The Osceola times., 1881-08-06
FLORA'S FORTUNE.

"Narrow blue velvet ribbon ma'am?
Yes, ma'am, in half a minute. Velvet
ribbons, Miss Darcy, and look sharp
about it!''
Flora Darcy dropped the elaborate
strip of scarlet worsted upon whicn she
was at work, and hurried forward to her
place behind the counter-for Screw &
Pinch made il a rule never to allow any
time to be wasted in their establishment
W hen she saw the face of her customers
she was TO serve, she dropped the box
of velvet ribbons, and exclaimed
"Aunt Juliet?-and ClaraW
The words broke almost unconscious
ly from her lips; the next minute she
checked herself abashed.
"Dear me, Clara" filtered the elder
lady, half angry, half confused, this is
very embarrassing to"
"Do hush, mamma! What fool YOU
are" said Miss Clara Darcy, in not
very filial strain. "Of course we aren't
obliged to recognize any relationship
with this-this young woman. Let us
co." and they went.
Flora Darcy had hard day of it at
Screw & Pinch's; and 1t was not until
they were closing up for the night that
she had an opportunity to clear the
heaped-up counter which was her special
charge. A pastboard box cover lay on
the floor, partly under the counter, and
as Flora stopped to pick 1t up, something
glittered beneath it-a gilt-clasped port
monnaiel
"Some lady has left her portmonnaie
on the counter, and il has got brushed
off with the trimmings" was the girls
first thought as she opened it. "And it's
full of bank notes, tool ! never saw so
much money at one time in all my life
beforew
At the same instant a perlumed card
dropped from the inner Compartments
ard engraved in fashionable "old Eng
lish' characters:
"MRs DEvEREuX DARCY"
The blood instinctively rushed into
Floras pale and wearied cheek.
1T is Aunt Juliets purse-and the
money is hers-no, ours. Did not her
husband meanly deprive my mother of
her poor little fortune? Does he not
live in luxury while we are starving?
But 1t is not mine. l will take IL TO
Aunt Darcy at once"
She turned resolutely toward the aris.
tocratic part Of the city in which dwelt
Mrs. Devereux Darcy. 1t was long
walk, but Flora scarcely needed 1T, So
eager was she TO rid herself of the tiny
burden that was momentarlaly growing
heavier in her heart and hand.
Mrs. Darcy was at dinner; "she could
see no one" was the answer that Flora
received when she requested a brief in
terview with her aunt-nor was she
blind to the footman's insolent and
srpercilious stare as he delivered his
stereotyped answer.
"You will give her this parcel, if you
please" she said, little ANNOYED.
"Yes, miss, I'll give il TO her" was
Mercury's reply, as he yawned visibly,
asd shut the door after her; while Flora,
intini'elv relieved. trimmed away with a
heart many degrees lighter than it had
been.
81 shall soon be at home now" thought
Flora; 81 hope mamma is not alarmed
at my unusal delay"
Alas! poor Flora how little did she
anticipate how many long days and
weeks would elapse before she would be
at home AGAIN
Miss Clara Darcy had sat whole hour
in full dress, white kid gloves, silver
bouquet holder and all, and was begin
ming to wax exceedingly impatient when
at length CDR. Philipson" was an.
nounced-a frank and handsome young
man, with thoughtful gray eyes and port
erect as that OF Hyperion.
You must excuse my delay, Miss
Darcy; we professional men are not al.
ways masters of our own time, and
was detained by street accident-a
broken arm"
"Ah, indeed2"
"Yes-a pretty little sewing girl, |
should iudge-sent TO the hospitals And,
by The way, it's curious coincidence
but her name is Darcy"
Darcy echoed Clara.
"Ies-Flora Darcy"
How strange ! thought" added
Clara, with the glib readiness of the
habitual falsehood-monger, that we
were the only family OF that name in
the city. Papa-ahem-has no rela.
tiyes living"
The intense glow of the August sun
shine quivered fitfally on the floor OF
the "Convalescent Ward" as DIR. Phil
iipson's steps rung strong, nervous and
inspiring upon its threshold. There
was many heart leaped up at the
familiar sound, but most of all the heart
Of poor Flora Darcy, who was sitting up
for the first time since the long, weari.
some feyer that had followed on the
pain and Inflammation Of her broken
An ~ nsfaiss ~ bed heea think.
g g; SassaPsa.- = Tint scascsiy NOR.