Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-28
PRIDE'S CONFLICT.
"A STORY OF CASTE.

1t is so kind OF you, Mrs. Carrlngton, TO
take care of the naughty child in my alb
sence. You have relieved me of my great
est difficulty, and l cannot express my in
debtedness to you," the Countess of Raven
declared. s.You see | could not possibly
take her with me to my sick friend at Scar
borough; and my London house is let
and in the autumn | pay my long-prom-
Used visit to my married daughter at
Nice"
Mrs Darlington politely expressed her
pleasure at having her niece with her, and
hope that her visit might be prolonged
Indefinitely.
You must bring some roses back to her
cheeks" said her ladyshp. s.And YOU
must write often to me, Florence-con-
stantIy," she added turning to her niece
"And on my return Mrs. Darlington,
shall hope to see great deal of you and Of
your dear girls. No doubt by that time
Florence and her cousins will be insepara.
rable. You have a son too?" her ladyship
Intercepted hesitatinglv.
The existence of this son had at times
gwen her few qualms of uneasiness-
what If he should be prescntable and at
tractlVe Ill some way, and, from living al
ways In the house with him, Florence
should fall into the error common to all
girls, and fancy herself in love with him,
or, any rate get into some kind of cntan-
CLEMENT There was not much chance Of
this; but still there was the bare possibili-
ty, against which she had thought it better
not to warn Florence, for fear of putting
1t into her head. But, after all, Mrs. Car
rington relieved her mind entirely on this
point.
ale is not my own son, Lady Raven,
though | believe he is dearer to me than
any son of my own could be-" Mrs. Car
rington said with sudden feeling as she
thought of him. "He is my husbands on
ly son by his first life; but | have had the
care of him since he was eight years old,
and he is just the same to me as one of my
own girls. lie does not always live with
us; he has rooms close to his business, and
comes home when lie is able"
A thrill of dread passed through Miss
WOrthington's mind us she thought of this
unknown cousin-a thousand times worse
than girl-who was probably a baker,
butcher, or candlcStick-makcr-Sh little
knew or cared; all she did know was that
he was tradesman-probably with large,
dirty hands, coarse loud voice. and vulgar
ideas. lie would be the last drop in her
cup of humiliation and disgust in her new
home she thought. But Lady Raven took
everything in good part.
"How very nice 1t must be for you, Mrs.
Carringtonl You see both of my chill
drcn are away from me, and l am nearly
always alone. Florence will have to
make up for them when | return. [
should liked to have seen your husband"
her ladyship shamelessly declared. "Pray
give my kindcst compliments to him
Florence, dear, | must say goodbye to You
a. fIl-J
and her ladyship made 4 show, real or
feigned, of some feeling, with which Flor
ence did not seem to synpathiZe.
Miss WorthingtOn suffered her aunt's
lips to touch her cheek, and listened with
complete apathy to her adieuX. In a few
moments more she was alone with her aunt
and cousins-Simple, warm-hcartcd people,
quite prepared to receive her rs one of
themselves, to show her all their care and
love, as well as not little admiration for
her beauty, and with due regard for what
they were pleased to think her high posi-
tion and her condescenSion in coming to
them.
"My DEAR" said Mrs. Darlington, styou
look tired and tagged to death. Go to
your rooms with the girls. and let them
help you take off your things-do not scru-
pie to ask for anything you would like or
down stairs to our sitting rooms
Florence followed her cousins I'D stairs
to two pretty rooms which had been set
apart for her use; and her heart would
have been q harder one than it was
had She not s0ftened a little to the two
pretty refined girls 50 pRadected and eager
to give her help or comfort, both rs YET a
little shy with her, but evidently trying
their best to make her comfortable.
Florence could not help expressing her
admiration as she entered the rooms pre-
pared for her; She even said little gra-
ciouSiy-
cit is so kind Of You to have me-"
1--WE think it more kind Of you to come
TO us-it will give us all SO much pleasure"
Maud, the eldest rcoined kindly. Sand
you will Of course feel little shy with us
at tirst-strangers as we arc-but you must
try to get over ii as soon as you can, and
make yourself one of ourselves"
Shyuess was about the last discomfort
Miss Worthington suffered from, but her
GOODNESS and reserve might easily be taken
for it,
"Aud you are sure to like papa, and
Philip, oh, so muchW Ethel declared en-
gcrly. cit is so provoking that Philip is
away NOW for three weeks; but one is over,
and the other two will soon pass. The
house Is quite different when he is at
home"
Long may he stay away, this bugbear
cousin thought Florence. "lIe cannot
really be my cousin" were the words which
nearly rose to her lips, but politencss re-
pressed them, though the wish to utter
them remained.