The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-01-12
FLORENCE'S RE WARD.
BY FRANCIS HENsHAw BADEN.

1t was Christmas morning. The sun
was shining brightly on the new-fallen
snow. 1t was just cold enough to
freeze. The sleighbells were ringing
merrily. The children were having a
gay time, skating and coasting, and
playing tricks on passers-by. One de-
crepit old man was thrown down by
their tricks. and lay so still they feared
they had killed him.
Another eye besides theirs witnessed
the accident and its cause. A young
girl stood In the bay-window of the
fallen another instant, and she came
running down the marble steps, and,
unmindful of her costly attire, the rich
silk that fell in heavy folds about her
form, she sank down by the old man,
exclaiming;
"For shame, boys! Come, Eugene,
and help me raise him. Nay, he must
be carried. Go bring Brown here. "
A moment or two after, Eugene re-
turned, followed by large, strong
looking man, who, in obedience to the
girls command, raised and bore to the
house the inanimate form of the poor
old stranger
"Gently, gently, brown! Place him
on the lounge" she said.
Restoratives were applied. Tenderly
he was cared for. And after a short
time, the kind girls efforts were sue
oessful. The old man opened his eyes,
and looked inqliringly into her face
She explained the accident. and was
holding a glass of wine to his lips,
when servant entered the room. bear
ing on a silver waiter card. She
looked at it and said
"Tell Mr.. Granger / will be mp very
soon. Ask mamma to entertain him. >
Fifteen minutes passed, and still she
fingered wit h the suffering man. He
was lame, and the fall had occasioned
such severe pain to the afflicted limb,
that he had tainted 1t was impossible
for him to walk at all just then.
A rustic of silken robes, and Mrs.
Cameron glided into the room, and
stood looking with perfect amazement
on the scene before her. Kneeling be-
side the lounge, alternately bathing
the face and placing wine to the lips of
the miserable old man, was her daugh-
ter
Florence who's what is the mean
ing of this 2" she asked.
The gentle girl explained, and her
mother said:
lone of the servants could have at
tended to him. If he is able to be
moved now, you had better send word
to the proper authorities, and have
him carried TO his home, or the aims
house"
"But, mamma, We are the proper
ones to attend him. Eugene and his
companions are accountable for his suf-
fering."
The old man said something in low,
feeble voice, and Florence's ear was
bent close to catch the words.
''He will 60 home," he says. "Well
you must wait little longer, and | will
have the carriage
"a carriage. If you please, Flor
ence, send Brown to procure one, Mrs.
Cameron said. AS she turned to leave
the room, she continued, ''Mr. Granger
will feel fattered by your conduct"
Send him here, mamma. I know
he will think I'm doing right.
A few moments more and Carl Grain
ger came into the room. Florence s
sweet, bright face, that had been rails
ed to greet him, was suddenly cloud
ed. She saw that she had mistaken
her lover-for, with an expression of
contempt, which he could not, or cared
not to hide, he looked on the suffering
man. Scarce had Mr.. Granger
passed the compliments of the day.
when again the door opened and ano-
ther young man entered He was not
strikingly handsome, like the other.
but his was the face of one that chill
dren love to hnger near, women con-
fide in, and men trust.
Excuse me, but / have permission, y
he said. "Mrs. Cameron told me YOU
were entertaining your guests here
Turning to greet Mr. Granger, the
young man saw the sufferer on the
lounge.
- "Who have You here! Are You hurt,
sIrg" he sad, going up to the side of
the old man and taking his hand.
BrleliE Florence told of his fall; and
the look of admiration, nay, almost adj
Grafton, which beamed in William Hart
ley's eyes as they sought hers, ought to
have been the balm to entirely heal the
wound caused by Carl Grainger's look.
~ ""S NV tuSt tiiSii, AoA L i'iShtc
had thought more of the handsome Carl
than any of the other young men who
visited the house. She was dreadfully
disappointed TO kR0ic him SO different
from hei thoughts.
The old man signitied his desire to
go; and when Brown returned with q
carnage William Hartley, with almost