The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-04-05

curls of her little pet sister. and looked
vacantly and absently from the window.
ssFlorry, isn't he nice?" queried the
little voice again. $50 much nicer than
that Mr.. Bent you are to marry. just
hate him"
''Hush!' said Florence, laying re-
proving hand upon the busy lips. "You
must not talk that way, darling"
But must. And you know you hate
him, too; it is really mean"
s'Hush! Hushr' said Florence, ex-
citedly, and putting the child from her
lap as she rose. Lilly, you must never
say that again. No, am not angry,
darling" she continued, STOPPING to kiss
the quivering lips. "Only very, very
sorry"
Aye, Florence was very sorry; but it
was not Lily's needless words that made
her so; they made her think, and only
thought was not either pleasant or safe
for her just now.
Florence was past twenty-five, and the
oldest OF large family; her parents
we're worthy, worldly people; worthy,
in the sense of having large family to
support upon small income, they were
willing and anxious to do their best for
them. and worldly, more particularly
the mother, in that she was determined
that no mistaken notions" as she
called them, of love, should interfere, If
she could help it, with her daughters
marrying well; marrying we'll in
worldly point of view-that is, q man
rich enough to keep them comfortably,
and good enough to make them happy,
or at least to make the promise Of that
possible.
mo necessity for all this love and
nonsense, argued the practical Mrs.
Brown, who. never having experienced
that peculiar affection that mortals call
s1ove, altogether ignored the necessity
of its existence; and having, as she
feared, noticed the budding Of these
''highfalutinr notions in her eldest
born, Florence, determined to crush
them, not only for Florence's own good,
but also for the good of, and as an ex-
ample to, Florence's younger sisters.
mot that have any thing against
Mr.. Weston" she remarked one day,
when his attentions to Florence had
been commented upon in her hear
ing. II think him good man, and
religious man, but he is not rich man,
and even IL he were free to marry any
one but the girl he is engaged to, he
never should marry our Florence; in
tend her for her own good, and for the
good of her sisters, to marry Mr.. Bent"
And Florence, ever slave to her
mothers much stronger will, meekly ac-
quiesced- Indeed, she had never once
thought of opposition. 1t is true, when
she compared the two men, her heart
rebelled slightly, but she had schooled
it to submission, and as for over twenty
years her mothers wishes had been law
to her in other things, why not In this?
So she saw herself engaged to the rich,
vulgar merchant quietly enough-an en-
gagement in which she had nothing to
say, merely to submit; and she let him
place the handsome engagement ring
upon her hand with none Of those feel
ings with which such an act is generally
performed. Her mother was pleased,
and that satisfied her, or ought to do so;
and if rebellious thoughts would in
trude at times, as at Lily's idle words,
why, they must be crushed, that was
all. Mr.. Weston was nothing to her
must be nothing; and he was, as he him
self informed her, pledged to another.
A few days later, and Florence sat
with her mother and sisters in the par
lor. She was rarely alone. In large
% - d. - Tod
scarcely allowed. And now, as evening
approached, and the sun was sinking
slowly to its rest, she sat by the win
dow and watched it through fast falling
tears.
The day had been long one, and she
was tired. She had experienced but
little pleasure in the rambling excur-
sion from store to store with her mother,
selecting the trousseau for her coming
marriage.
1t was not to be . very elaborate one.
Her fathers slender means forbade any
undue display. But as Florence fol-
lowed her busy mothers steps through
that long summer day. she could not but
notice that the articles selected-with
scarcely q reference to herself-were
good and useful, and such as might be
needed in any station.
1.-THE gimcracks," as Mrs. Brown
sagely observed, ''your husband can buy
for you after you are married"
And now many of these things were
heaped upon the table; some in her
room upstairs; some her sisters and her
nathan xr,o~o NO rr,1v dso~uooiv.p o~>d al
miring. But Florence took no part in
the conversation around her; no interest
in the articles heaped everywhere. She
still sat at the window, her head lean
ing against it, and still her tears fell
fast
There was ring at the door-bell, and
hurried scramble to put things little
in order. The visitor was Mr.. Weston,
and he had SCALED to see Miss Flor
ouco He ooIod for hor AZ tho d<o,.