River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-04
FLORINE.

this Old man. ana ! IHlQk can trust
my little Florine to be kind to her, if
she should seek refuge in my home!"
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
footing in your house! Wife and hus-
band should be all and all to each other;
and the instant foreign element works
It's way into the partnership discord in
evitably ensues. Take my advice,
Alice Be civil to EN- 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 general thing, Aunt Al
theas 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 cousinl
However, there seemed to be nothing
for it but to submit and the next week
Florine Fayall camea pretty Ily-like
creature with appealing blue eyes, a
soft voice like flute, and mouth like
a cleft cherry, or Cupid's bow, outlined
in vermilionl in her deep black, there
was sometime irresistibly pleading and
pathetic about her-and yet, hard
hearted as | accused myself Of being, l
could not learn to love her!
II know Mrs. Ellington can't bear
me" l heard her say one evening, as
she and Charles sat by the drawing
room fire Tie draperies Of soft blue
silk lad fallen over the portals of the
adjoining door that led to my own bout
dor, and neither of them knew that it
WAS not closed.
What nonsense, Florinei" cried out
my husband, stoutly.
But it isn't nonsense" persisted
Florine, in that plaintiye contralto
Of hers she is coid-she is distant
in her manner. Alas! what would [
not give to win her heart :"
Nov, FIorine, don't cry; that's a
good girl" said Charles, who, like all
men, detcstod scenes. II am sure
Alice is fond Of YOU in her way only,
Won see, She isn't gushing and demon
strative, like voJ sOuthcners."
"Ah, if YOU did but know, Cousin
Charles, how my heart pines for
little love-" cooel Florine.
At this stage Of affairs / judged it
best to enter on the scene, where /
found Florine on her knees in most
picturesque attitude, kissing my hus-
bands hand, while poor, honest Char
ley looked about as uncomfortable as
1t IS III the nature Of a nam to look.
"Wbat IS the matter, Florine?" /
asked, with frigid ring in my voice.
Are Won ill?"
And Florino, rising to her feet, the
atricalIy, flung herself into my axms.
Love me little, dear Alice, :"
she murmured. "Ah!" if you but
knew
II know that YOU are nearly strang-
ling me, " rctortcd, rettishly. Sup
pose we put of sentiment and light
tragedy until we have had our tea.
Charles looked IcproachfuIly at me.
Florinc put on the look Of an injured
angel, and | swept rcmorselessiy on
down staiTss
But my relentless snub had one good
effect I5rine ltft or experimenting
on me, personally aud graduallya mute
antagonlsIn grew up between us, under
the very ewes If Charley, who blindly
Il s.. !.
Charley, - / cried cut one day in de-
SPAR. when is Miss Fayall going? 2"
Going" repeated Charley. "Why
should she 60 at all? Why shouldn't
she make her home here? I'm sure
she's no NOR, trouble than kitten"
But don't like her, Charles"
Not like her, Alice? You are preju-
diced Ilor,ne is the sweetest girl III
the world.
Tastes differ" 1 responded, shrug
ging my shoulders. TO me she's I'M
uttcrahlv obnoxious"
Alice
81 believe she has bewitched You,
Charles, cried ont "And the day
will yet come, III which you Will see
that | was right and you wrong in this
matter
Alice" said my husband in n voice
graycr and Stcruer than had ever
before heard him use, will not suffer
even my ~ life to use such language as
this Floriuc is as pure and beautiful
us IN angel, and l consider myself
lonorcd 10y her presence IN my house. "
l burst into tears.
"Auut Althca was right" said /,
twheu She warned me against my hus-
bands rel&tions1
Charles bit lis lip, and o red flush
barred his brow.
THAT is Il sword which will cut on
both SIDES, Alice" he said, coldly-
your brother has been member OF
my family nearly rs long as Florine,
best,lps being employed l. the count
ing house. And think it no more
than right to tell Won that of late one
or two skillfuiIy- forged checks ON ouI
house have been presented at the bank
and paid. And I 10 not know who
could have dore it, if not
oh, Charley, for Heavens sake
don't say it WAS Will" | gasped. For
mv one Young brother was ineNpressi-
bly near to my heart.
81 say nothing as vet, my husband
answered" But have taken asurcs
to get at tie bottom of this mystery, ere
long Floriuc herself slow as she Is te
suspect evil Of anyone, suggested that
the culg1it was VIII Akin !"
Nv heart grew cold within me, ant
that evening ut the tea table. studied
Wits Loyish racc jntcntly. Oh. Il wa
impossible, quite impossible that h'
could be- forgcr!"
willie. ] said to him, when we were
quite alone together in the freight
Floriur and my husband had gone t.
some evening concert together-you re
member our tathcr?'
"Of course / do. Allie"
That he Was an honorable, homes
man, Who would have scorned to do {
mean OF treacherouS action?"
Yes. Allie.
oh, Will, Will hiding my wet eye
upon his innocent upturned face, "yol
viii he like him. You, too, will b
an honorable man? ?"
III Try. Allie. the boy answered
earnestly And | knew then that VII
was neither thief nor forger!
"Allie.n said my brother, when tn
conversation had turned upon Other
and indifferent topic, 4 wonder wher
that volume OF selections from American
poetry is? Florinc had yesterday.
In her room, l suppose Shall