The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-06-19
FLORINE.

ually attractive manners, and-wbat
recommends her to us, more than any.
thing else, she is rendered quite de.
pendent and penniless by the death of
TINS old man. And I think I can trust
my little Florine to be kind to her, if
She should seek a refuge in my komc!"
So saying my husband went away,
and remained sitting at the breakfast
table, idly stirring the spoon around
and around in my egg-cup.
Whatever you do, Alice, don't let
any of your husbands relations get a
footing in your house! Wife and hus-
band should be all and all to each other;
and the instant a foreign element works
It's way into the partnership discord in
evltably ensues. Take my advice,
Alice. Be civil to 'em all-but don't
let them inside your door!"
That was what my Aunt Althea had
told me upon the eve of my wedding
day-and, as a general thing, Aunt AL
thea's advice was excellent, both in
quantity and quality. And now, here
was the serpent already creeping into
my domestic paradise in the shape of
my husbands Florida cousin!
However, there seemed to be nothing
for it but to submlt-and the next week
florine Fayall came pretty lily-like
creature with appealing blue eyes, a
soft voice like a flute, and a mouth like
a cleft cherry, or Cupid's bow, outlined
in vermilion! In her deep black, there
was something irresistibly pleading and
pathetic about her-and yet, hard
hearted as accused myself OF being, l
could not learn to love her!
Il know Mrs. Ellington can't bear
me-" / heard her say evening, as
she and Charles sat by the drawing
room fire. The draperies of soft blue
silk had fallen over the portals of the
adjoining door that led to my own bou-
DOR. and neither of them knew that it
was not closed.
what nonsense, Florine!" cried out
my husband, stoutly.
"But it isn't nonsense" persisted
Florine, in that p%laintive contralto
of hers. "She is eold-she is distant
in her manner Alas! what would l
not give to win her hearth"
"Now, Florine, don't cry; that's a
good girl" said Charles, who, like all
men, detested scenes. II am sure
Alice is fond of you in her way-only,
you see, she isn't gushing and demon
strative, like you southeners."
"Ah, if you did but know, Cousin
Charles, how my heart pines for a
little Lowell" coocd Florine.
At this stage of affairs I judged it
best to enter on the scene, where |
found Florine on her knees il a most
picturesque attitude, kissing my hus-
bands hand, while poor, honest Char
ley looked about as uncomfortable as
it is in the nature of a man to look.
"What is the matter, Florine?" ]
asked, with a frigid ring in my voice.
care you ill?"
And Florine, rising to her feet, the
atrically, flung herself into my arms.
Love me a little, dear Alice"
she Muflnufeu. AM! II you out
knew"
II know that you are nearly strang-
ling me-" ! retorted, pettislly. "Sup-
pose we put Off sentiment and light
tragedy until we nave had our tea"
Charles looked reproachfully at NE.
Florine put OF the look of an injured
angel, and l swept remorselessly ON
down stairs.
But my relentless snub had one good
effect. Florine left off experimenting
on me, personally, and gradually a mute
antagonism grew up between us, under
the very eyes Of Charley, who blindly
Charley" I cried out n day in de-
spair, when is Miss Fayall going?"
"Going!" repeated Charley. "Why
should she go at all? Why shouldn't
she make her home here? I'm sure
she's no more trouble than a kitten
But I don't like her, Charles"
Not like her, Alice? You are preju-
diced. Florine is the sweetest girl in
the world"
Tastes differ,"I responded, shrug-
ging my shoulders. ITO me she's un-
utterably obnoxious"
"Aiice."
81 believe she has bewitched you,
Charles" l cried out. "And the day
will vet come, in which you will see
that l was right and you wrong in this
matter"
Alice" said my husband in a voice
graver and sterner than 1 had ever
before heard him use, II will not suffer
even my wife to use such language as
this. Florine is as pure and beautiful
as an angel, and L consider myself
honored by her presence in my house."
l burst into tears.
Aunt Althea was right" said /.
"when she warned me against my hus-
bands relations"
Charles bit his lip, and red flush
barred his brow.
"Tllat is a sword which will cut on
both sides, Alice" he said, coldly.
"Your brother has been q member of
my family nearly as long as Florine,
besides being employed in the count
ing.house. And I think it no more
than right to tell you that of late one
or two skillfu1ly- forged checks on our
house have been presented at the bank
and paid. And / do not know who
could have done it, if not"
ooh, Charley, for Heavens sake,
don't say it was Will" I gasped. For
my one young brother was inexpressi-
bly, hear to my heart.
II say nothing as vet" my husband
answered" But l have taken measures
to get at the bottom of this mystery, ere
long. Florine herself, slow as she is to
suspect evil of anyone, suggested that
the culprit was Will Aikin!"
My heart grew cold within me, and
that evening at the tea table, I studied
Wills boyish face intently. Oh, it was
impossible, quite impossible that he
could be-a forger!"