The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-04-02


would throw him aside in hi; trouble
WAS only comprehen-ihle TO her from
knowing we'll how her mnthar and sis
ter worShiped wealth.
She heard the door of the drawing
room open and her sister, voice say
coidIy:
Good evening. Mr., Tucker You
have. my best wishes fur Your future
success.
Then voice ~ cold ard naughty
apswered:
Thank yon. have the honor 10
wish You z" )i evening.
The dra"lng-room door c. iSed, and
slarica could see Morris Sta .sIng un-
der the hall lamp. silent ard evidently
wishing 10 recover somewhat from the
pain of the trying interview before go
ing 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 Clarice's shy
ness. With sudden, irresistible inn
pulse she glided 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 II
soft touch on his arm startled him.
Looking down he saw a sweet. plead
ing face, soft brown eyes, misty with
un>hed tears, raised TO his own. while
Clarice said. in Il low voice:
Morris | must tell YOU how sorry
feel for you and Uncle John"
Thank you, he said. gravely, COW
ering the little white hand upon his
arm with his own; Il will tell my
uncle what you say"
''Tell him." she said earnestly, '.that
he has no friend who loves him more
truly than | do-nO one who feels more
deeply any misfortune that can happen
to him."
Il will carry your message. And
will you wish me God-speed. too, Clar-
ice? shall sail for California in few
days.n
The large, brown eyes dilated, while
the sweet face grew white as snow.
The blow was too sudden. Without
word or murmur Clarice fell forward,
fainting. Morris caught her in his
arms AID carried her to the library. 1t
was dark there, and no one saw the
kiss he pressed upon her pale lips be-
fore he put Clarice gently upon the so
ia and left her. He did not linger
again in the hall. Snatching his coat
and hat hurriedly from the rack he
strobe into the street and walked rapid
ly homeward.
Five years passed swiftly, and Meta
Cresswell had altered little when, five
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 at
fractions. Clarice, shy as ever, and
| pretty as L violet, stood near her sister,
while Mrs. Creswell, magnificent in
velvet and diamonds, spoke hurriedly:
Here is strange news, Meta. Mr..
Jarvis has asked permission to bring q
friend. and who do you suppose it is?''
Il cannot guess. said Meta, languid-
| "; ''some musical man, | suppose. as
MIR. Jarvis is so devoted to Euterpe''
NO; it is Morris Tucker! Oh, Meta,
| am so glad you have not positively
accepted young Cooker'
Il thought yon were very anxious to
be Inother-in-law TO his $500. 000?"
Bat not since have heard Mr. Jar
Wis news Nv love, John Tucker has
some land claims in California that
| Morris has hunted up and sold Tor more
| than double young Cookies fortune
| He has come home now, and i settling
his uncIe's estate. being his heir for ey-
| erything.'
Uncle john deadr' cried CIlrice.
Yes. more than year ago, though
! Morris has just returned. ne bell!
| Some one Is coming.
| In the crowded drawing room. an
! hour later, Morris Tucker ben, grace
! fully over Metals hand, and rc,nCnded
| politely To her cordial greetiq-. He
| met all her advances with SuGl: vide Mt
| pleasure in his welcome that = heart
| beat high with hope. Life ~ 1 been u
| struggle IOr rich husbanu.ever siuce
| she had made her debut in society. aud
now there WAS one paying her deteren-
| tial attention upon whose heart she had
once made a deep impression. Would
he forget that cruel parting interview,
| and lay his fortune once more At her
| feet?
| MIR. Cooke, young man about half
| witted, possessed Of 500, 900, watched
| the brilliant beauty who had smiled so
Sweetly upon him all winter with ieal-
| Gus eyes after Morris entered the room,
but Meta forgot him in her newborn
hope. All the evening Morris hoVered
about Meta, wondering where Clarice
| had hidden herself; but when the sup
| per call thinned the rooms Meta miss
cd her cavalier. In the conservatory
Morris had seen vision OF a golden
head and white, iluttering dress; and
/ Clarice, half hidden by towering
screen, saw him desert Meta 10 come
beside her.
Longing to see him, in an agony of
maidenly shame at the secret She had
revealed when they parted, she hid
there to watch him unseen. But he
came swiftly across the lower-bordered
path to her side, and taking her hand
in his, said:
"Clarice, have come all the way
from California to try to win your love.
you. My sole hope of happiness is the
90 back again dcsolute, OR will you bid
me stayP"
She looked into the earnest face. the
pleading eyes, and her heart grew
faint with her own happiness as she
whispered:
stay, for love you. Morris.
despised for her timidity, and the loNcl
she had thrown aside in his poverty
enter the drawing-room together. and
her heart was full of jealous anger a
she read their secret in their happy
faces.
She has been Mrs. Cooke for three
years-the miserable wife of a jealOu:
miser, whose sole aims in life are t'
save money and to keep his wife out o
society. In their unhappy home there
is constant quarreling, while Morrl'
blesses every hour the temporary poV
erty that led him to appreciate thu
heart OF his little wife, and won 10
him knowledge OF the treasure OF Ne
love. There is a toddling boy name'
John, who calls Morris papa, and IL
the peaceful happiness of her home lif'
aud mother love Clarice is rapidly con
quering her old timidity and letting th'
world of society see sometimes what Al
accomplished. graceful lady Morris ha
won fJr his wife.
An Morris. holding her to his heart
<riu ,Itsn lsV tandpilT.