and the lover she
had thrown aside in his poverty, enter the
drawing-rOOm together and her heart was
full of jealous anger as she read their Sc
cret in their happy faces.
She has been Mrs. Cooke for three wears
the miserable wife of a Jealous miser
whose sole aims in life are to save money
and to keep his wife out of society In
their unhappy home there is constant quar-
reling, while Morris bIeSses every hour the
temporary poverty that led him to an
preciate the heart of his little wife. and
won for him a knowledge of the treasure
of her love. There is a toddlinp bov
named John, who calls Morris papa"
and in the peaceful happiness of her home
life and mother love Clarice is rapidly con
quering her old timidity and letting the
world of society see sometimes what an
accomplished, graceful lady Norris has
won for his wife
And Morris, holding her to his heart,
viii often say, tenderly:
" The happiness of my life commenced
Clarice, when your tender sympathy greet
ed me at the time I was under a cloud"