Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-04
A PLAIN GIRLS STORY.


Nobody wanted that baby
The father had realized an enormous for
tune in trade, had taken up politics, and his
judicious handling of the last bad resulted in
a peerage He was fully aware that
the agreeable title of my lord, q" which sur
rounded his footsteps with gentle murmur,
was slightly homogeneous when applied to
himself, and Undetermined to marry woman
to whom my lady" was a natural adjunct.
No difficulty about this every one Knows
The Earl of Ballywally had seven daughters
aud 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 a penniless soldier Of Internationally,
tried to show him that any of her sisters were
better fitted for the post of Lady Ierrlck
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
year after there was great expectation
Bontires 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-
come from Ireland to nurse the Lady Flora
she 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
a beautiful child"
Up started the father a flush on his elderly
face
"A boyf" 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:
''Ill be going back to your lady, my lord
Is there anything to say from your honorf'
"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, the 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 a 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 to all he possessed
Providentalv this bereaved child fell into
good hands, and received a sound and whole
some bringing up The fact revealed itself
early that she would have no beauty and as
she grew to~girhood 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 loved for herself. When
she was Is she confded some of her doubts to
her aunt and chaperon, the Lady Margaret
O'Kelly, and between reasoning and coaxing
persuaded that good and affectionate woman
to consent to a romantic plans he had formed.
"You see, Aunt Margaret, though my
father was a 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 Ny father lived there
till peerage and this estate were attained
together"
We'll, my dear and do you want to live
at Ridwell Grangei 1t is your own"
''No-not just that said Flora, hestat-
ingly
what then. childr' asked her aunt, laying
down her knitting and adjusting her spec
tacles.
You see, aunt, want to get away from
myself for little"
The saints preserve u.s." cried the Lady
Margaret although she was very stanch
Protestant, and looked upon priest as the
direct and accredited messenger of the evil
opa tsprhat hos tnrppl yorir haaITi
We'll, auntie, it this I'm very ugly, you
know"
who said so!H 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, pebeian nose,
my little eyes, my mouth
Hold your tongue, child" cried Lady
Margaret, aghast to find how well acquainted
her niece was with her imperfections; and
conscious, too, that she and her sisters had
many times bewailed that Lady Flora
daughter had not one of her mothers fea-
lures.
Please, auntie, let me unfold my plan
Before the lovers Of my money bags begin to
buzz about me | want you to travel with me
for little"
Travel, my dearf' 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 re, | asked you if you wanted to
live at Eidwell, and you said non
I'm tresome, provoking, trouble
some
Have doac now and tell me what you do
want
Its just this. want to fird out what
would happen to me if | were poor-I mean
with enough 10 live on, but not an heiress.
l want to live near RidweIl Grange with
you, and for nobody TO know who we are
Just for a few months, to see what the ten
ants are like, and the nail makers homes.
Ny dear, anybody but my doting self
would say you We're mad -
But you won't say it." whispered Flora.
And all that evening they sat like two con-
spirators arranging their plans, with bated
breath, for leaving the luxurious home at
Terrick, and setting up in a small furnished
house with two servants, one to be taken
with them, the other hired on the spot.
On dark November evening. about S
O'Clock, the train drew near the station, and
Flora's eyes had been fixed with a sort OF awe
upon several flaming, smoking places-the
only things visible in the darkness-where
the ceaseless work of the iron trade was car
ried on She fed into a reverie, wondering
how many Of the human beings were work
ing for her, and was reused by her aunt say
ing;
Il wonder if the carriager-
"Auntie, we must take a fly, you know
said Flora, deprecatingly. Luckily they were
alone, but for their elderly maid, who most
uuwillins,y conniyed at this demeaning Of her
ladies' You are Ms O'Moore, and | am
your niece of tho same name We have a
modest little income out Of which we are going
to do as much good as we can
Lady Margaret repressed a groan
And I'll be calling your ladyship nv
lady as sure as my names Martini mourn
fully responded the maic
Get fy, please, and If all the luggage
won't go on it, send the rest I'D to Miss
OMoore, Acacia Cottage. Here's the full ad-
dress
1t vas Flora who undertook al the ar
Engagements, and they were soon landed at tho
neat little furnished villa they bad engaged
just outside the town A tidy Sta6ordshirs
woman ouenad edoor, and cory fires burusd