Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-10-15
SELECTED STORY.
FLOY's DILEM MA.
BY HELEN ROCK WOOD.

It looked like heap of white muslin, blue
ribbons and tangled yellow floss. But when
Bereton said, "Floy? p the mysterious pile,
oddly enough, resolved itself into something
that brea,hed, and had eyes like wet violets,
very red and swollen little nose. and a scar
let, quivering mouth, that was SO tempting,
it seemed to be saying all the time, kiss
me. kiss me" ILL
Ralph Bereton, handsome old bachelor
that he was, mast have constrained himself
some as he said, II didn't know before that
one woman was capable of SO many tears =
What is the matter child -
The .child'' sopped her rosy face once
more with the cobwebby morsel she called
her handkerchief, and responded dolefully:
''Nothing."
IA likely story, that" Ralph Bereton
said, as he sat down beside her and possess
ed himself Of one little dimpled hand, despite
her struggling.
He sat some moments gravely regarding
her, and then said:
"Well, Floy?'
There was only an impatient movement of
the pretty shoulders, and Floy was dumb.
Come, Floy, I am wai,iug," he said a
gain, in a tone Of quiet authority.
II don't like to be made to do things"
Floy pouted.
rs that what you are shedding such floods
of tears about % he asked smiling.
mo-" very shortly.
| ''What then p
''Lucien-" began Floy, and stopped.
"Oh, it's about Lucien, is it,"
.Indeed it isn't about Lucien at ALL IDS
about you," in a flash.
"What has Lucien got to do with it then?"
| "He told me-"
"Oh, then shall go and ask him, since
you will not tell me"
sPleaso don't He will be SO angry, if
he knows I have told"
"Really, this is very singular" Ralph
said, regarding her with grave establishment;
"unless you tell me at once, yourself, | shall
20 to Lucien at once Floy."
"Well, then, he said-he said-oh, l
can't" t-g
"He said you always meant to marry me,
then What made you make me tell it p
and Floy became convulsive heap of mus
lin and blue ribbons again.
Ralph Bereton did not laugh this time
Instead, his handsome face deepened in ex-
preston of sternness and perplexity, and he
began slowly to pace the floor.
When Floy's excitement had in measure
subsidized, he approached her again.
eff that is the occasion of your tears, you
may dry them. l have changed my mind "
And then he went sternly away out of
the room.
II wish Lucien hadn't told me-" she said
getting slowly down from the lounge on
which she had been curled kitten fashion,
with her feet under her 'sand I'm going to
tell him So"
But on her way to the garden, where she
had left Lucien, she met one of the grooms,
who told her that he had just gone out ri
ding. e......-
He was not back to dinner. She and her
guardian dined alone, and environed by an
air of reserve and formality, very unusual.
AS Floy was quitting the dining room in
great haste afterward Ralph Bereton stopped
her.
what is the state Of things between you
and Lucien ?" he asked, with cold gentle
ness.
Floy hung her head.
Are you engaged ?" ..-.t
mo, sir" very shortly.
"What then Floy, I must know. am
your guardian, have right to know"
There isn't anything sir, only Luciea
said he-he-loved me, and that he couldn't
in honor say any more because-because of
what told you,
Ralph's handsome lip curled.
"Considerate, very" he said, and added,
kindly: Il have only your happiness at
heart, Floy, and when Lucien can give me
good proof thst he deserves you, he shall
have my full consent to marry you, if you
wish it,"
Instead of thanking him, Floy asked shy
ly.
care you angry with me, guardy 2"
ono"
She stood moment studying the figures
in the carpet, and then went confusedly out
of the room.
Lucien Detmold neither returned that day
nor the next. He was thrown from his horse
six miles away, taken up unconscious, and
lay i'll some six weeks. He had good nurs-
ing, and really did not seem to miss Floy
so very much. Floy thought the pretty
black-eyed girl who hung about his couch,
and blushed SO charmingly every time they
looked at her, the loyeliest creature she had
ever seen.
Ralph Bereton considerably took his ward
to see his nephew (Which Lucien CHANGED to
be- several times week, but the young
people had no private conversation, though
whose fault that was, it was hard to tell.
Guardian and ward maintained chilling
reserve towards each other during these
rides. Floy found it impossible to put mat
tiers on the old footing they had occupied be-
fore Lucien's revelation. And yet her guar
dian was not pnkind, and she was sure she
liked HIM as well as ever.
"He is very angry with me, of course,
and he ought to be" she ghed to herself;
"Oh, dear, wish Lucien would get well
and come home"
Lucien came at last He had stayed at
the farmhouse an ample time to fully recov-
er bis strength, for when Ralph told Floy he