Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-27
A PLAIN GIRLS STORY.


q peerage He was fully aware that
the agreeable title of "my lord" which sur
rounded his footsteps with gentle murmur,
was slightly incongruous when applied to
himself, and undetermined to marry woman
to whom my lady" was n natural adjunct.
No difficulty about this, every one knows.
The Earl Of Ballywally had seven daughters
and an encountered estate. How he greeted
the noble nail manufacturer, and invited him
to fish for salmon in the Ballywally waters;
how the new peer surveyed the seven daugh-
ters, and finally decided on the youngest, Lady
Flora; how Lady Flora, being Is, and in love
with penniless soldier Of fiveand-twenty
tried TO show him that ans of her sisters were
better fitted for the post of Lady Terrick
than she was-these are matters well known
Also the grand wedding, and the welcome
home from the Terrick tenantry, and the
pale sweet smiles of the young bride
A year after there was great expectation
Bonfires were built ready for lighting; the
ringers hung about the Terrick arms, wait
ing their orders, and inside the great house
people walked silently and whispered anx-
iously. At last the old woman who had
come from Ireland to nurse the Lady Flora
tshe had been the darling of her nursery
crept down the great staircase to the library,
her heart misgiving her, but bold front to
it all
"Praise God, yer honor-your lordship has
beautiful child.n
UP started the father, a flush on his elderly
face.
"A boyr' he cried
NAY, yer honor; not this time. It's the
finest girl in the world though
Down in his chair sat Lord Terrick, angrily
glowering at the fire. After minutes 81
lence the old nurse spoke, and there was anger
In her voice:
''rll be going back to your lady, my lord
Is there anything to say from your honorl'
"Ehf' he started. YES OF course Very
glad it is over Hope she will soon recover"
But before the argument had fairly
commenced as to the propriety of ring
ing bells or lighting bonfres, tho mothers
tired spirit found rest, and the smile on her
dead face was all for the tiny girl she left
behind.
When the child was year old and matrons
were spreading their tolls to provide n solace
for the widowed nobleman, and when he had
sent for the little girl and heaved a deeper
sigh than usual over the unconscious head,
Lord Terrick died, and, swapping the difficult
chain of events, left the Hon Flora Benson
heiress at law 10 all he possessed.
Providentially this bereaved child fell into
good hands and received n sound and whole
some bringing up. The fact revealed itself
early that she would have no beauty, and as
she grew TO girlhood her well cultured mind
decided that her money would bring much
pretended alteration to her feet, and that she
would never have the happy consciousness of
believing she was loved for herself When
she was Is she confided some of her doubts to
her aunt and chaperon, the Lady Margaret
O'Kelly, and between reasoning and coaxing
persuaded that good and afYectionate woman
TO consent to a romantic plans he had formed
''You see, Aunt Margaret, though my
father was peer, he was also a man Of
trade. While | live in state in Surrey large
sums of money are paid to my agents by the
managers OF the mandatory in Stafford
shire. There IS Ridwell Grange-two miles
only from the works. My father lived there
till peerage and this estate were attained
together"
well, my dear, and do you want to live
at Ridwen Grangel 1t is your own"
''No-not just that" said Flora, hesitat-
ingly.
''What then. childg' asked her aunt, laying
down her knitting and adjusting her spec
tacles.
''You see, aunt, want to get away from
myself for a little"
1.-THE saints preserve usl" cried the Lady
Margaret, although she was very stanch
Protestant, and looked upon priest rs the
direct and accredited messenger of the evil
ONO. what has turned your headf'
swell, auntie, it's this. I'm very ugly, you
know"
''Who said soI" inquired the elder lady, in
apeppery tone.
Flora laughed outright.
my looking glass No one else has ever
suggested or ever will suggest such thing
But have studied my short plebeian nose,
my little eyes, my mouth
ID your tongue, childT" cried Lady
Margaret, aghast to find how well acquaint Il
her niece was with her imperfectionsi and
conscious, too, that she and her sis....rs had
many times bewailed that Lf;dv Floro,s
daughter had not one Of her Rotber,s fea.
lures. =,
please, auntie, let me u2ffoId nv plan
Before the lovers of my money bags begin &c
buzz about me lJSwant YOU to travel with me
for a.liS.hS
y" ''Travel, my dearr' doubtfully answered
Lady Margaret. I'm sad coward about
going across the water"
'There's no water to cross, Aunt Margaret
just want to go to Staffordshire."
''Dear me! asked you If you wanted to
live at Ridwell, and you said no."
"Tm a tiresome, provoking, trouble
some"-
"Have done now and tell me what you dc
want"
ats Just this: want to find out what
would happen to me II I were poor-I mean
with enough to live on, but not an heiress
I want to live near Ridwen Grange with
you, and for nobody to know who we are
Just for a few months, to what the ten
ants are like, and the nail makers homes"
NJ vi htIt nv salt
would say you were madl"
'sBut you won't say it," whispered Flora
And all that evening they sat like two con
spirators arranging their plans, with batet
breath, for leaving the luxurious home a
Terrick, and setting up in a small furnished
house with two servants, one to be takef
with them, the other hired on the spot.
On dark November evening, about
o'clock, the train drew near the station, anc
Flora's eyes had been fixed with a sort of aw,
upon several flaming, smoking places-th,
only things visible in the darkness-wher,
the ceaseless work of the iron trade was car
ried on. She fell into a revere, wondering
how many of the human beings were work
ing for her, and was reused by her aunt say
ing:
81 wonder If the carriage'-
''Auntie, we must take fly, you know,
said Flora, deprecatingly Luckily they wer
alone, but for their elderly maid, who mos
unwillingly connived at this demeaning Of he
ladies. "You are Miss O'Aloore, and ! an
your niece of the same name. We have
modest little income out of which we are goinl
to do as much good as we CAM
Lady Margaret repressed groan.
"And Ill be calling your ladyship IN,
lady as sure as my names MARTINI mourn
fully responded the maid