Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-31

a STORY OF CASTE.
CHAPTER l..

extending from floor to ceiling, sparkling
with crystal chandeliers; few magnifi-
cent pictures on the walls, statuettes. books,
delicately-tinted vases, fresh flowers, and
every rich or rare delight the eye could
wish for layishly displayed and tastefully
arranged.
Such was the drawing of Sir Ar
thur Worthington, Baronet; and his daugh-
ter and only child Florence to give the fin
ishing touch of beauty to the splendid
scene, while she reclined in her velvet and
giIded chair, a book idly held in her hand
which she vainly tried to read. or thought
she read, weary expression on her fair
patrician face, which lacked warmth. kind
illness; content. What was it? Something
married its perfection. Her forehead was
pure and white as marble, her brOWs were
clearly and delicately penaled, her large
dark gray eyes full and bright, but yet ut
terly devoid Of tenderness, her lips were
red and soft, but yet cruelty cOld-lOOking.
Pride unquenchabe and relentless, was
stamped on every feature Of the fair young
face, love of self displayed in every fold of
her rich silken robe, in every detail Of her
careful and costly toilet. Such was Flor
ence, only child and heiress OF Sir Arthur
WorthingtOn, Baronet.
She had been utterly spoilt and INDUCED
from her birth, which made her motherless;
and the full tide of fatherly affection which
might to some extent have compensated
her for the great loss her childhood had
sustained, was long withheld, because she
was girl. For many years she seemed to
lack the power to discover the secret path
which might make her companionabe to
her father; but, as Florence developed in
beauty, and acquired accomplishments, Sir
= flf do of, ion ,,
his daughter were kinded, and he began to
imagine possibility, though she was a
daughter only, that she might become the
prop of a lettering house, if the fates were
propitious, and she was mdeniably its or
nament.
But in the meantime Sir Arthur could
not help discovering that his daughter was
most eXtraVagant. He could grudge her
nothing; but money was far from plentiful
with him; and her luXuries and splendors
taxed him sorely.
Miss Worthington threw her book on to
little table at her side and looked across
to recess in the draWing-room, where an
other lady was also seated, enjoying the pc
rusal of Il French novel. She was no longer
young; and, although Countess of Raven,
few people thought her pleasant to look
upon.
The noise of the falling book attracted
her ladyShip's attention, and sh, glanced
across the room TO where her niece was
seated The Countess was Sir Arthur
Worthington's only and widowed sister.
and, for the time, Florence's guest, so that
1t beloved her ladyship to show some in
terest in her young hostess movements
She closed her own book with reluctance,
her inert nature and the oyerpOwering heat
la Il / l,g, l.,
corner of the room, and her French novel
all very pleasant to her.
lit might be endurable in the park by
this time, aunt Margaret, if one only had a
carriage. 1t is trying that papa, although
it is the end of the season, should have
taken it into his head to change the carriage
and horses before we leave town. | have
wanted an open carriage so many days
lately; for besides the heat and discomfort,
brougham is not the most desirable equip
age TO show oneself in" Miss Worthington
said fretfully.
The words reused the Countess from her
novel and her half-recumbent position. She
threw her book aside, pushed the stool i'm
patiently from under her feet, and raised
herself
.What do YOU mean Florence? DO you
tell me that YOU are actually without car
riage?"
"Io all intents and purposes, aunt Mar
garet. There is the brougham. and the use
of horse from Bcntlcy's, when | choose ::
but | nave been without a carriage and
horses Of my own for the last six weeks
and Just at the time when one wants them
most. OF course the brougham does well
enough for uight-worll but not to drive III
during tho day. | must confess papa is
not generally SO thoughtless of my COM
fort; but he says | must manage now until
we return from Thornville"
"What reason has he given you Flor
encc?" Lady Raven asked.
"Only that the carriage was too old FASH
toned for me and too heavy for the horses
which of course it was; and then papa
is tired of grays, and wishes me to drive
dark bays for the future"
''But at least he might have left you the
grays until the bays were forthcoming"
Lady Raven remarked, with apparent rea-
son, and also with meaning expression on
her face.
She did not dare give utterance to what
was passing in her mind then, or she could
have told her niece that her chance of driy-
ing bays now or at any future time was
very remote one. She had little doubt on
the subject herself; and she had less a few
minutes later, when Miss Worthington's
own maid brought her in note on a salyer
'Why are you here, Marie, instead of
HudSonP her young mistress asked.
"Because one of Therese's women brought
the note herself, ma'am, and says she's been
told to wait for an answer / thought it
might be about your dress, and that YOU
might require me-"
at is not--and there is no answer" Miss
Worthington replied coldly. And the ser
want withdrew.
But the note appeared of some impor-
lance to her nevertheless, for she read and
re-read it several times, flushing deeply the
while. Lady Ravens eyes were fixed in
tently on her niece all the time.
"What is it, Florence?" her ladyship
asked at length. She guessed too well, al
though she asked to be enlightened.
"Simply piece of impertinence on the
part OF Therese, aunt; but it is neve~the-
less annoying. 1t is worrying too of papa.
/ can't understand him." Miss Worthington
added, somewhat incoherently.
What has it to do with your father.
Florence?"
"Why only this-Therese has been tor.
menting me ever since Christmas to settle
my account. Papa allows me only three
hundred pounds year for my pin-money,
and he has not given me fraction since
long before Christmas. Every day l ask
him for a check, but he always puts me off
with some excuse or other; and see how an
moving it is now. aunt Margaret-and Miss
Worthington's voice betrayed that tears
were near-"Therese actually declines to
commence my dress for the twenty-fifth I'M
less | send her forty or fifty pounds on &C
count"
Has she written impertinently?" her la