Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-04-30

1
| Neryed for the worst Morris Tucker
soug.t his betrothed bride. From the
time he had come from his Western
home, an orphaned lad of nineteen, to
accept his uncle's offer of a home he
had met Cresswell constantly. He
had received a cordial welcome from
her mother, and had not suspected
the schemes and subtle influence that
had led him on, step by step, from the
position of friend to that of accepted
suitor of the beautiful girl. While
his feet were bringing him slowly tC
the momentous interview after the
failure OF the firm of which his uncle
had made him full partner, Mrs
Cresswell was schooling her daughter
to meet the emergency.
Did you write to Morris, Meta?
she asked, languidly stirring her cot
fee.
mot yet, was the reply. He will
probably call, being an honorable
gentleman, mamma"
81 hope you will be firm, Meta. Re
member that you have been the injur-
ed party throughout From the time
your poor papa died I have had every
reason to believe Mr.. Tucker would
make you and yoar sister the heiress
of his property. He worshiped your
aunt, and he never spoke of any rel
alive of his own till this nephew APP
peared. I believe there was some
quarrel between the brothers that
ended in the younger one going west,
while John, the elder, remained here.
| 4 oil re- n al l,aE
Morris would have been heir to the
business and property if this failure
had not happened. You are to be
congratulated that it came before the
wedding, instead Of after"
Meta shrugged her shoulders.
eyes, Love Ia cottage is not my
styIer' And while she spoke the bell
rang, and she knew her lover was
waiting to test her cold, worldly heart.
She sauntered with easy grace into
the drawing groom, while up stairs in
her own roam her sister Clarice wept
for the pain that was TO fall upon Nor
ris fuckers heart.
She was a brown-eyed, golden
haired girl, whose quiet, unpretending
charms had long been overshadowed
by the Brilliant beauty of her sister
Meta. She was timid to fault, and
was her mothers greatest afflicticn in
her career Of fashionable gayety.
| With higher intellect than Metals,
with more command of foreign ton
CUES, with true musicians love and
knowledge of music, q sweet, clear
voice, and wonderful powers OF ex-
preston, she was so painfully shy
that society was misery to her. Her
beauty was of the delicate order that
DOS not strike at first glance, and her
affections were carefully hidden in
her striking, gentle heart.
She had given John Tucker true love
since she was a mere baby and sat
upon his knee, playing with his
watcn-chain. She had never thought
of his money, and when Morris came
she was only glad that her dear old
uncle, as she called him, was to have
companion and friend. She had
never questioned her heart about Nor
| ris Tucker, rejoicing sincerely when
his engagement with Meta drew him
INTO nearer brotherly relations with
herself, She respected his worth, his
devotion to bis uncle; she admired
his talents, his noble, frank beauty,
and she grieved deeply over the SCR
rows so suddenly thrown into his life.
Shyly as she had liked him, so she
crept away to weep for him. The
utter heartlessness that would throw
him aside in his trouble, was only
comprehensive to her from knowing
we'll how her mother and sister wor-
SHIPPED wealth.
She heard the door of the drawing
room open and her sisters voice say
coldly:
"Good evening, Mr. Tucker. You
nave my best wishes for your future
success
Then a voice as cold and naughty
answered:
THANK you. I have the honor to
wish you good evening"
The draWlng-roona door c4osed, al
Clarice could see Morris standin
under the hall lamp, silent and evil
IDENTIFY wishing to recover somewhat
from the pain of the trying Interview
before going into the street. He was
verp 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
Clarice's shyness. With a sudden,
irresistible impulse she gllded down
the stairs and stood beside Morris
He did not hear the light foot fall
upon the thick carpet, nor see that he
was not alone until a soft touch on
his arm started him. Looking down
he saw a sweet, pleading face, soft
brown eyes, misty with flushed tears,
raised to his own, while Clarice said,
in low voice:
Morris, I must tell you how sorry
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,
''that be has no friend who loves him
more truly than I do-no one who
feels more deeply anJ misfortune that
can happen to him"