Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-19

nurt me, and 1 in return will leave of tor.
menting you, if it be that have the pow
err"
'I never try to hurt you, Mr.. Caring
tom" Florence returned thinking how lit
tie she was enabled to annoy him, but how
successful he was in tOrmenting her.
''Then you succeed without trying
confess it unreseryedly. "Let there be a
truce between us, 1 beg again. At least
for Christmas let me be the same TO YOU as
the Others -
BY this time be had one of her hands in
his firm grasp, hi, earnest eyes were fixed
intentIy upon her scarlet face. This OBJ
noxious plebeian cousin, could at will cali
forth bushes, almost tears, which had been
beyond the power of Lord Harcourt YER
non, her affianced lover, or Of Hugh Garlic
ton, and the knowledge maddened her. She
tried vainly to withdraw her hand, even
though she loved too we'll the pressure
which retained it.
Florence, you have told me many times
you hate me. | own to you L do not be-
lieve that; but / may be tempted TO be
lieve something eIse-sOmething your pride
might sOrely disIike-if YOU persist in this
unnatural reserve with me-" His words
maddened and yet enchanted her, they
were so vague, but yet 80 sweet to her.
.ENow is there a compact of good fellow
ship between us?" he asked.
"You are foolish to imagine there should
not be. How could separate you from the
rest if / woud?"
"Well, then, will not imagine i'll will
believe, Florence, that we are the frmest
friends in the house; and in confirmation
L will ask you once more for a proof, as 1
have asked you many times before. Never
call me Sir. Darlington again-my Chris
tian name is far shorter and easier; and,
aS your cousin, L have q right to ask that
you should call me by it. Do you under
stand?" he asked earnestly.
SIT is right do not acknowledge. You
are not my cousin-I will never call you
anything" she answered peryersely. He
hurt her pride constantly by persistently
placing himself upon an equality with her
in all ways.
dwell, please yourself then,' he said
lightly. DO not call me anything; to me
that will be far preferable To 9Mr. Car
rington.' Now shall 1 tell you, Florence,
what you perhaps will scarcely believe?-
1t is in your power, if you choose, to be
very selfish to your aunt, uncle, and
cousins. They have the bad taste to be-
lieye that they cannot have too much Of
me-they would even like me TO be always
with them; my father looks for me in the
evening so much that / give up many
things to be with him then-even business,
and that is not Il little for me to resign
And yet you have kept me ten days from
my home; it may be in your power to BAN
ish me many more. Away from you, ]
snap my fingers at your peryerseness; but
with yOu-well, | confess it pains me, and
/ do not choose to bear it. Now you know
that in the home that it has pleased you to
adopt you can, if you will, deprive me of
my rightful place"
He confessed then that she possessed
some power over him. Her heart was
beating strangely with pleasure hitherto
unknown, and something for the time soft
ened her.
al do not wish to keep you away; it is
your absence [ resent" she said; and her
hand was still lingering in his--loosely
held nov, but still there.
"Ah, Florence, will the day ever come
when l can believe that? | dare not think
So" he said. "Pride stands first with you !;
but 1 tell you it shall never wreck my hap
piness-I shall meet you always ON your
own ground. Do not forget that"