Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-09
PRIDE'S CONFLICT
A STORY OF CASTE

Florence | have been delighted with you
tonight" her aunt suddenly informed her.
ssHardly another girl in the world could
have carried herself 50 we'll through what
must have been very trying ordeal. You
see, after all, his lordship came to bring me
the little case from Margaret. 1t was kind
of him; but | cannot help thinking also
that some powerful attraction must have
Influenced him."
.sThe wish to oDIige Lady Meddowes
might be sufficient excuse, aunt Marga-
ret: but [ must confess that / think Lord
Vernon lacked good taste in almost forcing
himself into 4 house where he could scarce
Iy, even with his amount of vanity, have
imagined he would be welcome. However,
it is as well perhaps he should know be-
yond doubt how unimportant person L.e
is to me-"
Dwell, you see, my dear-I did not tell
you betore-We certainly became very inti-
mate at Nice. He CHANGED to be there at
the same time and in our set; so that really,
without betraying too undisguised annoy
ance in meeting him, we could not well ex-
clude him. | did not tell you this in my
letters, simply because | thought it might
worry you or give you pain-that was my
only reason"
ooh that he had power to give me
pain - was FIorence's bitter thought
tsHow easily the cure might lie in my own
hands. ~
Days and weeks passed, and Florence
was fairly launched upon the waters of her
old past life. The high-born circle of other
days in which she had SO revelled was re-
gathered around her. The London season
was advancing rapidly, and in less than an
other month the house in Charges st. would
be prepared for the Countess and Miss
Worthington's reception.
Lady Raven began to feel amply repaid
for all her anxiety III the Companionship of
her beautiful niece, to whom she knew she
was indebted for more than half of the in
Yitations she received. And once again
Lord Harcourt Vernon was Miss Worth
ington's shadow. If her pleasures wearied
her, if her heart ached painfully at times,
she forced the WEAKNESS Of the one and
the pain of the other from her, at least I'M
Til in the solitude of her own room, in her
wakeful nights, they would not be repress-
ed, but only with increased power toE-
mented her. She was always haunted by
a face which obliteratcd ali OthcrS-by
voice which was ever ringing in her ears;
but she tried increasingly to put them both
from her. At times She revealed in the adj
miration she received, in the grandeur by
which she was surrounded. They seemed
life and breath to her, even though the life
lacked reality and warmth, and the breath
freedom.
Florence wrote often to Maud Caring
ton; but her letters were not very punctu-
ally answered. Her life could not be
Maud's life and such subjects as they had
in common seemed rapidly to diminish
She knew too, beyond Il doubt, why Phil
Ups name was always omitted. Once only
had he aroused his sisters suspicious; and
she respected his slightest wish too deeply
to question it. Once, and once only, had
he asked Maud to never mention his name
In her letters to Florence: and the reason
he gave was that he had written few
lines to her and never received an answer.
That his letter could be withheld seemed
impossible to him. He believed only that
she had chosen to ignore him, as he had
felt too sure she would.
The Countess of Ravens politeness was
worthy Of one bearing her noble title. In
her niece's absence one day she penned, in
her most fascinating style on golden cor
oneted paper, 4 .etter to Mrs. Darlington.
TO that lady's wondcrment, there was very
little in it beyond incXpressibie gratitude
for the care she had bestowed upon her
dear niece, and the splendid health into
which she had nursed her; also her lady
ships hope that they might soon meet in
London, and the intelligence that Florence
would certainly have sent her love, but
that she had gone out riding with Lord
Harcourt ernon. This last piece of in
formation was quite as startling as Lady
Raven intended it should be. Her letter
arrived ut Fulham whilst the family were
at their evening meal, and was read aloud.
IA marvellous piece of politeness on
Lady Ravens part. | wonder how much
sincerity it contains" Maud Darlington
said
.'We should have liked one from Flor
ence much BETTER" Ethel remarked
"What shame it is that she came to us for
six months, and went away just as we all
got to like her, and think she was going
to stay forever! | don't suppose we shall
ever see her againp
"That is a cheerful idea, Ethel" her IA
Their told her; but | think better OF Flor
ence. She writes often; and you will see
that directly after they are in town she
will be in here"
"YOu should not bestow your affections
on people so far above you," Maud declar-
ed. "Florence's life now, think, will be
far apart from ours"
"Always wise, Maud" Philip said,
speaking for the first time.
He had listened carefully to what the
letter contained, and, had they noticed
him more intently, they would have seen
how his face had paled, and how one hand
had frightened on the other in a grasp of
iron, trying to force back his passion; for
he believed now, what, though in doubt, he
had scorned to entertain before-that Flor
ence had lied to him-that her engagement
had remained unbroken all the time she
was with them. He thought she had lured
him on to crafty her vanity or satisfy her
caprice.
CHAPTER XIII.
To see Philin Cnrrinm tnn snain II IL