Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-01-11
MARY,S GIRLHOOD.
FLORENCE'S RE YARD.
BY FRANCIS HENSHAw BADEN.

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
mansion before which the old man had
fallen another instant, and she came
running down the marble steps, an d,
unmindful of her costly attire, the rich
silk that fell in heavy folds about he1
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 short
time, the kind girls efforts were sue
cessful The old man opened his eyes,
and looked inquiringly 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 silver waiter card. She
looked at it and said:
"Tel1 Mr.. Granger I will be up very
soon. Ask mamma to entertain him. y
Fifteen minutes passed, and still she
fingered wit the suffering man. He
was lame, and the fall had occasioned
such severe pain to the afflicted limb,
that he had tainted It 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. KneeHng 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? what is the mean
ing of this 2" she asked.
The gentle girl explained, and her
mother said:
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 go home" he says. "Well,
you must wait a little longer, and will
have the carriage
GA carriagel If you please, Flor.
ence, send Brown to procure one, MRS
Cameron said. AS she turned to leave
the room, she continued, 'tMr. Grainge1
will feel fattered by your conduct" I"
"Send him here, mamma. [ 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, helooked on the suffering
man. Scarce had Mr. Graingel
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 Gnger near, women con
fide in, and men trust
'sExcuse me, but I have permission, ,
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
sir2n he SAID, going up to the side Of
the old man and taking his hand.
Briefly Florence told of his fall; ano
the look of admiration, nay, almost ad
oration, which beamed in William Hart
ley's eyes as they sought hers, ought tt
have been the balm to entirely heal tn,
wound caused by Carl Grainger's look
But it was not, just then, for Florenc,
had thought more of the handsome Car
shan any of the other young men wht
visited the house. She was dreadfully
disappointed to k7aoU him SO differen
from he1 thoughts.
The old man signifed his desire tt
go, and when Brown returned with
womanly gentleness, assisted him in
him home. An approving look from
Florence, and he jumped in, closed th'
door, and ordered the driver to tn
street and number directed.
''God bless you! You are a goo,
child [ shall never forget this day
Perhaps I'll come to see you agail
some time" the old man said, whe
leaving. ...
The same contemptuous exnressio
was again on Carl's face, and he sal
sneeringly:
"Quite distinguished acquisitio
to Miss Cameron's list of acquaintant
es.r
A deep flush mantled her fair brow
but she deigned no word of reply
Carl Granger saw he had been indis
Greet, to say the least, and endeavored
by putting forth his most fascinatin
powers, to cast away the cloud that ha
gathered on the face usually SO bright
Vail AboChlpoo "ClC II d1o1Coo. lIu
when an hour had passed, and William
Hartley returned, then, to his grea
chagrin, he saw softer light glow i
her dark eyes, and her lips wreathe
with smiles that he had failed to dra,
forth.
That night Carl Granger, determine
to know his fate, asked Florence to
his wife, and, to her parents great dis
appointment, she kindly but firmly sal
she "could not love him"
''Foolish girl Do you not kno'
that, besides his own fortune, MI
Granger is the only heir of an oil
uncle, who is fabulously rich?" sal
Mrs. Cameron.
Florence's fathers disappointment
was as keen as his wife's, for he felt hi
foundation trembling, and knew befor
long it must fall And SO it was; be
fore another year had passed the statel