Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29
CHAPTER III.
THE QUEST OF FLORENCE nLAKELY.

THE QUEST OF FLORENCE BLAKELY.
Something of the history and character
of Florence Blskely should be given in or
der to explain the motive, amounting almost
to a mania, which controlled her mind. Az
child she grew up passionately fond Of
her widowed mother, whose i'll health,
however, prevented them from living much
together. The mother was unable to assume
the daughters care, and, desiring that she
should be well educated, sent her to a fa-
nous female college 1t was this separation
that had given rise to the belief that Mrs.
Blakely had no family. Years passed by,
and Florence grew in intelligence and
grace. She worked assiduously ut school,
thinking that the sooner she had finished
her studies the sooner she would be with
her mother. That was the time for which
she waited longingly and impatiently. When
she heard of the tragic death of her mother,
Florence nearly went mad. When she be-
came convalescent after two weeks of de-
lirium, strange Transformation had taken
place in her. Her childish lighthearted-
ness had disappeared, and her mind seemed
suddenly matured. She wished only to see
the maid who had accompanied her mother
on the fatal journey. From Nancy she
learned all that the servant knew of the sad
event. When Florence revealed her whole
thought, Nancy was stupefed. The child
of Is wished to avenge her murdered mother
by devoting her life to the quest OF the
robber, whom she construed to be virtually
her murderer, because his deed had hast
ened death. Her efforts to find the man
were feeble and unavailing. The authorities
did all that could be done, but they got no
idea of Lloyd Dickson's connection with
the case, nor of the part that Abel Mayne
had played in it. Dickson himself retained
no glimmering memory of his insane trip.
The physician who recovered him, being
humanely instructed by the bank president
not to divulge to anybody the particulars of
the trusted employees temporary insanity.
and failing to read the brief items in the
New York papers about the death oil the
lady in car at Philadelphia, did not con-
meet the two matters at all.
Thus we are brought to the time when
Florence met Abel Mayne at the concert.
Mayne kept his promise that the orphan
should not suffer from impoverishment. He
insisted that she should return to school
with Alice for completion Of their eiuca-
ton together, he paying the expenses; and
the orphan, influenced thereto by her fond
chum, consented. Thus three years more
passed, and in 1884 Florence and Alice
were graduated. Then Mayne projected a
European tour for them, so leisurely that it
would involve q years study of music by
Alice in Paris. A Trustworthy agent ac-
companied them, and they were to have
every care and comfort that money could
procure.
You are using your wealth wisely, " said
William Morris to Mayne, who WINGED
under the undeserVed praise 'tYou know
that he who uses money or thinks of money
as anything but means to good ends viii |
find out his mistake when the glittering |
treasures slip out OF his nerveless grasp.
and he goes out of this world without a |
shilling OF money or a certificate of stock. |
He might better have been the Christian |
porter that opened his gate or the begrimed |
workman that heaved the coal into his |
cellar. Bonds and mortgages and leases |
have their use, but they make a poor yard-,
stick with which to measure life. They
that boast themselves in their wealth and |
trust on the multitude OF their riches. none /
of them can, by any means, redeem his
brother, nor give to God a ransom for him
that he should not see corruption"
But it was not alone by giving to Florence
far more than q fair income from the So. 600
that be had kept from her that the unsus-
pected thief placated his conscience. He
put Lloyd Dickson into way of prosperity.
and the young man in few years became
one OF the enYied bankers in Wall street.
Time passed, and the summer of 1888
iound the Maynes domiciled in a cottage At
Long Branch, with Florence a member of
he household, and Lloyd Dickson and
William Morris were familiar and welcome
visitors.
Two days after his new meeting with Flor
,nce at Long Branch he was her admirer.
Nowhere In his past life could be discover
lnythlng resembling love. A few passing
ancies had marked his early life, but moth.
ng serious. and since then be had been i'm
nersed in the cares Of business. Outside Of
lis liking for her, she interested him
Many things we're inexplicsbie
Y unexplained in the orphans disposition.
She seemed to be keeping to herself some
'ainful secret, and often q vague allusion
Eould suffice to throw a sudden shade of
over the exquisite face. Llovd
Ioticed all this, and the girl, at once 80 sim
'le and 80 enigmaticals attracted and puz-