The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-10-05

ing away the rejected hand, She threw
herself down on the piano stool and
dashed of her pique in n stormy polka
The polka went or into q dream like
waltz. and one or Beethoven sGuatas
followed; tin, as the room grew almost
dark, tho subduiug influence became
stronger, and, MS the last note died away,
she began 70 sing, not as he had heard
her Stag before, in dashing opera airs;
her voice rose clear, but subdued, IN sad
melodies. old ballads, and those longing
airs Of ''Auld Lang Syne," so seldom
heard nowadays.
Tho a-bell broke in upon the pleas
ure, and the light dining-room found
Ralph As diguitied and Flora as sauey as
if no music had stirred their hearts into q
new ard strange communion.
Kate heard, day after day, with pain,
of the marked coldness between Ralph
and Flora. and of her increasing flirta-
tion with Harry Nane.
AT last the crash same, ~
81 am freer'
Flora threw back the door and rushed
in, with burning checks and flashing
eyes.
4 am free. Kate. Ny charming cousin
came to me one hour ago and asked "a
Interview private one-which ! grant
ed, cf course he informed me that
when he graduated rs physic--u, with
his heart fan Of the glory and respons-
ibiliIy Of his profession, he had come here
trusting to 1illd a wife who would be his
companion and true helpnate in the ar
duous life before b.-n. He III hoped
that my livelness was merely youthful
spirits. but finding me heartless and friv-
oIous he preferred poverty 10 marriage
with firt, and withdrew his claim 70
my hand"
'sOh, Floral such heart rs You have
thrown away. In the hours he has spent
here trying to entertain me, I have
learned much Of the nobleness OF his na-
ture and OF his love for you. He has so
hoped that You would let your own gen
erous nature show you the folly OF your
frivolous ways"
Il have had one lecture, Kate, pray,
spare me a second. Ralph Benedict may
seek somewhere else a wife as cold and
censorious As himself"
"And you?"
"Ohr'-with a nervous laugh-"he has
kindly indicated my future for me-
" Flora, you viii not marry Harry
Vane?''
such a brainless firt No! Though
Ralph fiattered me enough I , think we
are wei mated. Ali Ralph thinks to
mortiCy me by his rejection; he shall see
how gladly 7 accept my freedOm."
And Flora LETT the room as abruptly as
she lad entered 1t, TO fly TO her own
chamber, lock the door, and indulge in a
long and bitter fit of weeping.
That afternoon Ralph Benedict was
ridiag and musing. With his own hand
he had torn from his heart its one bright
spot In the few glinpses Flora had let
him see OF her generous heart. her many
secret acts of charity, her tender care OF
her cousin, he had learned TO love the
bright E..le beauty, all the more that
her vivaC..y 50 strongly contrasUed with
his own rather stern nature.
His life was one Of earnest aims and
steady seeking for the hi hest er-s Of
life. He had seen in his short time of
practice such hard realities of lie, such
scenes Of suffering, such calls upon lis
deepest feelings that life had become to
him one broad field for the exercise Of
usefulness and self-sacrifce.
His own dream OF happiness he had
broken that day. because he dared not
trust the hopes of his life in the hands Of
a triher. Yes, he loved her, loved her as
such a nature as his loves the bright love-
illness of a gay little beauty like Flora,
and his heart ached sorely as he took his
4 long, lonely ride. He had promised his
uncle TO finish his projected visit and re-
main some weeks Longer, ,as he was nerving
! himself to think Of lis cousin as the
wife of G---her, lost TO him by his own
act. As he a. his horse up at the
! stableto0T one OF Jhe servants came run
| ming TO ?. -Ct him.
'Oh, DIR. Benedict. am so glad you
have come! Hiss Kate, sir. is very i'll
! Will you come TO her Quicks'
''What is Il, SOraS'
''0h, sir one of those dreadful spells
she used to have when she fret hurt her
| spine -
Thcqufrk, firm step Of Ralph was the
first grateful sound Flora had heard
since being called To her Cousins side
| All embarrassment was forgotten rs she
spranG 10 meet him.
''Oh, Ralph, help me!''
''You have seen her in these attacks he
fore" he said, Cravely; "ten me what
you did then, and how she has been taken
now"
Clearly and concisely, while sitting al
the bedside OF the sufferer, Flora des
cribed former attacks and their treat
ment, and the probable cause of the pres
ent one.
Quick to decide and prompt to act
Ralph made Flora useful as nurse, Will,
he tried his skill with loving zeal to cas-,
the gentle girl before them.
His uncle came in late in the afternoon
and, seeing how tAincs were, refused Il
send for any her advice and, thus FIRE,
to act, Ralph vas bus faithful, and un
firing, yet Lis hand W not firIner, III
step quicker, or HIS mind clearer thar
those o the e yet steady little nurse
For t. &c rights and days she neve
left the sick Ci'l's side, and in the whis
pered L IS beside r when asleep ri
levity was gone, al triflng vanished
Sorrow and anxiety did what harshnes
or coldness coCld never have done-sut
dued the fr.vclity mt was on tie surfac
Of IIora's nature, lowing the devote
love, the quiet presence of mind, the III
wearying capacity for selfsacrifce, tha
dwelt U-.der the vivacity
AT last the danger was over, and afte
a fortnight Of devoted watching Kat
was pronounced convalescent, and he
weary little nurse consented TO leave he
for a long afternoon sleep in her ow
room.
'1f you please, sir" said Nora's scare
voice II Ralph's door, Miss Flora h3
, tainted clean dead away, sir"
"Where?" cried Ralph, starting n
'In her room, sir. She is altogeth,
worn out vi L nursing"
Worn ont, indeed Ralph Thought
r he raised the little figure in his stror
arms and looked into the pale, very pa
face. IL was Only the reaction fro
fatigue and anxi y, and in few IN
t meuts Flora opened her eyes to see Rail-
hending ever her, his face full of tende
e anxious love"
Flora, poor child, are you worn out ?
have been careless and selfish not
= watch you more closely. Oh, Flora. e
5 you ever forgive my impertinent bars
ness, and let me tell you how I respect
well as love YOU"
q Ralph, am good-for nothing fiji
but II you viii trust such a torment ON
more she viii try to be a wife worldly
o you." Aud rs Flora afterwards declar,
d ''the man actually hecan to find ont WI