The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-03-08
SELECTED SKETCH.
FLoRA'S FOLLY

LUNA - O1L
Flora Fountain was feeding her cage of
linnets at the window, where flourishing
vine of dark-green ivy trailed its way up the
was pretty little house of red brick, with
brown stone facings such as you often see
in the quieter and less aspiring streets of a
great city--a house which bore traces of
taste, refinement and some pretensions.
Flora, at the age of twenty had been her
fathers housekeeper for four years-and
this morning he had given her check for
fifty dollars.
To buy new dnner-set of china, my
DEAR" he said pleasantly. 81 intend to in
vte Gates and Plumer and their wives to
dinner in few days, and young Hayden
and the Misses Hazel, and I should like
everything to be ship-shape."
. Yes, papa,n said Flora
But the slight curl of her lip told that the
fanatics of Plumer and Gates, the Misses
Hazel and young Hayden, were scarcely up
to her "ideal views of society"
:" You might ask Mrs. Penrith Duke, too,
if you please" said Mr. Fountain, inciden-
tally
Mrs. Penrith Duke! To meet Mrs.
plumer and the Misses Hazel Oh, papa =
Mr. Fountain shrugged his broad, CON-
Portable shoulders.
"And why not ?" s. he. It's Mrs.
Penrith Duke made of different flesh and
blood from these excellent friends of mine ?"
No, papa" hesitated Flora, a little con-
fused that her inward thoughts had been so
readily deeiphered; "but-but she moves
in altogether different circle n
" Well, then, there let her remain" said
Mr. Fountain, brusquely. Sand as for the
china, Flo, exercise your own taste. If there
is any glass needed, let me know. l want
l-taair1E,s -rrfcer ortier. = s--s7
Papa hesitated Flora, isis business
Furnishing just now ?"
Pretty fairly, Flo. Why do you ask ?"
"Oh, papa! I" burst out the girl, 81 do SO
long for real camels-hair shawl like Mrs.
Penrith Dukes ~
Nonsense !" decisiyely uttered Mr..
Fountain. Camel's-hair shawls would be
just as inappropriate for people in our rank
of life as diamonds or servants in livery
This is some of your friend Mrs. Penrith
Dukes mad folly"
Flora colored and hung her head
81 have always longed for cashmere
shawl, papa" said she. Eft
"Then put it out of your head for good
and all" said Mr. Fountain. g l can afford
no such piece of extravaganza neither
would it be appropriate for you to wear one
if could"
''I can't think" sighed Flora to herself,
as she watched her fathers departing foot
steps, "why papa hates Mrs. Penrith Duke
so dreadfully. am sure that to me her
friendship is perfectly invaluable"
And then, having finished the morning
care of the birds, Flora Fountain sat down
to read the paper.
What pointing finger Of fate" was it
that directed her gaze to the special para
graph of the special column of the morning
paper, which read:
GREAT BARGAINS IN CAsIELS- HAIR
" shawls. Direct from India. WIN be dispos-
Apply at No. - Margin Street.
And, within the next five minutes, the
postman's whistle sounded loud and clear,
and letter came from Cousin Phebe, up in
Maine, to let her know that old Aunt Reul-
lah was dead at Inst.
"And she has left you her set OF antique china,
worth nobody knows how much, and all In per-
feet order,n wrote Cousin Phebe. s. | have Of
dered IL boxed and sent to YOU at once. and You
viii probably receive 1t the last OF the week
sudden inspiration dawned on Flora
Fountains brain.
g shall not need tho new dinner china
now she thought. And can take pa
pas cheque, and--who knows ?"-perhaps
it will help to buy me real camers-hair
shawl. have forty dollars of my own, and
could borrow-just for day or two-the
money that papa gave me for Betty's wages.
1t is worth the trial, at all events, if bar
gains are to be had"
And with quickening pulse and color
deepening on her cheek, Flora put on her
bonnet and mantle and prepared to go out.
Never before in all the course of her life
had she deliberately set at defiance the
wishes and commands of her father; but
the influence of Mrs. Penrith Duke, whom
she had met at fashionable watering place
that summer, was stronger than she had any
idea of. r.gs
Mrs. Penrith Duke had declared that no
lady was lady without a real cashmere
shawl. Mrs. Penrith Duke had praised
Flora's slim, pretty figure, and declared that
il was the very form to set off the scented
folds of an India shawl
She had mentioned, incidently, that a
eamel's-hair was like diamonds, or rare oil
paintings-a lifelong investment She had
wondered, in her soft-voiced, pretty way,
why every lady did not buy Q Valley cash
mere.
And Flora, listening, had become infect
ed with the yearning desire to possess one
of these almost unattainable Injuries.
No. - Margin street was dirty little
house, in dirty little row close to the
docks. Flora had never been so far west
before, and the aspect Of things did not
Rough-looking men, in larry Jackets and
coarse boots, slouched past knots of half
grown young ruffians stared at her as she
went by, and untidy women, with children
in their arms. disappeared into dark door
WAYS like rats into their holes