Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-01-26
Their Daughter=in=LaW.
BY EMMA A. OpPER.
eae q ex.<ysyeeN S,alsSes< g

at her son, with ahcttIOnnte concern
And her daughters Kitty and Mar
gerry echoed her words,
"Couldn't you have got off for an
other week." said his father, brea,-
inS hot roll carefully, Now that
you're partner, though"
"Now that In partner, It's hard
work getting oil" responded Harvey
SecIN 1T Was ~ could do"
/ He paused std ,uAly
"Wha, was Al you could do?" in
quircd Kitty.
"WeiI,' said Harvey, laying down
lis knife and fork, with Il heaminS
/ 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 50
/ that could so on my wedding trip Il
/ month hence. am going to be mar
ried
Kitty's spoon fell into her saucer
with catter, and Mr.. Seely dropped
his roll hastily.
Married." said Margcry brcathless-
! 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 ITarvey-their only son-had,
with commendabe independence, left
his pleasant home to get start" IN
/ the neighboring city, they had Ill
expected great things of him.
He would 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 long row rf
ancestors-the Seelys. being them.
( selves a good old family, were great
respecters of blue blood-a host of
accomplishments and a heavy dowry.
Their hopes had seemed likely to he
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 If
his firm.
All that now remained to be desire
vas his safe conquest of the beautiful
and aristocratic young person of thcir'
dreams. with her many talents ard
substantial inheritance.
1t is not to he wondered at, there
fore. that the girls were trembling with
eagerness; that Mr.. Seely fumblel
with his watch chain in nervous suj-
pense, and that Mrs. Seely opened her
lips twice before she found strength
to PROFOUND the all-important qurH-
ton:
who is she?"
She is a Miss Dora Berdan at pres
cnt," said Harvey smlingly.
"Bcrdan?" Mrs. Seelv repeated, ana
raised her brows inqniringly. Il don't
think have heard of the family
mot at all likely" Harvey rejoincd.
They are quiet people
"Bcrdan," Mrs. Scely repeated.
musingly mo; | have not heard OF
them Where do they live"
"In Weyman street" responded
Harvey.
Mrs. Seely fell back in her chair
with a little gasp; her husband turned
dsmaycd face upon his son; and
Kitty and Margery gave little screams
"Wevman street! 1t was miles from
the region of aristocracy; it was
peopled with working girls. and seam
stresses and small shopkcpcrs: with
street vendors and old applewome
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 Wcyman
street," said Mrs. Seely, anxiolsly.
"The family is quite respectable"
her son responded, quietly. "Doras
mother is a widow. She sews for a
lacegoods house. and Dora has been
assistant bOokkeeper in our estab,
lishment; that is how | met her.
Mrs. Seely groaned.
"A bookkecper-a seamstress." she
calculated. "Oh. Harvey, you could
not have done worse
"A pennless girl" said his father
solemnly And after all we have
hoped for you. No; it could not be
worse"
"A common working girl" said
Kitty, in choking voice. "And
everybody will know it, Oh, Harvey
it couldn't be worse"
The young man looked from one to
another in astonished. hurt and half
contemptuous silence
Margery turned to him. with a gen
tie sympathy minglng with the
dismay in her face.
Perhaps" she said, hopefully
perhaps there is something to make
up? Perhaps she is wonderful
beauty, or great genius, or some
thing"
Harvey gave her grateful smile.
Il think her pretty, of course" he
said. But | suppose that's because
I'm fond of her. | don't think she
would be called beauty. And as for
genuis-she's very clever at accounts:
but she doesn't sing, or paint, or any.
thing OF that sort. She's never had
the time or money for such things,
poor girl"
But Margery had turned away with
an impatient gesture.
ic II IN Ia,
despairingly mo; it couldn't be
worse"
Harvey rose from his seat, with an
energy which set the bell in the castor
inging.
This is absurd" he said Indignantly.
1T is more than absurd; it is unjust
and narrow-minded. How scnsible-pre.
sumably sensible people" Harvey
corrected, rather bitterly, "can say, in
.,