The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-04-03
PRIDE'S CONFLICT.
CHAPTER l..
A STORY or CASTE.

A lnrge. splcndidly furnished room,
draped with curtains of rich lace and vel
vet, enriched with goden-framed mirrors
extending from floor TO ceiling, sparkling
with crystal chandeliers; few magnih-
cent pictures on the walls, statuettes, books,
delcately.tintcd vases, fresh flowers, and
every rich or rare delight the eye could
wish for layishly displayed and tastefully
arranged.
Such was the drawing-room of Sir Ar
thur Worthington, Baronet; and his daugh-
ter and only child Florence to give the lin.
ishing touch of beauty to the splendid
scene, while she reclined in her velvet and
gilded chair, book idly held in her hand
which she yainly tried to read, or thought
she read, weary expression on her fair
patrician face, which lacked warmth, kind
Illness, content. What was it. Something
married It's perfection. Her forehead was
pure and white rs marble, her brows were
clearly and deicately penciled, her large
dark gray eyes full and bright, but yet ut
terly devoid Of tenderness, her lips were
red and soft. but yet cruelty cold-looking.
Pride unqucnchable and relentless, was
stamped on every feature of the fair young
face, love of self displayed in every fold of
her rich silken robe. in every detail of her
careful and costly toilet. Such was Flor
cnce, only child and hcircSs of Sir Arthur
Worthington, Baronet.
She had been utterly spolt and INDUCED
from her birth, which made her motherless;
and the full tide Of iatherly affection which
might to some extent have compensated
her for the great loss her childhood had
sustained, was long withheld. because She
was girl. For many years she seemed TO
lack the power to discover the secret path
which might make her cOmpanionablc 10
her father; but, rs Florence developed in
! beauty, and acquired accomplishments, Sir
| ArthurN fathcrly pride and affection for
| his daughter were kindlcd and he began to
| imagine Il possibility, though she was II
| daughter only, that she might become the
| prop of u tottering house, il the latcs were
| propitious, and she was undeniably its or
| namcnt.
But in the meantime sir Arthur could
not help discovering that his daughter was
most cXtraragant He could grudgc her
nothing; but money was far from plentiful
with him; and her uXurcs and spIendors
taxed him Sorcly
Miss WOrthington threw her book on to
II little table at her side, and looked across
to recess in the drawingroom. where an
other lady was also seated, enjoying the pc
rI,al of u French novel. She was no longer
young; and although Countess of Raven,
few people thought her pleasant to look
upon.
The noise of the falling book attracted
| her ladyShip's attention, aud she glanced
| l..
seated. The Countess was Sir Arthur
Worihington', only and widowed sister,
and. for the time, fIorcnce's guest, so that
| it beloved her ladyShip to show some in
tercst IN her young hostess movements
| She closed her own book with reluctance,
! her inert nature and the overpowering heat
I of the day making her ea>y-chair. the shady
corner Of the room, and her French novel
all very pleasant to her.
'lt might be cndurahc in the park by
| this time, aunt Margaret, if one only had q
carriage. II is trying that papa. although
| II is the end of the season. should have
taken il into his head to change the carriage
and horses before we leave town. have
wanted an open carriage SO many days
| lately: for besides the heat and discomfort,
a brougham is not the most desirable equip
age to show oneself in Miss WOrthingtOn
said iretfully.
The words reused the Countess from her
novel and her halfrecumbent position. She
threw her book aside, pushed the stool i'm
| patiently from under her feet, and raised
herself
"What do YOU mean Florence? DO You
| tell me that you are actually without a ear
riage"
40 all intcnts and purposes. aunt Mar
| garet. There Is the brougham, and the use
of a horse from Bcntlcy'S. when choose:
| but | have been without a carriage and
| horses Of my own for the last six weeks
| and just Il, the time when one wants them
most OF course the brougham does well
enough for night-work, but not to drive in
during the day, must confess papa i,
not generally 50 thoughtlcSS of my com
fort; but he saws must manage now mlil
we rclUrn from Tholnville."
"Ni0' reason has be given you Flor.
cncct' Lady Raven asked.
"Only that the carriage was too old fash.
ioEcd for me and too heavy Tor the horses
which Of course II was; and then papa
is tired Of grays, and wishes me to drive
dark bays for the future"
'''ut at least he might have left you the
grays until the bays were Forthcoming
Lady Raven remarked, with apparent rca.
son, and also with 4 meaning expression on
her iucc.
She did not dare give utierance TO what
was passing in her mind then, or She r0uld
have told her niece that her chance Of driy.
ing bays now or AT any future time was 4
very remote one She had little doubt on
the subject herself; and She had less few
minutes later, when Miss Worthington's
own maid brought her ina note on y salNcr.
"Why are you here, Marie, instead Of
Hudson" her young mistress asked,
"Bocausc one of 1hcresc'S women brought
the note herself, ma'am, and says she's been
told 10 wait for an answer. | thought IL
might be about your dress. and that you
might require me-"
alt Is not---and there is no answer" Miss
Worthipgion replied codly. And the SER
want withdrew.
But the note appeared Of some mpor-
lance TO her nevertheless, for she read and
re-read II several times, flushing deeply the
while. Lady Ravens eyes were fixed i'm
tcntly on her niece AL the time.
"What is il, florence" her ladyship
asked at length. She guessed too well, al.
though she asked 10 be enlightened
"simply a piece of impcrtincncc on the
part of rhcresc, aunt; but it is noverthc-
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