The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-08-16
NUMBER 4s.


Fox, with an aspect of polite impassi-
bility. ''The bias puffs and folds cut
ap 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 half OF
the mode-colored silk, Miss Fox" sh.
interrupted-"don't you remember P
on the shelf in the back ROOM"
Miss Fox colored and bit her lip.
Madame Molini, with ominously-
darkened face, twitched the two yards
and half of silk off the shelf, folded
it into paper, and handed it to Miss
Fortescue, muttering something about
"a mistake made by one of her young
women and the young lady depart
ed, little dubious as to whether OF
not the fashionable dress-maker had
Intended to cheat her.
She had hardly closed the door be-
hind her, however, when Madame Mo-
| lini turned upon poor Flora Fay, with e
scarlet spot glowing in each cheek and
lips closely compressed.
| Young woman" said she, ..you are
| discharged !''
.'Dischargedr' r' echoed Flora. "For
what P''
81 want no one in my SERVICE" said
| madame, ''who is too conscientious te
fulfill my wishes. You have inter.
meddled unwarrantably in the matteY
of that silk, and repeat you are nc
longer in my employment n
So poor little Flora went crying
home, with vague comprehension
that she had been discharged because
she had spoken out the truth.
1t was nearly fortnight afterward
that Captain Drake noticed the alb
sence of Miss Fay from the table at thl
boarding house.
sis your little blue-eyed lodger i'll,
Mrs. Dodds P'' he asked. 81 don'f
Think have seen her of late"
! mo, she's not i'll, ;" said the landlady.
''That is to say, not exactly sick Bn
she will be if she don't look out. She's
boarding herself, Captain Drake, on
thread and crackers, and such like, poor
dear and wasting away like little
tsradow. because she's lost her situa-
ffion at the dress-making 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 ~ the good
fwcman added. 81 can remember when
she was the pet and darling of the old
folks at home, before they lost their
ail, running about among the daisies
and buttercups like sunbeam"
"But how did she come to lose her
place ?" asked Captain Drake.
And Mrs. Dodds, who liked to hear
the sound of her own voice, told the
whole story.
"It's shame!' cried the Captain.
sJust what said 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
affectionate vehemence, s'that you lost
your situation-and oh, if you woulc
only come and stay with me, and helr
me with the sewing for my new house.
should esteem it such a fayori Would
you, please?"
"Are you quite sure that can make
myself usefulP" said Flora, little hesi-
tatingly.
Eyes, quite" said Mrs. Arkwright.
And, in the sunny atmosphere of the
brides pretty home, the young country
girl seemed to expand into different
creature. Captain Drake, the most de-
voted brother in the world, came there
nearly every day; and little Flora, ali
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 an
other long voyage to Japan, and then
Flora grew pale and nervous again.
IL have been here long enough"
she said. IF l go to the Exchange
Bureau, they will perhaps tell me of
: a new situation. And need change" :"
But Captain Drake went straight to
the root of the matter.
L Flora" said he, '.are you unwilling
that should sail to Jeddo?'
..I always had horror of the sea-"
, whispered Flora, hanging down her
} pretty head. '.But of course, Captain
Drake, you must do as you please"
Eyes, of course" he answered, alb,
/ sently; and, when he was gone, Flors
: shed few quiet tears over the table
linen she was hemming for Mrs. Ark.
: wright.
'.How bold and unmaidenly it is OF
me-" she thought. ito let myself care
for a man who does not think twice on
mel If he had cared one iota for me
would he not have said so then go
But the next evening, at dusk, Cap
tain Drake sauntered in with that
swinging gait of his, as if he were still
, treading the deck of an outward-bound
vessel.
3 '.Don't run away, Flora" said he, IS
4 the girl caught up her work, and pre-
3 pared for precipitate retreat.
7 "Did-did you want to speak to naeF'
D she faltered, with downcast eyes.
: t'Don't l Gltodys want to speak to
= youP Sit down, Flora" said he, ssan6
a hear what I've been planning"
3 Snow it is coming" thought Flora
II with a sick feeling at the heart. s'He
l as going to be married, and he is com
ing to tell me so."
II have decided to give up the sea,
faring business" said Captain Drake
II '.Haye you P'' fiuttered Flora, family
4 - am so gladr'
Il 'tAnd I've bought farm in Connect
lieut." he went on-s.the old Berkshire
, farm, Flora, where you were born ant
brought up. I'm going to be farmerr
She looked at him, the rose and LILY
I following each other across her cheeks
q 'tOr' she 'cried, involuntarily, ''if !
3 could only see the dear old place oncs
more p
/, ''But won'tgo there to live," sale
! the Captain, determinedly, 'sunless yot
: will 90 there with me, Flora, as th,
3 farmers wife! What do you think o.
r It, little girl? Shall it be partner
8 ship?'
Y And when Mrs. Arkwright came in
r the papers were all sealed, signed and
+: delivered; the partnership was a fore.
. gone conclusion
81 don't know how 1 shall succeed q.
4 farmer" said Captain Drake, to hi
I sister; ''But if little Flora here is only
i with me, there's nothing in all the
world that haven't the courage to un
y dertake."
i And when Mrs. Arkwright tool
4 Flora's hand in hers, she whispered:
d 81 think am the happiest creaturs
' IN all the wide world tonight Because
!. dear Mrs. Arkwright, he loves mep'-