The Penn's Grove record., 1884-08-30

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pend on it, that young lady can take
care of herself. She probably has a
piece Of muslin in her box"
"Oh, nonsense, janet You are too
hard" said Ada, land 1 think she is
very pretty; she has such q lovely COM
plexion, and such pencilled eye browsi''
"Pencilled, indeedI" said Miss Nor
ris; ''black lead pencilsl / wonder does
she know Captain Chichester is engaged
to Lady Ida Leigh If not, somebody
ought to tell her there is no use setting
her cap at him."
Next day, on going to her room, Flo
renee to her surprise found Ada's maid
busily engaged in repairing her dam
aged dress. On being asked where size
got the muslin, she said the footman
found it on the hall table, and as it
was addressed to Molyneux, he had
sent 1t upstairs.
Florence flew to thank Lady Bran
don, but neither she nor Ada knew any
thing about it.
She tried to pursue her inquiries, but
the gentleman turned off the converse
ton, Captain Chichester having appar-
emily forgotten the accident.
Mary and Jane Morris exchanged
glances and smiles. and whispered:
81 told you so. Just as if he cared
about her dressl You will see be will
not go near her tonight; l prophecy
that"
Miss Morris's prophecy was not full
filed, however, for Captain Chichester
danced so often with Florence, and paid
so much attention to her that Miss
Morris thought it her duty to tell her
next day that he was engaged to Lady
Ida Leigh, and that there was no use
wasting time trying to catch him.
"And, obi if you had seen her face,
my dear Ada she was as red as q tur-
key cock, and almost told me l was i'm
pertinentl'
Meanwhile the days flew by agreeably
to Florence. Captain Chichester was
always by her side, aver charming and
tender. She did not dare to analyze
her feelings. She was drifting down a
rapid current, leading she knew not
where, but there was no escape. No
one spoke Of Lady Ida now. Every
day Captain Chichester's looks and
words seemed to give fresh proofs of
his affections, and she lived in a dream
of Joy and love. The awakening came,
when n morning at breakfast she
heard Sir Charles Brandon say: Chi
| chester here is an invitation for you
from Lord Wildwood. L am going to
shoot with him tomorrow, and he hopes
I will bring you with me; the shooting
Is very good, you had better come"
Captain Chichester hesitated. He had
promised his father to return at the end
of the week.
The day passed by heavily. The gen.
tlemen were out shooting, the ladies
took a drive. AT dinner Jane Morris
seated herself between Captain Chiches.
ter and Florence. In the evening Sir
Charles asked him to play ecarte, and it
was only when bidding goodnight that
Captain Chichester made his adieux.
"I suppose 1 must say goodbye
now" he said to Florence. "We start
so early In the morning p"
Florence could not command her
voice. but gave him her hand.
eve shall meet again, 1 hope? We
must meet again. Do you ever come
TO town."
"Oh, do move on Miss Molyneux,
said Jane Morris, ''you are keeping us
all standing"
Florence diseugaged her hand and
went up stairs. Her happiness was at
an end. They would never meet again,
and he had said nothing to her. Nay,
it almost seemed az II he had avoided
speaking to her. What a fool she had
been to think he cared for herl An un.
open letter lay on the top Of the PIN
cushion. Who could be writing TO herr
She took it up. There were initials
upon the envelope and a motto. The
initials were IL. O." the motto "True
till death" The words danced before
her eyes. 1t wa his motto. 1t was
not a dream, 1t was a letter from Cap
tain Chichester. She pressed it to her
lips, then tore it open, and read the
contents as quickly as her agitation
would permit. 1t began:
l have in vain tried to speak to you
alone but | cannot leave you without
knowing my fate. You must have seen
that / love you devotedly. Can you
give nae any hopep l leave tomorrow,
but my future movements depend upon
your answer. If you love me let me
have a few lines from you to night, and
| Will return from Wildwood with Sir
Charles on Friday. My room is the
last in the gallery. May | ask you to
let me have a few lines from you to-
nightP On your reply my happiness
depends. Ever yours devotedly,
T.