The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-04

s.F1ora. Florai NY cousinr' cried Mich
olas. What is the natter
A terrible fear seized upon him. Could
| it be that Flora did not care for Aleck
eager Or was she so dominated by her
uncle's viii that she dared net allow her
heart fair play: But no-Flora had a
will of her own. What If. her uncle's
wish were her wish. too? All this rushed
through Nicholas brain as Flora sprang
up and demanded haughtily:
'FHow dare you come spying upon me!'
Il am not spying upon you, Flora,
| said Nicholas, as he staggered back
| against the wall of the summer house.
| Il wish to be your friend" he added.
rallying himself by a supreme effort. He
| determined to assume that his cousins
| preference was for Aleck Gage.
| do you mean to say" cried Flora,
| with sudden illumination. as she went TO
him and laid her hand on his arm, do
you mean tn say, Nick, that you-won't
ask me TO marry you:'
| Il won't ask you TO marry me-" Mich
olas answered and smiled-anything but
a heartbroken smile, and vet it was so
sad smile that Flora was Overwhelm-
| ingly sorry for him.
/ "Oh, Nick" she cried, and clasped her
hands around his arm and laid her head
against it. You are dear. good fell
low and love you dearly. dearly: but
| you know-if you were to ask me I'd just
! have to say no. and then there would
be a dreadful time. But if only you
would take my part
my dearest cousin! OF course viii
| take your part. But then-will you go
halves and take my part?' Nicholas
asked TREMENDOUSLY and with an uneasy
laugh.
"You know will, said Flora, who
was far from suspecting her cousins
meaning. "Whv. l should be the basest
migrate not to stand up for you as if l
were your sister
Nicholas put his arm around her, and
| Just then the knocking bird in the, thicket
behind them suddenly ceased its song.
and huttered through the foliage with a
quick, short, unmelodious chirp. II
trust it is not an omen of i'll, Flora, said
he. CHANGING over his shoulder, that the
bird should so abruptly cease it's song"
Il don't believe in omens," returned
Flora, impatiently. 81 believe in my
| own determination.
81 was thinking of myself said Mich
olas, with an uncomfortable shiver. mot
| of YOU" He took both her hands in his,
and looked in her face-and smiled.
"But with you to take my part, you who
can understand how love comes unbid-
dem
eyes, dear Nick said Flora, softly.
81 can understand. / will always be on
your side, whatever my uncle may say"
Flora was far from exulting in the
| thought that her cousin loved her hope
lessly, but she found it exquisitely inter
| esting to feel herself thus beloved.
AZ do not know how it isl cannot
tell how it began" said Nicholas, with
almost sob in his voice, "but-I love
| one who is so dear and beautiful and
good" He dropped Floras hands and
clasped his own with intensity of feel
ing. Love her! But she can never
/ please my father. There is my bitter
trouble"
1t seemed to Flora as if she heard these
words in dream and yet she fully and
| instantly understood him as she never
| hitherto had understood him. Instinct
lively she recoiled from him; it was not
in the nature of the case that she should
| not feel resentment at this unexpected
! discovery that, after all, Nicholas had
never been in love with herself; that his
| signs and his sadness were, after all, not
/ for her.
| Il hope, Nicholas" said she, with a
| little air of virtuous superiority, Il do
/ hope you have not fixed your affections
/ upon some one beneath you:'
mo" said Nicholas. lifting his head
/ proudly; 81 have set my affections upon
one infinitely above me-in all that is
lovely and of good report, he added,
/ with q bitter laugh. And / love her
/ with all the strength that Aleck Gage
| loves you, if that is any criterion" he
| continued, fast losing his self control.
"And. thank God, DoSia loves me-"
"Dosia-Furnivaly cried Flora, clasp
ing her hands and drawing away from
/ him by sudden, almost violent move
ment. Cousin Myrtillas protege? And
/ you expect Us to countenance her? Oh,
Nicholas! Nicholas! you cannot be in
earnest? You must break away, and at
once, from all this"
Il am in earnest" Nicholas answered.
His face was pale: mis- voice shook; he
was very angry. And as to breaking
away-Dosia is my wife, Flora; respect
her"
Your wife:" Flora gasped, and sank
upon the bench. "Oh, my uncle! 1t
viii break his heart
''It ought not to break his heart" said
Nicholas, cOldly. 'She has saved his
son"
How Will you ever tell him, How
will be ever be able to bear it, Flora
asked, bitterly.
"Oh, Floral cried Nicholas. at Is
my study by night and day how to break
it to him. l love my father in spite Of
ali; but Dosia is nv very life! l dread
50 his visiting his wrath upon her in any
way. | could not bear % have her
wounded-I-I-could hate-but on!
do so wish to have my father and my
Aunt ElviTs-all of you. welcome her
They never viii; We never can, said
Flora, bursting into miserable tears Of
{ distress and fright.
Nicholas sat down beside her. and put
his hand on hers. But you, dear Flo
"a he said beseechingiy, you VINO
krovv What II l. to De tnudrrIy BE-
! loved