The Osceola times., 1877-08-18


The following night, as Bell was going
softly down TO the kitchen for mustard
The door of Mr.. Gasgoigne's study opened
and the draught blew out her candle as
he closed it and came forward.
You keep late vigils, Mr.. Gascoigne,
she exclaimed. at has just struck
twelve"
"And of what do you suppose Flora
is fraid ? That you are getting bored
with her ~
"Bored with Flora" ?" he repeated,
smiling broadly. "Cant you imagine
who never bores me?'
"Is it riddle@ laughed Bell, with a
sob in her throat. Il suppose might
guess with great effort otimagination y
Why did he torture her with his conf
dences?
81 should think you might, +" he pur
sued, still smiling, but not no confidently
During your absence at Mrs. Raymond
bedside have become confirmed in sen
timent whose existence | had only sus
pected before. Is there any hope for me
| wonder 2"
"Any hope ?' she answered, confused
ly-"any hope? l-how can | tellg
Don't you know p a-ked he, mourn
fully, his great dark eyes shining appeal
ingly in the dim light. "Conldn't you
give me morsel Of encouragement"
81 could--I will find out--if you wish.
| would give it now-this minute-you
know | would, don't you f-ii l dared
il | were certain"
Did he doubt that Flora loved him?
Bless you ~ he said, iervently. " am
willing to wait it is 50 much better than
despair dealt at one blow" Then he
lighted her candle from his own, and
left her with blank dismay pictured upon
her face. There was no question but heI
match making had succeeded, and she
herself was in love with Clarence Gas
coignc Another woman might have
played false at this unexpected crisis and
deemed that all was fair in love, but Bell
Raymond was of finer clay.
"You dearold go between" cried Flora
when Bell made her revelations, "the
Bishop Valentine himself couldn't hold q
candle to you. It's too good to be true
DO | love him ? Don't | Confirmed in
a sentiment whose existence he had only
suspected before Mrs. Raymond's illLess,
is be ?" Well, must confess hardly ex
pected such good fortune. He'sso re
served, / suppose, and and Why he has
never so much as kissed my hand,
or pressed it, though he has had plen.
ty of opportunity. Well, you can go tell
him that the adage Faint heart never woH
fair lady is disproved. I'll wait here. f"
Somebody knocked family at Mr. Gas,
coigne's study door. " Come in, he said
mistaking il for the maid.
Flora is waiting for you in the par
lor," began Bell.
Waiting for me Flora p repeated
Mr.. Gascoigne.
Yes. have told her; she is waiting
to confirm your hope, Mr.. Gascoigne
She bids me say that the adage Faint
heart never won fair lady is disproved
When you intimated to me the oihe
night that you loved her suspected tha
it was not in vain, bnt could not be Ger
tain. you know. Now know she love
you with all her heart. ] am sure OF II
Don't let me keep you an instant;
must seem like eternity to Flora. Sh
is waiting for you in the parlor. Go
Why do you hesitate Don't you be
lieve me ?"
Mr.. Gascoiene had risen, deathly pale
with solemn, wounded look in his shin
ming eyes, and great circles growing b'
meath them his lips moved wlthou
| forming words. His whole attitude wa
that of one overcome with unexpecte
happiness, it seemed to Bell, as he stead
led himself by grasping with tremblin
hands the chair beside him.
"You told Flora that loved her n
gasped. "You told her that loved her 7
"Why, yes told her you had bee
confirmed in sentiment whose exlstenc
YOU had only suspected before you wer
thrown together so much by Aunt Milly'
! Illness" repeated Bell.
"And you say that Flora loves me
You are sure of it ~
81 am sure. Go and ask her = an
Bell went slowly out; but II was som
time before Mr.. Gascoigne obeyed her.
"He is the oldest lover in the world /,
confessed Flora, later Nothing spoone
or gushing about him. | suppose
wouldn't be dignifed for clergyman
Why, he only kissed me twice, il you
believe it, Bell, and looked as solemn
an owl, and said he hoped he woul
make me happy. Goodness! Pm happ
already, and | told him so. Do you know
Bell. never had an out-and-out Oft
before, though I'm twenty-seven."
Miss Raymond offered thanks whe
Mr. Gascoippe took his vacation to IL
White Hills and Flora went home to a
quaint her friends with her new prospect
and to Join her lover, with her mothe
at the mountain house later. Bell
summer work was ended there was mol
ing more for her TO do but TO sit az
count the cost of matchmaking. In Il
meantime Flora wrote her friend long co
fidential letters from the mountains.
"Such larksl We do nothing but el
iov ourselves Who do you tbink v
found here but Observation-Disclosures
the heir of Pine Hill, Mr. Chester Gale
der, If Hspbzard. And such swell
He danced with me five times at the h'
last highland didn't the other wom'
look daggers One dared to say it W
because I'm engaged, and it's 80 "A
flirting with engaged girls---all the Fl
and none of the danger Let them raw
J I'll weren't engaged-who knows p
might fancy living at Pine Hill, with
; retinue of servants, driving in my carrial
and cracking in my silks didn't Il
you, did /, that the stocks in which n
: money wasinvested have declined me
, shamelully So Mr.. Discount, my bu
ness man, writes me- But there's dear q
: Clarence do yon know he isn't par
Gle jealous@' While a later date ra
: "Mr. Calender and are just in from
climb nm the maintain with n small m