The daily gazette., 1879-07-17
FIRST EDITION.
Proving Her Friends.
BY MAUD MORLEY.


By MAUD MORLEY.
Who is that girl that has just passed,
Millie? Her face is very familiar. And
really believe she knew either YOU or
me, for although she did not look tow
ard us, noticed the color deepen on
her face, which is very sweet and pretty.
Where have seen her?"
"Come on, Annie. l declare, you are
for ever publishing the fact OF your be-
ing "a young girl from the country 1t
is dreadfully rude and vulgar to turn
round and stand staring after any one.
Do come! There Is Mrs. st. John. /
would not have her see you acting so in
the street, for anything" answered Mil
lie, walking on, leaving her friend still
gazing after the retreating form which
had puzzled her.
Another call FROM Millie brought her
along, saying:
"Who is Mrs. st. John I'm sure !
don care a snap for her, But l do
want to remember where I've known
that young girl. I've mind now to 90
after her aud find out.
"YOu must not. l would not have
4ilIo. ot. OOuu-- UcRau mIillc.
"Oh, pshaw! Mrs. st. Fldulesticks
What do care for her? l don't know
her, and don't want to. Dear me, how
that girls face bothers me! Don't you
know anything of her, Mile?
eyes; and to stop you before Mrs. St.
John comes up to speak to us, will tell
you. Don't you remember, five years
ago, when you spent the Christmas with
me, the little blonde that lived next
door, and l used to be quite fond
of?"
"What! Floy CORTLAND? You
cannot mean herw
"Yes, that was Florence Courtland."
"Then why on earth did you not speak
to her?" Annie asked, with great sur
prise manifested in her looks and tone.
"Oh-why-well, you know all my
friends are very artistocratic, and if any
one of them should see me speaking to
Florence, they would wonder SO at it.
And Of course could not very well en-
ter into an explanation of what her fam
lily used to be (; so thought it better not
to recognize her. And"
"What is the matter with her? What
has she done ?" Annie asked.
"Oh, she has done nothing wrong. OF
course not. l thought you knew how
very much they were reduced. At the
time you met her, rumOr said her father
lost nearly everything. But he managed
to keep up pretty good appearance un-
til he died, about four years ago. Then
everything was seized by creditors.
Flory had to leave school and 60 to work
to help support the family.
"She has a brother two years older !;
they are both in Blacks. / used to deal
there but after Florence was employed
by them ceased going. 1t was SO very
embarrassing. We were SO very intimate
at he time. But of course one has to
drop acquaintances sometimes. What
are you staring at me for, Annie? Pm
sure 1t does not improve your appearance
to open your eyes so wide"
"Millie Morton, did not think you
were so heartless. wish had known
that was Florence Courtland. Dear girl !!
| shall certainly go to Blacks to see her
before l leave town."
'Indeed, hope you will not, Annie.
In fact, l must insist, that while my
guest, you will not attempt"
Before Millie could entef another pro-
test, her friend Mrs. st. John came up,
much to Miles annoyance.
Annie, after being presented to that
lady, begged to be excused, and left
them.
Where she went, Millie knew that
evening, when, in the midst of halt
dozen of her aristocratic friends, Annie,
asked of young gentleman near:
"Do you remember that lovely little
blonde, Flory Courtland2"
"Indeed, do," he answered adding,
''and have often wondered what had be-
come of her. Howard De We're inquiries
concerning her every time we meet.
You know he has just returned from In
dia. We thought, sometimes, he was
very deeply interested in Flory-Miss
CORTLAND, suppose l should say. She
must be quite young lady now."
"Oh, yes, and very lovely one. But
she is not as beautiful as thought she
would be. She is pale, and looks sad.
But l hope we shall be able to win the
roses back to her cheeks. She has prom
ised to visit me the coming Summer"
answered Annie, glancing across to where
Millie sat.
"Will you give me Miss Courtland's
address ?" asked the young gentle
man.
81 really forgot to get it myself" an
swered Annie continuing, 81 found her
in Blacks this afternoon. But l shall
call again before leave town, and get it.
You know"-she hesitated an instant
.her circumstances have changed very
sadly since you knew her. She is poor
now, with few friends, Of course"
Annie was interrupted by the servant
announcing "Mr. De Vere."
Howard De We're was, in olden times,
a great favorite with the girls and none
the less popular when, after an absence
of five years, he returned from
abroad.
Millie did her best to keep him as
much as possible from conversation with
Annie.
But her efforts were unavailing.
The interrupted conversation was re-
newed, and joined by Howard De
We're. -..-.-
When he was making his adieux
that evening Millie heard him say to An
ME:
"To-morrow evening. Thank you?"
"Where are you going, Annie9" Millie
asked, when The door closed on his re-
treating steps.
"To call on Flory Courtland," Annie
o,,xyorad Apuia,o ranlv mt FIGHT tn