The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

Fox, with an aspect of polite impassibiI-
ty. "The bias puffs and folds cut up
the material shockingly, and"
But at this moment, little Flora Fay,
who was packing some tulle capes and
fichus into a bandbox. at the back of
the room, rose and came forward, with
deepening color.
"There are two yards and ahalf of
the mode -colored silk, Miss Fox" ;" she
Interrupted" don't you remember p
on the shelf in the back room.
Miss Fox colored and bit her lin.
Madame Molini, with ominously dark
ened face, twitched the two yards and a
half of silk off the shelf, folded it into
paper and handed it to Miss Portescue
muttering something about ga mistake
made by one of her young women and
the young lady departed, little dubi-
GUS as to whether or not the fashion
able dressmaker had intended to cheat
her.
She had hardly closed the door be-
hind her, however, when Madame Mol
ini turned upon poor Flora Fay, with
scarlet spot glowing in each cheek and
lips closely compressed.
Young woman" said she, "you are
discharged \"
Discharged ;" echoed Flora. "For
what ?"
81 want no one in my service, said
madame, "who Is too conscientious TO
fulfill my wishes. You have intermed-
died unwarrantably in the matter of that
silk, and repeat that you are no longer
in my employment
So poor little Flora went crying home,
with. a vague comprehension that she
had been discharged because she had
spoken out the truth.
1t was nearly fortnight afterward
that Capt. Drake noticed the absence of
Miss Fay from the table at the board
ing-house.
Is your little blue-eyed lodger i'll,
Mrs. Dodds 2" he asked. 81 don't think
/ have seen her of late"
"No, she's not i'll, " said the landlady.
"That is to say not exactly sick. But
she will be if she don't look out. She's
boarding herself, Capt Drake, on bread
and crackers, and such like, poor dear
and wasting away like a little shadow,
because she's lost her situation at that
dressmaking place, and don't see her
way clear to another. And she won't
run IN debt, she says, not even for
meal of victuals. All ! 4" the good woman
added, 81 can remember when she was
the pet and darling of the old folks at |
home, before they lost their all, running |
about among the daisies and buttercups |
like sunbeam"
"But how did she come to lose her |
place ," asked Capt. Drake.
And Mrs. Dodds, who liked to hear /
the sound OF her own voice, told the |
whole story.
cts shame" cried the Captain.
Just what say myself" nodded the
landlady.
And the next day, Miss Fortescue
(who was Mrs. Arkwright now, came
to see Flora Fay.
:" 1t was all my fault, ;" said she. With
atectonate vehemence, "that you lost 4
your sltuation-and oh, if yQu Nssss.SI
only come and stay with me, and Isellp I
me with the sewing for nv new house. / |
should esteem it such favor. Would |
You, please?"
" Are you quite sure that can make
myself useful?" " said Flora, little hesi-
tatingly.
Yes, quite, said Mrs. Arkwright.
And, IN the sunny atmosphere of the
brides pretty home, the young country
girl seemed to expand into a different
Capt. Drake, the most de-
voted brother in the world, came there
nearly every day and little Flora, all
unconscious of her own feelings, began
to watch for his daily visit as a hello
trope blossom watches the sun.
Until, at last, there was talk of anoth-
or long voyage TO Japan, and then Flora
grew pale and nervous again.
IL have been here long enough, "
she said. elf 1 go to the Exchange
Bureau they will probably tell me of a
1ew situation. And need change"
But Capt. Drake went straight to the
'oot of the matter.
"Flora," said he, Z" are you unwilling
hat should sail to Jeddo? ?'
'' l always had a horror of the sea"
whispered Flora, hanging down her
pretty head. "But, of course, Capt.
Drake, you must do as you please"
Yes, of course" he answered, alb
'ently, and when he had gone Flora
'hed few quiet tears over the table
inen she was hemming for Mrs. Ark
wright.
"How bold and unmaidenly it is of
ne, she thought, to- let myself care
or a man who does not think twice of
ne If he had cared one iota for me
would he not have said so then ?"
But the next evening at dusk Capt.
Drake sauntered in with that swing ging
gait of his, as if he were still treading
the deck of an outward-bound vessel.
Don't run away, Flora" said he, as
'he girl caught up her work and pre-
pared for precipitate retreat.
"Did-did you want to speak to me?'
she faltered with downcast eyes.
"Don't always want to speak to you?
Sit down, Flora," said he, "and hear
what I've been planning"
Now it is coming thought Flora,
with a sick feeling at her heart. "Heis
going to be married, and he is coming
to tell me Sc"
81 have decided to give up the sea-
faring business, said Capt Drake.
"Have you ?" futtered Flora family.
" am so glad F"
"And I've bought farm in Connect
icut," he went on-"the old Berkshire
farm, Flora, where you were born and
brought up. I'm going to be a farmer"
She looked at HIM, the rose and lily
each othepacross her cheeks.
"Oh !" she cried, involuntarily. "If I
could only see the dear old place once
more 70
"But won't go there to ive," said
the Captain, determinedly, "unless
you'll go there with me, Flora, as the
farmers wife What do you think of
it, little girl? Shall it be a partner
ship?"
And when Mrs. Arkwright came in.
the papers were all sealed, signed and
and the partnership" was a
Ioregone conclusion.
ct don't know how 1 shall succeed as
D farmer" said Capt. Drake to his sister:
I" but if little Flora here is only with
me, there's nothing in all the world that
I haven't the courage to undertake.
And when Mrs. Arkwright took FIora's
hand in hers, the girl whispered:
81 think am the happiest creature
It all the wide world tonight. Because.
dear Mrs. Arkwright. he loves me r.
EVERY man knows that one-half A. Z