Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-03-15

the time your papa died have had
every reason 70 believe Mr.. Tucker
would make you aud your sister
the heiress OF his property. lie
worshipped your aunt, aud he
never spoke Of any relatives of his
own till this nephew appeared. l
believe there was some quarrel be-
tween the brothers that ended IN
the younger one going West, while
John, the elder rem aimed here. At
all events 1t is very clear now that
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 in a cottage is not
nv style ~ And while she spoke
the bell rang, aud she knew her
lover was waiting to test her cold,
worldly heart. She sauntered with
easy grace into the drawing room'
while upstairs in her own room
her sister Clarice wept for the pain
that was to tall upon Morris
fuckers heart.
She was brown-eyed, golden
haired girl, whose quiet, unpre'
tending charms had long been
overshadowed by the brilliant
beauty of her sister Meta. She
was timid to a fault, and was her
mothers greatest affiictio1 in her
career of fashionable gayety. With
a higher intellect than Meta's with
more command of foreign tongues,
with a true musicians love and
knowledge of music, sweet, clear
voice, and wonderful powers o: ex-
preston, she was so painfully shy
that society was a misery to her
Her beauty was OF the delicate
order that does not strike at first
glance, and her affections we're
carefully hidden in her shrinking,
gentle heart.
She had given John Tucker true
love since she was a mere baby
and sat upon his knee, playing
with his watch 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 a com
paniou and friend. She had never
questioned her heart about Morris
Tucker, rejoicing sincerely when
his engagement with Meta drew
him inte Dearer brotherly relations
with herself. She respected his
worth, his devotion to his uncle /;
she admired his talents, bis noble,
frank beauty, aud she grleved
deeply over the sorrows so sudden
ly 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 CON-
prehensible to her from knowing
we'll how her mother and sister
worshipped wealth.
She heard the door of the draw
ing room open and her sisters voice
say coldly:
"Good evening, Mr.. Tucker. -
You have my best wishes tor your
future success"
Then a voice cold and naughty
:
"Thank you. have the honor
to wish you good evening"
The drawing room door closed,
and CIarice could see Morris stand
ing under the hail lamp, silent and
evidently wishing to recover some
what from the pain Ofthe trying in
terview before gong into the street.
He was very pale, and the bright.
ness that had formed one OF the
greatest attractions of his face was
all stricken from it. The sad, paIlid
face conquered all Clarlce's shy
ness. With a sudden, irresistible
impulse she glided down the stairs
aud stood beside Morris. He did
not hear the light foot fall upon
thick carpet, nor see that he was
rot alone until soft touch on his
arm startled him. Looking down
he saw a sweet, pleading face, soft
brown eyes, misty with unsbed
tears, raised to his OVID. while
CIarice said, in low voice
"Morrls / must tell you how sOr-
ry l feel for you and Uncle John.'
"Thsnk you," he said, gravely,
covering the little white hand upon
his arm with bis 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 | do no one
who feels more deeply any mistor-
tune that can happen to hin L.
~ will carry your messsg =. And
will you wish me God-spee d, too,
Clarice 7 Ishall sail for Cab fOrnia
in few days"
The large, brown eyes dii'ated,
while the sweet face grew viii te as
snow. The blow was too sud den.
without word or murmur Cla rice
&. :.