The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-05-17

SS1ta ohN hciP Nhihb hhe Oio't hahocoht
soldier with his bright brown hair and gay
uniform
Miss Harrington had had lovers by the
score, and had love made to her every
night IN the plays, aud even the ugliest
actresses every now and then had paris as.
signed, where lovers played conspicuous
part, but never Floriue. She held her
flower wres,hs, and danced, and sa ng very
sweetly, but that was all. Frank brushed
lightly, with his delicate handkerchief, the
mock satin OF her spangled bodice, and
helped her across the way. Now tell me
your name, Petite" he said "You dance
aud sing like fairy queen, and ought to
know you but do not"
"florine-Florine Florisel on the bills, -
she said readily enough, but my true name
is Florine Grey"
And ! am only Frank Armitage" lie
said; "doyou 90 on again alter this dance, -
No" she whispered, and began to move
uueasily toward the entrance
81 shall wait Tor you here he said, "anI
walk home with you"
The scene was long, aud his heart ached
for the weary child, Tor he knew the little
feet were worn with the much piroueting
on the hard boards. lie hummed some
morceaux OF German song, an | fancy pi =
tured the vision OF Gretchen, the MILLER 8
Eliin Child" And it took the .emblance
OF reality when Florine came up to him
with the little hood OF cherry silk on the
golden hair
And so the acquaintance began between
them, and he gradually learned her fororn
history. OF her father she knew nothing,
except that he had been soldier, and her
mother had died and left hei TO the care oil
the childs aged grandmother, who now
WAS helpless and blind
They had once been in aifiuence, Lu,
death and poverty had brought them 10
their present life and the dainty faced
child could find no better thing to do, than
her poor earning at the theater
Frank Armitages vacation waned with
the brightness of the Summer, but he was
carrying the thought away with him, tina,
he had added something to the former
grayness OF Florines life. lie had given
her flowers, bright, warm tinted flowers
that she wore in gay groups on her snowy
dress, and trained them in her shining
hair, Tor which she had thrown aside til,
wretched painted thing that formerly adorn
the sweetest bouquets o { blue eye dviolets, q
handful OF mignonette and starry forget.
me-nots, or II bunch OF pale blush roses
with the lingering scent that the southern
eu"sh'"e bre"thed upon their beauty, oud
now she never envicd Miss harrington :
splendid exotIcs, with which she was fairly
showered each night of the season
Frank had made such kind suggestion.
TOO, about the arrangement oil her bright
hair, aud taught her graceful poses fol
the stage, aud had only meant her we'll,
had taken her under his sheltering wing
and aroused her ambition, and was make.
ing quite a success Of her in n small wav
aud in his enthusiasm would have created
her star at once, and had her name
sounded throughout ali christendom, secur
ing her fame aad fortune with one stroke
but then these were only visions. from OF hi,
own generous nature Tor she WAS only lit.
tie Florine; but he.had nnNittiugy sue
ceeded in making himself all in all to her
and beyond his cheering winsonr, smile
she cared, hoped, or looked Tor nothing.
Now Miss Floriue bad taken the liberty
to ask him to the little strawberry supper
and Florine was in despair Her kind
friend Frank had never been in the rooms
OF her lodging, aud she dreaded for him tc
see the bare poverty displayed there, and
Miss Florine had meant it 50 kindly thi,
asking him To join the party, believing
that she was thereby conlerrlns favor
OF the hostess, who was too rrticent to ask
INN herself
cot course l'll come, he said in his quick
bright way, "nnd thers'll be no one there
Petite, but you, Miss Harrington and NY
self"
Somehow FIorines heart had not been
very light during ihe long day, aud 50 sh,
had never before asked any one to ten with
her. she considered 10 an herculean under
taking. She had sold some pretty books
bound in crimson and gold, that bad been
let by her father, aud with the scant
amount o. money obtained TOR them, horcd