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

winter morning, edCu Wfsu OOPJ
OF the mornings paper in his hand,
each with a clouded brow and
troubled eye. The elder gentleman
was the first to speak.
at is a bad business, Morris ~
"a bad business indeed, sir -
Then there was another long ST.
lence, while each again read the
ominous news OF the failure OF
firm whose business was so involv-
ed with their own that the iailnre
of one house was utter ruin to the
other. The hot chops cooled On
the dish, the coffee was untouched,
aud the breakfast literally fOc-
gotten, when the gentlemen left
the house to ascertain the extent
of their misfortunes. Bad as they
feared these would prove, the
realities we're even worse than the
anticipation, and before night the
old firm of Tucker & Co. was in
the list of failures.
There was dreaIy amount Of
hard, distasteful work to be done
after the failure was an established
fact but Morris Tucker Lever
fiinched from any task or inter
view till nigbt.shadows fell, and
be faced his uncle at the table once
more. Then, with set features and
a pale face, he said
"If you can spare me for an
hour, sir, think had better call
on Miss Creswell."
81 can spare you, but are you
wise to hurry an interview that, l
fear, will be very PAINFUL"
"Better to understand my posi-
tion at once, SIT. If" he moist
ened his dry lips here, as if the
words choked him-"if Meta is
true 10 me | Will remain here and
try to work my way up again TO
the position held only yesterday.
If she frees me from my engage
ment, accept your proposal to go I
to California"
~ think it good time to look |
up those old claims said Dir. |
Tucker, sliding easily over the frst
part of his nephew's speech "there !
may be money in them"
ave will see , If DO not 20 |
we may be able to find some trusty
messenger"
"I am afraid you will CO." bis
uncle said.
at may be, Mrs. Creswell is a
worldly woman"
"Meta is a worldly woman
Nay, let me speak, Morris. !
have SAID nothing before, though !
my heart was sore over your choice |,
of a wife. Meta is wonderfully I
facinatlng, beautiful and accom-.
plisbed as but few women are, but \
she. is thoroughly heartless. J
hoped your choice would fall on /
Clarlce."
"Clarice! She is a mere child N
"ODly two years younger than
Meta. | love her very dearly,
Norris
"But you are fond of Meta ~
$40! For her fathers sake, the |
brother Of my dead wife, L have /
tried to love Meta, but she repels |
me -
''Yet you never spoke when |
told you | should seek to win her !
love-"
"Becaose love IS too sacred in
my eyes for anyone to interfere
with its expression. If Meta loves !
you | will give warm welcome and !
cordial affection when she becomes
your wife, Morris. But nerve
yourself for the worst, my boy !"
Ncrve' for the worst, Morris
Tucke- songht his betrOthed bride.
From the time be had come from
his western home, an orphaned lad
OF nineteen, to accept his uncle's
offer of home he had met Meta
Creswe,l constantly. He had re-
celved cordial welcome from her
mother, and had not suspected the
schemes and subtitle influence that
had led HIM on, step by step, from
the position of friend to that of ac-
cepted suitOr of the beautiful girl.
While his feet we're bringing him
slowly to the mOmentOus interview
after the failure of the firm of which
his uncle had made him full part
ner, Mrs. CresswelI was schooling
her daughter to meet the emer-
gency.
"Did you wnte to Morris, Metair
she asked, languidly stirring her
coffee.
"Not yet" was the reply. "He
will probably call, being an honor
able gentleman"
III hope you will be firm, Meta.
Remember that you have been the