The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-01-21
FLORENCE'S REWARD.
BY FRANCIS HENSHAW BADEN.

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 it's 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 IL 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 short
time, the kind girls efforts were sue
cessfu1. 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 a silver waiter a card. She
looked at it and said
"Ten Mr.. Granger [ Will be up very
soon. Ask mamma to entertain him. "
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 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
''F1orencel- who? what is the mean
ing of this ~ she asked
The gentle girl explained, and her
mother said
One 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, OF the aims
house,
g But, mamma, We are the proper
ones to attend him. Eugene and his
companions are accountable for his suf-
fering."
The old man said somethingin a low,
bent close to catch the words.
"He Will go home" he says 'TWell,
you must wait little longer, and [ will
have the carriage
g A carriage! If you please, Flor
ence, send Brown to procure one, Mrs.
Cameron said. As she turned to leave
the room, she continued, E'Mr. Granger
viii feel tlattered by your conduct"
$ Send him here, mamma [ know
he viii 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. Grain ger
passed the compliments of the day,
when again the door opened and ano-
Their 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, :"
he said. "Mrs. Cameron told me You
were entertaining your guests here y
Turning to greet Mr.. Granger, the
young man saw the sufferer on the
lounge
''Who have you here2 Are you hurt,
sir2" he SAID, going up to the side of
the old man and taking his hand.
Briefly 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 Changers look
But 1t was not, Just then, for Florence
had thought more of the handsome Carl
than any of the other young men who
visited the house. She was dreadfullv
disappointed to krotC him so different
from hel thoughts.
The old man signiied his desire to
go; and when Brown returned with a
carriage, William Hartley, with almost
womanly gentleness, assisted him In,
and urged that he might accompany
him home. An approving look from
Florence, and he jumped in, closed the
door, and ordered the driver to the
street and number directed.
''God bless youl You are a good
child. / shall never forget this dav.
Perhaps I'll come to see Won AGAIN
some time the old man said, when
leaving.
The same contemptuous expression
was again on Carl's face, and he said
sneeringly:
Quite distinguished acquisition
to Miss Cameron's list of Acquaintance
es.n
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 underworld,
by putting forth his most fascinating
powers, to cast away the cloud that had
gathered on the face usually so bright.
Carls attempts were frIitless. But
when an hour had passed, and William
Hartley returned, then, to his great
I.ae IL