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

CresswclI had altered little Wnens ave
years after her parting interview with
Morris Tucker, she stood in the wide
drawing-room of her mothers house.
waiting to greet : number Of invited
guests. Time had matured her
beauty and taken nothing from her
great attractions. Clarice. shy IS ever,
and pretty as q violet. stood near her
sister, while Mrs. Cresswell. magnifi
cent in velvet and diamonds, spoke
hurriedly:
Here is strange news, Meta. Mr..
Jarvis has asked permission to bring .
friend, and who do you suppose 1t is ?"
II cannot guess" said Meta, Ian
guidly; some musical man, suppose,
as MI. Jarvis is SO devoted to Euterpe."
mo; il is Morris Tuckerl Oh. Meta,
| am SO glad you have not positively
accepted young Cooked
IL thought you were very anxious
to be m other-in-law to his $200O00?"
"But not since / have heard Mr..
Jarvis news. NY love. John Tucker
had some land claims in California
that Morris hunted up and sold for
more than double young Cookies for
tune. He has come home now, and is
settling his uncle's estate, being his
heir to everything.
"Uncle John deadP' cried Clarice.
eyes, more than a year ago, though
Morris has just returned. The bellI
Some one is comingr'
In the crowded drawing-room, an
hour later, Morris Tucker bent grace
fully over Meta's hand, and responded
politely to her 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 a rich husband ever since
she had made her debut in society, and
now there was one paying her deferen-
tiaI attention upon whose heart she
had at once made deep impression.
Would he forget that cruel parting in
terview, and lay his fortune once more
at her feet?
Mr.. Cooke, young man about half
witted, possessed of 100000, watched
the brilliant beauty who had smiled SO
sweetly upon him all winter with
jealous eyes after Morris entered the
room, but Meta forgot him in her new
born hope. All the evening Morris
lowered about Meta, wondering where
Clarice had hidden herself; but when
the supper call thinned the rooms Meta
missed her cavalier. In the conserva-
tory Morris had seen vision of a
golden head and white, fluttering
dress; and Clarice, half hidden by a
Towering screen, saw him desert Meta
to come beside her.
Longing to see him. in an agony of
maideniy shame at the secret she had
revealed when they parted, she hid
there to watch him unseen. But he
came swiftly across the flower-bor-
dered path to her side, and taxing her
hand in his, said:
"Clarice, have come all the way
from California to try to win your
love. Little one. with all my heart /
love you. My sole hope Of happiness
is the hope that you will be my wife.
Must ! 60 back again desolate, or will
you bid me stay?"
She looked into the earnest face, the
pleading eyes, and her heart grew faint
with its own happiness as she whis-
pered:
Stay. for ! love you. Morris"
Meta saw the sister she had always
despised 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 aager as
she read their secret in their happy
faces.
She has been Mrs Cooke for three
years-the miserable wife Of 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 quarreling. while