The Press., 1885-02-26

l The large, brown eyes dilated, while the sweet face grew white as snow The blow was too sudden. Without word or mur- mnr Clarice fell forward, faintiug Nor ris caught her i'll his arms and carried her to the library. IL 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 finger again ill the hall. Snatching his coat and hat hurried from the rack, he strode into the street anl walked rapidly homeward
 Five years passed swiftly, and Meta Cresswell had altered little when, five years after her parting interviaw with Morris Tucker, she stood ill the wide drawing room of her mothers house, waiting to greet a number of invited guests. Time had matured her beauty, and taken noth- ing. from her great attractions Clarlce, shy ae ever, and pretty as violet, stool near her sister, while Mrs Cresswell, mag nifcent in velvet and diamonds, spoke hur- riedly:
 'Here is strange news, Meta. Mir. Jar wis has asked permission to bring friend, and who do you suppose It is ?"
 1T cannot guess" said Meta, languidly sssome musical man, ! suppose, as MT. Jarvis IS so devoted to Euterpe."
 'tNo it is Morris Tucker! Oh, Meta, am so glad you have not positively accept. ed young Cooke ]"
 I 'sI thought you were very anxious to be mother in law to his two hundred thousand dollars ?''
 'But not since I have heard Mr. Jarvis news. My love, John Tucker has some land claims in California that Morris hunt ed up and sold for more than double young 1 Cooke's fortune. He has come home now, and is settling his uncle's estate, being his heir for everything"
 "Uncle John dead ?" cried Clarice.
 ''Yes, more than year ago, though Morris has just returned. The bell Some one Is coming l"
 In the crowded drawing room, an hour later, Morris Tucker bent gracefully over Meta's hand, and responded politely to he1 cordial greeting. He met all her advances with such evident pleasure in his welcome, that her heart beat high with hope Life had been struggle for rich husband ev- CT since she had made her debut in socie ty, and now there was one paying her de. ferential attention upon whose heart she had once made deep impression. Would he forget that cruel parting interview, anc lay his fortune once more at her feet ? MT. Cooke, a young man about half-wit. ted, possessed of $2oO, 1000, watched the brilliant beauty who had smiled so sweet ly on him all winter, with jealous eyes, after Morris came into the room, but Mets forgot him in her new born hope All tn, evening Morris lowered about Meta, won dering where Clarice had hidden herself but when the supper call thinned tn. r rooms, Meta missed her cavalier. In ths conservatory Morris had seen vision of golden head and white, futtering dress and Clarice, half-hidden by Towering ,, screen saw him desert Meta to come be , side her.
 8 Longing to see him, in an agony 0 maidenly shame at the secret she had re r vealed when they parted, she hid there t 3 watch him unseen. But he came swift l across the hower-bordered path to her side s and taking her hand in his, said a "Clarice, have come all the way fror ] California to try to win your love. Littl l one, with all my heart love you. M . sole hope of happiness Is the hope tha !, you will be my wife. Must I go bac l. again, desolate, or will you bid me stay :? e She looked into the earnest face, tn } pleading eyes. and her heart grew fain f with it's own happiness as she whispered - 'sStay, for love you, Morris" I Meta saw the sister she had always de
 spised for her timidity, and the lover sh e had thrown aside in his poverty, enter tn
 drawing room together, and her heart wa Il full of jealous anger as she read their SC j. cret in their happy faces.
 She has been Mrs. Cooke for thre r. years-the miserable wife of jealous mi y ser, whose sole aims in life are to say T money and keep his wife ont of society j. In their unhappy home there is constar d quarrell1ng, while Morris blesses ever :. hour the temporary poverty that. led hlr 1T to appreciate the heart of his little wife s and won for him knowledge of the treas s ure of her love. There is toddling bo tt named John, who calls Morris s'papa ,, and in the peaceful happiness of her hom t life and mother love, Clarice is rapidl is conqueriug her old timidity, and lettin q the world of society see, sometimes, wlls l. an accomplished, graceful lady. Morris ha e won for his wife.
 And Morris, holding her to his hear
 will often say, tenderly:
 y "The happiness of my life commenced 5, Clarice, when your tender sympathy gree tt ed me at the time was under cloud. !" d - ..s-.e..-------- - l, JAMES PYLE's PEARL1NE is the very best a