Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-01
care Of herself. She probably has a
piece of muslin in her box"

Eplexion, and such penciled eyebrows
"Penciled, indeed" said Miss Morris,
'tblack lead pencils. l wonder does
she know Captain Chichester isengaged
to Lady Ida Leigh. If not, somebody
ought to tell her. there is no use in, her
setting her cap at him."
Next day, on going to her room, Flor
ence, to her surprise, found Ada's
maid busily engaged in repairing her
damaged dress. On being asked where
she had got the muslin, she said the
footman had found it on the hall table,
and, as it was addressed to Miss Molly
neux, he sent it upstairs.
Florence flew to thank Lady Brandon,
but neither she nor Ada knew ANYTHING
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 dress. You will see he will
not go e her tonight I prophesy
that"
Miss Morris prophecy was not full
filed, however, for Captain Chichester
danced SO often with Florence and paid
her so much attention that Miss Morris
thought it her duty to tell her next
morning that he was engaged to Lady
Ida Leigh, and that there was no use
trying to catch him.
"And, oh! if you had seen her face,
my dear Ada! she was as red as a tur-
key cock, and almost told me l was i'm
pertinent"
Meanwhile the days flew by agreeably
to Florence. Captain Chichester was
always by her side, ever 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
affection, and she lived in a dream of
JOY and love. The awaking came, when
one morning at breakfast She heard Sir
Charles Brandon say: chichester, here
is an invitation for you from Lord Well
wood. l am going to shoot with him
tomorrow, and he hopes 1 will bring
you with me; the shooting is very good;
you had better come" Captain Chi
chester hesitated. He had promised his
father to return at the end of the week.
The day passed by heavily. The
gentlemen 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 good night
that Captain Chichester made his
adieux.
81 suppose I must say goodbye
now," he said to Florence. 1--WE start
SO early in the morning -"
Florence could not command her
voice, but gave him her hand.
"We shall meet again, l 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 disengaged her hand and
went upstairs. Her happiness was at
an end. They would never meet again,
and he had said nothing to her. Nay,
it almost seemed a if he had avoided
speaking to her. What a fool she had
been to think he cared for her. An un-
opened letter lay on the top of the pin
cushion. Who could be writing to her?
She took it up. There were initials up
on the envelop and a motto. The mi
tails were III. c." the motto ''True till
death" The words danced before her
eyes. 1t was his motto. 1t was not a
dream, it was u letter from Captain
Chichester. She pressed it to her lips,
then tore it open, and then read the
contents as quickly as her agitation
would permit. 1t began:
II have in vain tried to speak to you
alone; but l cannot leave you without
learning my fate. You must have seer
that l love you devotedly. Can you
give me any hope? l leave early
tomorrow, but my future movements
depend upon your answer. Il you love
me let me have a few lines from you
tonight, and [ will return from Well
wood with Sir Charles on Friday. MY
room is the last in the gallery. May I
ash you to let me have a few lines there
from you tonight? On your reply nv
happiness depends. Ever yours de-
votedly, L. CHICHESTER"
Florence let the letter fall into her lap;
the reyulsion of feeling was almost too
great. The bitter tears of SORROW and
disappointment were still upon her
cheek, but some subtle chemistry had
changed them to a rainbow of hope and
Joy. He loved her! he had written to
say so. And now she had the delightful
task of replying. What should she
say? She could consult no one.
Florence wrote from an Overlooking
heert, without stopping to choose the
words, a joyful and happy acceptance
of Captain Chichester's love. She vent
to bed at last, not, indeed to sleep, but
to indulge in blissful thoughts. She put
Captain Chichester's letter under her
pillow, and felt it from time to time to
assure herself it was not a dream.
At length, toward morning, she fell
into a peaceful slumber, from which she
was awakened by the maid bringing her
q cup OF tea.
Florence started up s her new-found
happiness flashed upon her. A letter
lay on the tray. She snatched it up,
scarcely waiting for the maid to leave
the room ere she tore it open. Yes, it
was from him; she saw the well-known