Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-21


to be most inconvenient for her ladyship.
She was engaged to pay months visit to
an old friend at the seaside; and this
change, she felt, was absolutely necessary
to her after the fatigues of London sea-
son, and still more after all the trials she
had just passed through. Her niece, OF
course, had not been included in this in
yitation. Lady Raven, never too plentiful
ly supplied with money, felt but little In
clined to resign her pleasant visit TO Scar
borough and sacrifice her pleasures-her
health, she told herself-in order to chape-
ron her intractable niece in her present
mourning and seclusion, which at the best
could only bury them both in some dull
watering place. To do her ladyship jus
tice, this plan had entered her head as
possibility; but Miss Worthingon's last
misdemeanor had entirely removed from
her aunt's mind the idea of making such
sacrifice. Lady Ravens own Lc ndon house
in Charges street, was let for some months,
and her ladyship was further engaged to
winter in Nice with her married daughter,
with whom Miss Worthington had never
thought tit to be OH friendly terms. They
had been rival beauties for one or two Lon
don seasons, and Florence Worthington
had, perhaps with too insolent triumph,
BILE that she could be her Cousins guest
She must be safely housed somewhere, for
time at least, until her mourning should
be passed through and the double scandal
attached to her name forgotten. But
where? To Lady Raven the question was
the most difficult to answer.
Poor Florence had indeed fallen from
her high pedestal. The girl scarcely real
ised or cared what was before her; she on
ly told herself that she was utterly wretch
ed. But her aunt was trying her best to
enlighten her as to her position and its
difficulties. Florence's defiance had arous-
ed her ladyship's temper, which was none
of the best, and for the time she was toler-
ably INSCRIPTIONS as to sparing her niece's
feelings.
II suppose there is some thing saved for
me out of all the wreck" Florence asked
few days later.
of there is anything at all, Florence, it
must be pitiful tribe, due only to your
cousin Edwards generosity"
But Miss Worthington still possessed
youth and health, and no inconsiderable
share of beauty, so that her future pros
poets need not have seemed so utterly hope
less to her; they did however, and Lady
Ravens last shaft had to be discharged.
81 see but one place open for you at pres
ent, Florence-of course eventually we
may arrange differently; but there are too
many difficulties, too much scandal, in the
way to do so yet"
Full we'll Florence knew what was COM
ing now.
.|Your aunt Darlington has written, as
you know, most kindly" Lady Raven said;
"she has written more than once, and has
really shown great delicacy and kindness;
and, with her husband, the chemists full
wish and consent, she offers you home for
an unlimited time in their house, and
promises to study your happiness in all
ways. Really, for the present at least,
Florence, do not see that you can do bet
ter than accept her proposal. You have
chosen to refuse the high position offered
to you; you may possibly like to try the
lower one, and be able to appreciate it,"
her ladyship said sarcasticalIy-"at any
rate it will afford few months shelter
In such deep mourning-for the present
at least-you cannot think of going into
society. A year hence L may be able to
make different arrangements for you to
live with me when L am again in Charges
Street"
All the color faded from Miss Worthing-
toms face; her bitterest fears were about
w NC IedllSeu, uel pIluc WAS 10 De
hurt. Her naughty spirit however still
supported her; she would meet her aunt
on her own ground.
Poor Florence! She had been reared
carefully in the belief that tradesmen, high
or low, could only be like useful machinery
in the way of life-thut they were people
indispensable certainly to keep the world
in action, to supply ones wants and Great
ure-Comtorts, but that they were never to
be associated with-persons to be treated
civilly if one came in contact with them,
but otherwise to be ignored utterly, and
one of the bitterest thorns in Florence
WOrthingtOn'S pride had been the knowl-
edge that her dead mother was trades
mans child. But her mother was dead
Often, in her better and softer moments,
she had yCarned for mothers tenderness,
for II sound from the sweet lips, or smile
from the soft eyes which she so constantly
worshipped in the large oil-painting hang
ing always in her own room-the picture
had been painted by celebrated artist
when her mother was in all the first flush
of youth, health, and happiness-but the
yearning, craving feelings were stitied by
the remembrance of her mothers low orr
gin, of the blot it was upon the family es-
cutcheon. There seemed to be only endu-
ldiCc loI uCI NOW, IOI Inc size 50
scorned were the only ones outstretched to
give her help or shelter.
"You are right, aunt Margaret; it will
be best to accept my aunt Carrington's Of
fer. 1t is most kind and disinterested
one, for they have scarcely seen me, and l
do not think they ever had civil word or
thought from any of us; but | suppose they
have some pity for me-they can see that |
no fri TO TN TO
they feel some compassion. Perhaps L
may find my mothers sister, my mothers
relatives, my best and truest friends after
all"
E'9ouneed not be ungrateful, Florence, [
Think" said her aunt. "You know quite
we'll that l have offered you a home with
me eventually, if you choose to accept it.
1t may be in your nature--it seems almost
as if it must be-to lean to lower friends;
but you cannot with justice deny that |
have always tried to do my best for YOU"
~ deny nothing" Florence answered.
"But you try to imply great DEAL
How can l take you with me to Mrs.
Vere's? How can l remain with you here,
or even in London? You know that |
have rented my house in Charges Street
for some months" All that her ladyship
said was undeniably true. "And how
could l take youwith me to Nice, when you
know that my daughter and her husband
have only a suit of rooms there, and that
it is with difficulty they can accommodate
me? Added to which, Florence, you would
certainly not like to be Margaret's guest,
seeing that you nave always treated ner
with the barest civility.'
81 certainly should not like it at all, aunt
Margaret. l cannot imagine anything that
would be more distasteful to me. In our
laDQipSt time MarUarat and I wore naypr