San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-09
A PLAIN GIRLS STORY.
Nobody wanted that baby.

The father had realized an enormous for
tune in trade, had taken up politics, and his
iudicious handling of the last had resulted in
a 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 he undetermined to marry a woman
to whom my lady" was 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-
tiers, and finally decided on the youngest, Lady
Flora; how Lady Flora, being is, and in love
with a pennileSs soldier of five-and-twenty,
tried to show him that any 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
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 boy?" 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:
III be going back to your lady, my lord
Is there anything to say from your honor"
''Ehr" 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 Tor 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 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.
Providentially 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 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,tc
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 waSSa peer he was also a man OF
trade. While l 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 Ridwell Grange9 1t is your own"
''No-nOt just that,p 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 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
one. What has turned your headr'
well, auntie, it's this. I'm very ugly, you
know
"Who said so?" inquired the elder lady, in
a peppery tone.
Flora laughed outright.
MY looking glass. No one else has ever
suggested or ever will suggest such a thing
But have studied my short, phbeian 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's
daughter had not one of her mothers fea-
lures.
please, auntie, let me unfold my plan.
Before the lovers Of Hs~clQneY BAG. besin to