The morning call., 1891-11-08
kindly. and spoke with lowered voice of he,

| kindly, and spoke with lowered voice of her
young charge.
'iShe is very delicate, Miss Thorne-nav.
| she is i'll Tar worse. fear. than her friends
| think. l will introduce you"
She led the way into the drawing ruom
where the girl, attired in a light muslin
wrapper, lay on the couch by the window
| Florie advanced. then stepped quickly back,
| as she exclaimed:
Margaret"
"Florencew and the girl. in surprise. rose
| on her elbow.
For moment there was silence. Florie's
pulses we're beating fast. There was ring
| ing in her ears; then, with another back
ward step, she said, huskly:
II never expected this-I never heard
| your name. 1t was never mentioned, or /
| would would have spared this pain to
| both"
mo pain to me. MIss-Miss Thorne,"
calculated the sick girl. eagerly. "Oh! l am
! SO glad to see you! | have thought of you
are not going" piteonsIy. as Flore YET vet
moved away. You will not leave me?"
How can / remain?" murmured Florie.
You must underestimate is imnossible.
You are offended with me-" remarked
the girl humbly; yet it was not my fault,
| Miss Thorne. Had it been in nv power it
should never have occurred. Riches have
not brought me happiness. l am very, very
| i'll. Take pity on me. Yes; seemed to
| have wronged you. Chance has brought us
be as if You forgive me, and | need every
body's forgiveness. VIII you not be NV
| friend?" with sadness that went to Florie's
| heart; II have so few"
''Pray do not thwart her." whispered
| Mrs. Russell do you no. see she is dying?'
| Florie started, and glancing at the hand
| some. thin, delicate countenauce, saw it
might be true. Riches had not brought her
happiness. All her sympathy was aroused
| Approaching she took the slender, wasted
| hand in her own, and said:
Chance has strangely brought US to-
gether, and If yon wish it, Margaret, / will
remain-that is. if you promise not to make
my being here known to the Squire, nor
| to any one"
-, " promise-I promise gladly" exclaimed
! the girl How good You arc! They ALI
said you were at Graybeech, and l believed
| it. L have so lOnged to know you-oh. so
| much-and now | shall"
Putting her arms around Florie's neck,
she drew her down and kissed her soft,
! warm cheek.
So FlOrie Thorne, as she designated her
| self became companion and nurse to her
| who had taken her place. At first there
was feeling of repugnance at the idea:
! but 1t wore speedily away as she saw more
of Margaret and knew her better.
| The sweet gentleness of the girls displsi-
ton won her as it had all who had come in
| contact with her, while Fl0rie felt this
| more as she remarked the real Joy her pres
| ence gave the dying girl. Often as she sat
by her in the falling twilight, gazing out at
the bay. she would forget her own suffering
| in Indignation against Susan yelling for
the harm she had done Margaret, who no
doubt had contracted the chest disease Of
| which she was dying in the wretched life
! of discomfort and priyation she had in
| childhood led.
So the week stole by, and Florie proved
the tenderest, the gentlest of nurses. Once
the Squire came down; but he had given
| notice CT his coming. Thus Florie had
time TO absent herself. and Mrs. Russell
and Margaret kept her secret. 1t was not
! the Squire she dreaded to see. but she had
! heard from her friend how Captain Darrell
! was still seeking her.
II had been hoped after three months
| Margaret mi ht return to the hall; but the
doctors forbade her removal, and she her.
self did not wish IL, rs then she would have
| lost Forie
One evening. as Florence was returning
from the beach, gentleman, coming from
an opposite direction, reached her as she
had just passed through the gate.
q" beg YOUR pardon" he said, ''but does
| not Mrs. Russell reside here ?"
Florle turned with low, involuntary
| cry. Ihe next moment strong, fond arms
were around her; the words uttered by the
| dear. familiar voice, sounded in her ear:
My darling, have | found you at last
| my own brave FLOP"
For a space she abandoned herself to
that ardent embrace-her brain dazed; then
SHe AlIONe TO Tree herself
Robert. let me 90, L pray you tol" she
entreated.
Never again, Florence! As the mispr
his gold, III never let you ont of nv sightW
he answered. "D0 yOu live here?"
Before she could answer, Mrs Russell's
is that you. Miss rhorne2 l am glad
you have returned. Our poor Margaret, 1
fear, is worse tonight"
"Ah" whispered Captain Darrell, with
shining eyes, Il guess the truth. You are
Margaret companion"
Yes. she answered. too wonder con fused
to say more, and fastened to the house.
The captain followed; bat in the sick
room-for, such, indeed, the drawing-roOm
was-words of love died on his lip, and he
kept his Joy at finding Flo in his heart
All. Florie.' whispered Margaret, when
a little better-she heard how they had un-
expectedly nett is the hand OF fate
Surely you will wed him now >"
MOI" rejoined Florie, quietly but firmly.
You do not understand, dear Margaret.
| could bring but disgrace to him in the
world seyes. His father would be at enmity
with his son. 1t can never be-"
AS firm was she when, at his earnest re-
quest, she walked alone with Captain Oar
rell on the moonlight beach by the murmur-
ing sea.
"Florie. will you drive me mad ?" he cried,
in his sorrow. Have you no compassion
never before believed you selfish yet you
give no thought to me"
All Robert, l am not that. 1t Is because
l do think Of you-that won Id not bring
ruin on your
And, Florie little.pride, too"
II own it. | cannot enter family where
| should be regarded AS a disgrace, she re-
marked. as she moved TO leave the beach
Florence, he said earnestly. as he fol
lowed, my darling. | will win you yet"
Had Florie contemplated flight again she
would not have had the heart to leave Mar
garet, who so chung to her-more and more
as the end approached, and it was very near,
indeed. now. December had arrived, when
the girl grew restless and expressed long
ing to get back to the hall; but only II
Florence accompanied her.
Florie could not refuse; so one bright,
clear day. when the bay was flashing almost
as If under summer sun, the little party
started for home under Captain Darrell's
escort.
FlOries feelings on returning TO the dear
old hall, and being once more in the SGuire's
embrace, were beyond description. She had
to hasten to her room-her own old one
where she found relief in a hearty cry.
Though 1t was, she told herself, but a
transient coming back. it made her very
happy.
Christmas came, and TO please Mar
garrett who was sinking fast-fast-the hall
was decorated as on that time of her ar
rival; while on Christmas eve her couch
was moved by the blazing log fire in the
hall, that she might see and speak to the
carol-singers when they came.
They were all gathered about her, when
one of the heavy leaves OF the great door,
which was not fastened, was pushed wide,
and an old. bent woman, snow fecklng her
shabby attire. staggered feebly in and peered
wildly around her; then. with a cry that
rose and died away among the oaken
rafters, she rushed forward and fell by
Margarets c0uch-one wItlered arm thrown
about her.
my child - my darlingp' she cried
could not save you! Oh! must you fade
away and leave me, after all l have Goue!'
"WOmanW said the Squire. sternly, noting
the change on Margarets face; this is nc
place for you! You have done harm enough
COP
"Whatw cried Janet Smithson. wildly,
as he put his hand IN her shoulder Would
you separate me from my chid-my dyinp
chid?"
You are Mistaken" whispered Florie
gently to her Come with me mother -