Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-01-19
FLORENCE'S REWARD.
BY FRANCIS HENsHAw BADEN.


snow. l. was just cold enough tt
freeze. The sleighbells were ringing
merrily. The children were having
gay time, skating and coasting, ani
playing tricks on passers-by. One de
crepit old man was thrown down b,
their tricks, and lay so still they feared
they had killed him.
Another eve 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, and,
unmindful of her costly attire, the rich
silk that fell in heavy folds about hel
form, she sank down by the old man,
exclaiming
"For shame, boysl 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 ty 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
cessful. The old man opened his ewes.
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
Tel MIR. Granger will be up very
soon. Ask mamma to entertain him. y
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 al 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: 81
Zone 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 viii go home" he saws. 'NWeIl.
you must wait little longer, and will
have the carriage
-s-" A carriagel If you please, Flor
enee, send Brown to procure one, Mrs.
Cameron said. As she turned to leave
the room, she continued, 'sMr. Granger
will feel fattered by your conduct"
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 size 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.. GraingeI
passed the compliments of the day,
when again the door opened and ano-
ther young man entered. He was not
strikingly handsome, like the O her,
but his was the face u one that chill.
dren love to linger near, women con.
fide in, and men trust.
Excuse me, but / have permission,
he said. "Mrs. Cameron told me yor
were entertaining your guests here"
Turning to greet Mr.. Granger, tine
young man saw the sufferer on tht
lounge.
''Who have you herea Are you hurt
sira" he sald, going up to the side d
the old man and taking his hand.
Briefly Florence told of his fall; and
the look of admiration, nay, almost ad
Grafton, which beamed in William Hart
lcy's eyes as they sought hers, ought te
have been the balm to entirely heal The
wound caused by Carl Grainger's look
But 1T was not, Just then, for Florence
had thought more of the handsome Car
than any of the other young men who
visited the house. She was dreadful,
disappointed to knotv him so different
from. her thoughts.
The old man signified his desire tt
go; and when Brown returned with
carriage, William Hartley, with almos
L.