Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-02

owned went out again quickly TO his eX-
1ancee, with craving for the old time,
which was trebiy dear from being lost TO
him.
With little more than monosyllable in
reply, and with her head erect and her
face defiant, Florence swept past him into
the house, Lady Raven lingering behind a
moment TO express her pleasure at seeing
his lordship again, 70 ask when he had re-
turned to England, and to ascertain the
latest news he could give her Of her daugh-
ter, whom she was sure he must have seen.
''Lady Neddowes has been so very kind
rs TO entTust little parcel to me for yoU-
piece of CHINA small cup, believe
which she says YOU admired at Nice. L ar
rived in London only two days ago, and
came down here only last evening. To-
night am engaged; but may [ have the
pleasure OF bringing your parcel to-mor-
row evening, Lady Raven?" his Iordship
asked.
''Of course-at any time that best suits
you. We shall be delighted to see YOU"
Lady Raven told him; adding, eve re-
ceive few friends tomorrow evening at
nine-quite friendly gathering. Perhaps
you Will join us then?'
His l0rdship was only too pleased to avail
himself Of the invitation.
After few more gracious speeches on
each side, his lordship mounted his horse
and rode away. Lady Raven, on entering
her drawing-roOm a few moments later,
found Florence with flaming cheeks and
evidently pent up Indignation.
"Aunt, you will never subject me to
meeting that man whom [ loathe so in
tensely-fOr whom you must know | can
have only contempt" she cried passion
ately.
Lady Raven was rather taken aback; but
she was always wise in her tact. Florence
was preparing herself for defiance, and
expected a very different reply from her
aunt
sOf course not, my dear child. There
is no reason on earth why you should be
subjected to any annoyance from Lord
Vernon; we are not likely to see much of
him | think"
Florence was disarmed, and there was
silence between them for some minutes; it
was broken at last by her ladyship.
II own, Florence, my pride would be
more content were you able to meet and
treat his lordship as a stranger; but if it
is really painful to you-to your feelings,
mean-to be thrown into contact with him
which [ can well imagine it may be, by all
means let US avoid him."
Florence was amazed at her aunt's gra-
cious manner, her excessive aniahility; bu!
the words had taken effect in way that
her aunt intended they should.
~ have no feeling in the matter, aunt
Raven; you know yourself that my engage
ment was one of convenience. [ never
cared feathers weight for Lord Vernon
in that ] did him wrong, and for aught
| know he may have had the tact to dis
cover it; but no one can deny his eXecrable
taste i'll accepting his dismissal as he did
without an effort at explanation or to as
certain beyond doubt the state of my feel
ings.''
"There is reason, and good reason, in all
you say, Florence; but my pride would
be. my dear, to show his lordship that he
WAS nothing to me, to meet and treat him
as an ordinary acquaintance. That is only
my idea: you have right however to fol-
low your own inclinations-and be sure
that | Shall not try to cOerce you in any
way. | only fear that by avoidance and
expressed repugnance he may imagine That
you have some deeper feeling left for him;
but [ may be wrong. Let Us forget his
lordship-at any rate for the present. We
are not likely to see him again, and it
is getting late. l promised Mrs Audleigh
and we shall both be better for a little rest
before dinner-this air always makes me
feel so sleepy. Edwards shall bring some
tea to your room-go dear"
Lady Raven knew we'll that she had
placed herself upon very advantageous
ground for the encounter she fully intend
ed to enter into. Florence went gladly to
her room to brood over past wrongs and
her present pain. She tried to console
herself by writing long letter to Maud
Darlington, and thus to catch breath OF
the atmosphere that, in spite of herself,
she loved too well, and which seemed TO
revive her so refreshingly.
Lady Raven had certainly changed very
wonderfully during the past year-and
the change was a maryellOusly pleasant
one. So thought Miss Worthington on the
following evening, as she stood before her
dressing-glass contemplating her own fault
less figure, arrayed for her aunt's friends
in black silk dress, beautifully made by
Mrs. Gilbert, and draped with black lace
to soften the still Indispensable Grape; but
her white arms and neck looked fairer still
for the sombre contrast. She loved dress,
and she had always been used to the best
garments that money could buy or debt al
low; this dress however, new one which
she had just donned at Lady Ravens re-
quest-was too costly for her own purse to
have purchased. Lady Raven had ordered
it for her from Mrs. Gilbert few weeks
before, and Miss Worthipgton's glass told
her that the beauty of it could not be
doubted. Edwards, her aunt's maid, had
been lowering over her toilet for the last
hour, and had left her only few moments
before. When the girl again appeared, she
entered with her hands He'd with crimson
roses and lilies of the valley.
oMy Iady's love, and she has sent YOU
these to brighten your dress little,'' Ed
wards told her. "Abrahams has just
brought in some fresh flowers for the
rooms, and her ladyship desired him to
bring you some crimson and white ones
also.
Florence took them, marveling the while
at her aunt's extraordinary interest in her
adornment. A moment later she felt sick
at heart as she remembered the last flow
ers that had been giveu to her-dead now,
but still hidden away in her dressing-case.
They had been offered to her by one not of
her caste, but with loving thoughts, the
like of which she might never have again.
Those flowers did not lack beauty in her
eyes even now, withered and broken as
they were; and they were hidden away
because she dare not look at them. She
hated herself for the false step she thought
she had made in her life, and because she
had descended from her throne to care for
one low-born and beneath her. But her
punishment was bitter enough, she knew,
whatever her fault might have been.
The crimson flowers were nesting in
her hair and on her breast; her beauty
was perfect enough, the mirrors told her
she read the same truth also in the ewes