The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-07
- 80 l-.--..-. LII $3.50
ELECTED 5IS1ORH.
Florenee's Bet.


leaving this dear old place, is the thought
that you are to return with me, and that l
NAV try my utmost 10 make you enjoy the
next month as Iliave done this. ~ nHf -
. 40 inirnducc ine into society, to bring
me out supppsea" said Florence. But
don't you ihlnk | am too old for that sort OF
thing2 have seen twenty, cousin Give"
Without one seasonin London" said lie;
without one atlmircr save the clnwnish
young men Of thu neighi,nrhnodTw iioat a,
single offer of Marriage, ! mistake not
Floy Iris really shocking to bury your
'heauty for so long in such remotc place as
this. n,Hi~ Il .8iW az sai's4i Jfiab 9yhfi "
4 "As to offers ofImarragc, you are wrong"
replied the young, lady, laughing; - have
been lionorcd by two; one from Mr.. Sam
Gregory, who, with great deal of bash
lulness anil alidgctingl about, asked me to
consent to be Mrs. Sam; and thc;otherimnl
the Reverend Westrup Deane, poor curlte
who couldn't sound hisrs.m 4 didn't accept
ether." 49,,
J Mr.. Give Hardinge lifted his Hand with
gesture of disgust, and shaking his. bead, re,
piled adolclully, = Which twill eventually
c, me- 10, perhaps, if you are not quickly
lifted out of this mediocre class into that
higher grade IF society to which you are en-
IS titled by birth and position. am vlry
glad you are going to my mothei fora little
times, i,,r, although there is not my dear
cousin, a more perfect lady in all London
than you, yet the constant companionship of
this 50 called upper class of the village might
, in time cause you to forget that your supe-
rior birth, precludcd the possibility of your
choosing husband from among the families
YOU are in The habit of visiting for it would
i'll lesccm the blood If u Hardinge to mate
with one i,eilcathslier.n fi3uG7d BOD OF az aG
The hot blood flew up in a torrent to the
girls lace rs her cousin uttered these words,
fl she knew that her mother had been so
considered to ,ltmean herself when two and
. twenty years before, she disobeyed the COM
mands Of II stern pare. t. alnl sterner brother,
and proudly placed her hand in the strong,
warm grasp ot man who had no sin against
him hut poverty, his ambition day dreams,
and his love for her. She remembered how
in this obscure spot, they had eked out his
meagre pittance; how the glorious produc
tiuns OF art, that his glowing imagination
. mad viviIicd intn the noble face drawn and
sad, and large eloquent eyes, that had
fought so brayely for them, closed volume
of blindness AMI death. Then the struggle
for life, for existence--the long years of
sullcrin. and sorrow of her early lille, and
subsequently the two hundred pounds II
year that some unknown relative, dying, had
lett them. - ,.f .i...s.t i..rt i.
She had never seen single member of
her mothers family until few months he
2 iO,e, when Give flardinge, son Of that
brother who had sealed up his fathers
heart against his sister all the days of his
life. came suddenly upon them in their quiet
country home, was struck with the refine
mcnt that pervaded the atmosphere in which
his aunt and cousin lived, and charmed
with the rare grace and fresh beauty OF the
young Girl. He FASTENED to create an ami
cable understanding between his mother
and Mrs. Lyslc. which, heing easily effected.
as Mrs. Har,linge entertained no feelings 81
resentment against IL woman she had never
seen. he suddenly fancied that the cool
fresh breczes of Hill side might have bene-
iicial influence on his town bred constitu
lion; and therefore. without much ciicum-
lncution, he gave broad hint to that effect.
Fl aunt took the hint and invited him.
During his stay, he and Florer &C had been
a great deal thrown together, and with a
constant interchange Of thought and opin
ions passing between them, grew in a month
pretty well to know and appreciate each
Z other.
Give 1ar,iinage was neither handsome
nor young; but he possessed that which
English people, and English women, cspe-
cially, value more in men than correctness
OF feature, or even youth-strength, courage
and manliness. Five andthrty years had
rolled over bis head and left tie wavy hair
still brown and the gray eyes undimmed in
the fire of buyhond.3 He considered him
self u middle aged man now; and if any
midsummer day dream had ever tinged
! with transient brightness the even tennr of
life. it was long since rolled up in the past.
He took an interest in Florence. by reason
of her beauty and her unprotcction. Man
of the world as lie was, thoroughly under
standing all the ms and outs of society, he
trthat his cousin was no common girl
that she Was adapted 10 fill Il higher posi-
tion than that IN which she had yet moved.
lie took this interest to heart and acted
rather vaguely upon it. 1'ii' -h .-7ifH
In the pause that succeeded his last re-
mark, his keen discernmcnt instantly de-
tccted insult he had Internationally offered
Hci, anu Will u SiiSut ciiiUafIdSSincut Ill HIS
) face, he bent forward. and said, earnestly,
g Forgive me, Fey: do not misunderstood
my meaning. l am referring to, yourself.
You will be engaged before you leave Lon
don (; mark my words"
, The flush died out aof her face, and a
merry sparkle danced in her eyes as she said,
gaily, What, in a month"; My good cousin
how quickly yon are going to, dispose of
me! Make no such rash prophecy, thou
oracle of evil. p5deu1a gi;Gisjil nss( bed To-
but Ido," said Clive.r e Let me bet you
a dozen pair of gloves that my prediction
comes true"
Against what 2" she asked. 4 ." ''5.''1i
against a kiss" he replied. laal. al oil
sSir,r,ys surprise me y said Florence.
''Butyo would lose your, bet ,t.y, sa,4a
IF lose will pay said he, and if you
lose you must pay" ga ~ MINI '7'''''
"But I shall not lose, Cousin Give" said
Florence, III am sure that none of the gen.
tlemen to whom you introduce me will sat
isfy my fastidious taste"
swat until you see them, my dear
child" said Give. you are very unsophis
Gated. only fear they, will find too easy
ingrcss to that little, untried heart of yours
She laughed laugh that had ring al
scorn in it, which make him look up with q
puzzled expression, rs thoughh he could moi
quite tatholn her, as she left the room. =
Mrs. Earldale's saloons were crowded witt
fashion, beauty and wealth. 1t was hel
last bali of the season. ianua the, most bril