The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-04-16
m COULD NOT BE WORSE.

CCIus
And her daughters. Kitty and Mar
gerry echoed her words.
'tCouldn't you have got of for an
other week?n said his father, breaking
his hot roll carefully; '.now that yours
a partner, though"
s.Now that I'm = partner, it's hare
work getting off," responded Harvey
Seely; ''it was all I could do; il
fact
He paused suddenly.
What was all you could doP" en-
quired Kitty.
well" said Harvey. laying dowr
his knife and fork, with q beamine
smile, ''here goesl Here's the news
I've been saving up for you till the
last, from a natural modesty. 1t wa:
all could do to get things arranged Sc
that could go on my wedding trip, s
month hence. I am going to be mar
RED"
Kitty's spoon fell into her saucer with
a clatter, and MIR. SeeIy dropped his
roll hastily.
'.MarriedP said Margery breathless-
ly.
Mrs. Seely alone remained calm.
She rolled up her napkin and put il
in its ring, and looked at her son
through her gold-rimmed glasses COM
posedly.
She felt, however, that this was an
important crisis.
When Harvey-their only son-had,
with commendable independence, left
his pleasant home to ''get q start" in
the neighboring city, they had all ex-
pected great things for him.
He would be rapidly successful; he
would distinguish himself in the pro-
fession he had chosen and amass for
tune; and he would WOO and win some
sweet young girl, with long row OF
ancestors-the Seelys, being themselves
good old family, were great respect
ers of blue blood-a host of accom-
plishments, and heavy dowry.
Their hopes had seemed likely to be
fulfilled. Harvey had proved himself
possessed of remarkable business quail
ties; he had risen quickly, and had re-
Gently exceeded their widest ambi-
tions by being made junior partner
of his firm.
All that now remained to be desired
was his safe conquest of the beautiful
and aristocratic young person of their
dreams, with her many talents and her
substantial inheritance.
1t was not to be wondered at, there
fore, that the girls were trembling with
eagerness; that Mr.. Seely fumbled
with his wateh-chain in nervous sus-
pense, and that Mrs. Seely opened her
lips twice before she found strength
to PROFOUND that all important ques-
ton:
''Who is she?"
'.She is Miss Dora Berdan, at pres
ent," said Harvey smilingly.
"Berdan?" Mrs. Seely repeated, and
raised her brows enquiringly. Il don't
think have heard of the family"
mot at all likely" Harvey rejoined.
''They are quiet people, -
''Berdan!'' Mrs. Seely repeated mus
ingly. "No; have not heard of them.
Where do they liver"
'In Weyman street, p" responded Har-
vey:
a little gasp; her husband turned dis
mayed face upon his son, and Kitty
and Margery gave little screams.
Weyman street, 1t was miles from
the regions of aristocracy; it was peo-
pied with working-girls, with seams
tresses, and with small shopkeepers;
with street-venders, and old apple
women, for all the Seelys knew.
mot Weyman street, HarVey?" said
his father appealingiy.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS street." Har-
vey repeated.
''But she is not-she cannot be Of
good family, living in Weyman streetP
said Mrs. Seely anxiously.
''The family is quite respectable,
,aaz1,4n6n6 ryT1infIvy GGlnro1
mother is a widow. She sews for q
Iace-goods house, and Dora has been
assistant bookkeeper in our establish.
ment; that is how met her."
Mrs. Seely groaned.
"a bookkeeper-a seamstressr she
calculated. ''Oh, Harvey, you could
not have done worser'
"a penniless girlP' said his father
solemnly; land after all we have
hoped for you! No; it could not be
Worse.H
"a common working-girl," said Kit
will know it! Oh, Harvey, it couldn't
be worse.
The young man looked from one tC
another in astonished, hurt, and half
contemptuous silence.
Margery turned to him, with q gen
tie sympathy mingling with the dismay
in her face.
s'Perhaps," she said, hopefully; ''per
haps there is something to make upi
Perhaps she is wonderful beauty, or {
great genius, or something's"
Harvey gave her a grateful smile.
''I think her pretty, of course" ht
said; ''but I suppose that's because Tn
fond of her. don't think she would
be called beauty. And as for genius
she's very clever at accounts; but
she doesn't sing, or paint, or anything
of that sort. She's never had the time
or money for such things, poor girl!''
Bnt Margery had turned away will
an impatient gesture.
There is nothing, them" she said
despairingly; mo; 1t couldn't b.
worse"
Harvey rose from his seat, with al
energy which set the bell in the casto
jingling.
This is absurdi'' he said indignant
ly. ut is more than absurd; it is un
Just and narrow-minded. How sensi
BILE - presumably sensible people,
Harvey corrected rather bitterly, ''caI
say, in regard to a person they hav
never seen, that it could not be worse,
is past my comprehension"
1--WE will not talk of it." said Mrs
Seely, holding up restraining hand
Discussion will not mend matters
And you are to be married mex
month";
'.On the NINTH" Harvey rejoined
.'Of course you will all be thereP" h
added rather obviously.
by no means" said his fathe
shortly.
.You could hardly expect it," sal
Mrs. Seely reproachfully.
VERY well; if Mohammed won
come you've heard the observation
We shall pay you visit iInmediatel
on our return from our wedding-touI
with your kind permission. You mu
know Dora. p"
When he left the house an hour late
he had the required permission.
His mother and the girls had eve
kissed him goodbye, in an injured an
reproachful way, and his father hs
shaken hands coolly.
But his ears still rang with tn
odious assertion. at could not
Worse!" and he was thoughtful all Il
way back to the city
The Seelys were In state OF su
dued excitement.
Harvey's wedding tour was col
pleted; and they had received tel
gram that afternoon to the effect tn
he would be ION hand'' tonight wi
: his new wife.
The dining-room table was set
dinner; and Mrs. Seely wandered fro
one end of it to the other nervously.
Her husband sat under the chant
lier with his evening paper, but
was not reading it; Kitty and Marge
fiuttered about uneasily, watchi
through the window for the return
the carriage from the station.
81 hope" said Margery with a NJ
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