Morris tribune., 1886-04-07
COULD NOT BE WORSE.

table at her son with affectionate con-
Germ.
And her daughters, Kitty and Mar
gerry echoed her words.
Couldn't you have got off for an
other week?" said his father, breaking
his hot roll carefully; ''now that you're
a partner, though"
Nov that I'm partner, it's hard
work getting off" responded Harvey
Seely; sit was all l could do; in
fact
He paused suddenly.
What was all you could do?" en-
quired Kitty.
Well" said Harvey, laying down
his knife and fork, with beaming
smile, '.here goes! Here's the news
I've been saving up for you till the
last, from a natural modesty. 1t was
all / could do to get things arranged so
that l could 60 on my wedding trip, a
month hence. l am going to be mar
ried."
Kitty's spoon fell into her saucer with
a chatter, and MIR. Seely dropped his
roll hastily.
Married. said Margery breathless-
".
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 ar
important crisis.
When Harvey-their only son-had,
with commendable independence, left
his pleasant home to ''get start il
the neighboring city, they had all ex
pected great things for him.
He would be rapidly successful; ht
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 a long row O.
ancestors Seelys, being themselves
a good old family, were great respect
ers of blue blood-a host of accom-
plishments, and heavy dowry.
Their hopes had seemed likely to b.
fulfilled. Harvey had proved himself
possessed of remarkable business quail
| ties; he had risen quickly, and had re
Gently exceeded their widest ambi
tons 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 thei
| dreams, with her many talents and he
substantial Inheritance.
It was not to be wondered at, there
fore, that the girls were trembling witt
esgeness; that Mr.. Seely fumble'
| with his watch-chain in nervous sus
| pense, and that Mrs. Seely opened he
| fips twice before she found strength
to PROFOUND that all important ques
ton:
"Who is she?''
ssShe is Miss Dora Berdan, at pres
ent," said Harvey smilingly.
ssBerdan?" Mrs. Seely repeated, AM
raised her brows enquiringly. Il dom
think have heard of the family
'.Not at all likely" Harvey rejoined
"They are quiet people
'.Berdan!'' Mrs. Seely repeated mus
ingly. ''No; have not heard of them
Where do they live?"
sin Weyman street" responded Han
vey.
| Mrs. Seely fell back in her chair wit
little gasp; her husband turned dis
mayed face upon his son, and Kilt
and Margery gave little screams.
Weyman street! 1t was miles from
the regions of aristocracy; it was pee
pied with working girls, with seams
tresses, and with small shopkeepers
with street-venders, and old apple
women, for all the Seelys knew.
"Not Weyman street, Harvey?" sait
his father appealingly.
| acknowledgements street," Hal
vey repeated.
| 'But she is not-she cannot be c
good family, living in Weyman street.?
said Mrs. Seely anxiously.
(! THE family is quite respectable,
her son responded quietly. Dora
mother is O widow. She sews for
lace-goods house, and Dora has bee
assistant bookkeeper in our establish
ment; that is how l met her."
! Mrs. Seely groaned.
IA bookkeeper-a seamstress!' sh
calculated. "Oh, Harvey, you coul
not have done worse!"
"a penniless girl?" said his fathe
solemnly; land after all we hay
hoped for you! No; il could not b
tworse."
"a common working-girl," said XII
ty in choking voice; land everybod
will know it! Oh, Harvey, it couldn
be worse"
The young man looked from one t
another in astonished, hurt, and hal
contemptuous silence.
Margery turned to him, with ger
tie sympathy mingling with the disma
in her face.
Perhaps" she said, hopefully; ''pel
haps there is something to make up
Perhaps she is wonderful beauty, or
| great genius. or something's"
Harvey gave her grateful smile.
II think her pretty, of course" b
said; 'but suppose that's because II
fond of her. / don't think she woul
be called beauty. And as for geniu
she's very clever at accounts; bu
she doesn't sing, or paint, or anythin
of that sort. She's never had the tim
or money for such things, poor girl!''
Bnt Margery had turned away wit
an impatient gesture.
There is nothing, then" she sale
despairingly; mo; it couldn't b
worse"
Harvey rose from his seat, with a
energy which set the bell in the caste
jingling.
ssThis is absurd" he said indignant
". cit is more than absurd; it is III
just and narrow-minded. How sens
BILE presumably sensible people,
Harvey corrected rather bitterly, s'ca
say, in regard to a person they hav
never seen, that it could not be worse
Z is past my comprehension. "
ave will not talk of il" said Mr.
Seely, holding up o restraining hand