Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-06-22

down stairs deceived, destroyed and de-
serted her. Oh the disgrace too! She
died of a broken heart The circum-
stance came very near breaking up the
school. If Mrs. Marsden were not such
a thorough lady and teacher she could
not have kept up. She sent him away
and he for years wandered every where,
only coming home at long intervals
Mrs. Marsden dares not let him remain
long, for he is so fascinating that the
girls seem to forget about poor Claire"
At this moment servant brought a
message to Miss. st. John from Mrs.
Marsden. A package of music had ar
rived which Flora had been impatient
to receive.
She was wide awake, and asked
Where is the music? In the reception
room miss. Mrs. Marsden and her son
are in there"
'Look your prettiest, Miss Flora"
cried Mamie. 'T do wish you would
flirt with him and break his heart"
''I am not so confident of my charms,
young ladies to venture on such a con-
quest and I disapprove of flirting. 1t is
immoral and wrong answered Flora
gravely.
ooh, Miss, you don't know this wick
ed fellow. You would be doing a right
eous act, to break his heart ~
az doubt if ne has one, but if he has
'twOuld be a small triumph if you. do
him justice ~
"She heard us" exclaimed Mamie 'as
she departed am glad of it. Every
one should be warned of such vii
lain !"
Meantime Flora hurried down with no
thought save of her errand and the pro-
liability of meeting an utter stranger
Who can imagine the amusement when
entering the apartment designated, she
beheId, in conversation with Mrs. Mars
den, his hand on her arm, James Fitz
Hugh! Totally unprepared for such a
meeting, she threw up her hands, with
a wild cry and fell faintingo on a sofa. Mrs.
Marsden ran to her, exclaiming. Why,
what does thismean Do you know this
girl, James?
eyes, yes, herepIied softly. Malte-nO
noise. She will soon reviveP
She revived slowly, the apartment
seemed to swim before her, bearing the
figures of Fitz Hugh and his mother.
Presently she was fully conscious. Mrs.
Marsden was bathing her head with
water and applying her viniagrette.
'There, thank you Mrs. Marsden. I
am fully recovered now" she said faint
ly.
"But I must know the cause of this
agitation, tell me instantly James
For once the fluent fasinator had moth
ing to say and averted his eyes from his
mother.
Flora answered for him. There is
very little to learn, on the subject mad
am, and Mr.. Fitz Hugh can best in
form you in my absence. I ask your
permission to retire. She swept maies-
tically from their presence, weeping
plentiful tears as she ascended the stair
way, which were carefully dried, before
entering her room. The girls had de-
serted the chamber and berring her door
from intrusion she thus reviewed her
conduct.
"Why did 1 not prepare myself at all
times to see him it was so sudden, so
unexpected; Surely I cannot yet love
him. In future Unjust keep my heartfOr-
ever steeled to meet him calmly. I am
weeping for my weakness, not for any
love left for him. Marsden Fitz Hugh.
His mother must have been twice mar
ried! Oh if I had only asked of those girls,
his name." All! Flora st. John. You
thought your heart so strong. You lit
tie know the temptationsa woman must
fight against, in conquering such a love
as you had cherished. Fly from this
false Elysium; ere he entrap you in his
tolls again.
CHAPTER TX.
That night when the mansion was
hushed in repose, Flora penned an epis-
tie to Mrs. Marsden. She gave the his
tory of her acquaintance with Fitz
Hugh, revealing his treachery in mild
4 know madam, she added,
that you are lady and Christian, and
I am sure you will aid me in procuring
another situation, as I am far away from
home and friends.
The next morning, the two ladies met
in the drawing room, not word of the
event of yesterday was spoken by eth
er. "YOu are perhaps hasty in your de-
cision, my dear, but it may be the wisest
course to pursue. There is no vacancy
in this city at this time that you should
accept with your Incompatible talent, |
but there is a lady at one of our princi- |
pal hotels, who offers large salary for
an accomplished companion. I have !
never seen her, but from all appearances
she is immensely rich and lives in New |
York City. She wants some one who !
will attend her to places of amusement |
and only requires that the person engag-
ed will sing and read for her at stated |
times. I hear that she is quite hand
some, agreeable maiden lady, who is
very kind to the poor. The City of Rich
mond is under some obligations to her
FOR her vigilance in discovering part of a
arge amount of jewelry which was sto-
EN- from the hotel in which she resides
At present. But before you decide, con-
3ider well my dear, because strangers are
not always what they appear! James
wishes to see you would you grant him
l short inter view. I cannot say ought
% excuse him! L believe you have
written me the truth, but l wish you
would see him.
''TO save Mrs. Marsden's feelings, Flo
"a restrained her impulse to cry out,
What can James Fitz Hugh have to say
o the girl he has so cruelty insuIted.'- -
She only bowed acquiescence, as there
eemed to be no way of refusing without ,
her patroness.
Mrs. Marsden left the room moment :
md returned with herson. He approach ,
ID Flora, with all the insidious grace
md fascination of manner, which had
irst blinded her perceptions of his real !
character, but she was fully prepared to i
esist him. Motioning his mother to a I
srgA I