Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1901-03-22

And her daughters Kitty and Mar
gerry echoed her words.
Couldn't you have got of for an
other week?" said his father, break
ing a hot roll carefully. Nov tina
you're partner, though"
Nov that I'm partner, it's har,
work getting off," responded Harye.
Seely. 1T was all could do"
| He paused suddenly.
What was all you could do?" In
Quired Kitty.
WELL" said Harvey, laying dowr
his knife and fork, with beaminl
smile, here goes; Here's the new,
I've been saving up for you till the last
from natural modesty. It was al
could do to get things arranged SC
that could go on my wedding trip q
month hence. am going to be mar
ried.
Kitty's spoon fell into her saucer
with clatter. and Mr.. Seely dropped
his roll hastily.
Married." said Margery breathless-
ly.
Mrs. Seely alone remained calm.
She rolled up her napkin, put 1t in
Its ring and looked at her son through
her gold-bowed glasses composedly.
She felt. however. that this was an
important crisis.
When Harvey--their only son--had,
with commendable independence, left
his pleasant home to "get start" In
the neighborng city, they had ill
expected great things of him.
He wD1ld be rapidly successful; he
would distinguish himself In the pro-
fession he had chosen and amass for
tune; and he would WOO and win
some sweet girl, with a long row Of
ancestors-the Seelys, being them.
selves a good old family. were great
respecters of blue blood-a host of
accomplishments and heavy dowry.
Their hopes had seemed likely to be
fulfilled. Harvey had proved himself
possessed of remarkable business quail
tiles; he had risen quickly, and had re-
gently exceeded their widest ambi-
lions by being made junior party Of
his firm.
All that now remained to be desired
was his safe conquest Of the beautiful
and aristocratic young person OF their
dreams, with her many talents and
substantial inheritance
II is not to be wondered at, there.
fore, that the girls were tremblin3wlth
eagerfress; that Mr.. Seely fumbled
with his watch chain in nervous sus-
pense, and that Mrs. Seely opened her
lips twice before she found strength
to PROFOUND the all-important Queg-
ton:
"Who Is she?"
"She is a Miss Dora Berdan at pres
ent," said Harvey smilingly.
"Berdan?" Mrs. Seely repeated, and
raised her brows inquiringly. 81 don't
think I have heard of the family"
mot at all likely" Harvey rejoined.
''They are quiet people,"
"Berdan!" Mrs. seely repeated,
uuoIuSiy. NJ, L udNc nOJ uediu Vi
them. Where do they live?"
I'm Weyman street" responded
Harvey.
Mrs. Seely fell back in her chair
with little gasp; her husband turned
q dismayed face upon his son: and
Kitty and Margery gave little screams.
"Weyman street! It was miles from
the region OF aristocracy; 1t was
peopled with working girls, and seam
stresses and small shopkepers; with
street vendors and old apple-wome
for all the Seelys knew.
mot Weyman street, Harvey?'
said his father. appealingly.
Certainly; Weyman street." Har.
.vey repeated.
"But she Is not--she cannot be of
good family. living In Weyman
street," said Mrs. Seely. anxiously.
"The family is quite respectable"
her son responded. quietly. "Dora's
mother Is widow. She sews for
lace-goods house. and Dora has been
assistant bookkeeper In our estab-
lishment that is how l met her.
Mrs. Seely groaned.
"a bookkeeper--a seamstress!" she
calculated. "Oh. Harvey. you could
not have done worse!"
"A penniless girl" said his father,
solemnly. "And after all we have
hoped for you! No; 1t could not be
worse"
"A common working-girl!" said
Kitty, in a choking voice. "And
everybody will know 1t! Oh. Harvey,
1t couldn't be worse!"
The young man looked from one to
another in astonished. hurt and half
contemptuous silence.
Margery turned to him, with gen.
tie sympathy mingling with the
dismay in her face.
perhaps" she said. hopefully
0parh no fha-e Ia s0m Of hing IN make