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

Brighton was beginning TO fill for the
short Easter season. The lines of carriages
were becoming less attcnuated on the
Kings Road. The spring sunshine was
giving brightness to the changing sea, and
winter chillinesS was turning into spring
freshness.
Lady Raven, who in tact and manHu-
wiring was unappr0achable, suddenly dis
covered that her strength failed her little,
that her system required bracing after her
long sojOurn in the eneryating climate of
Nice, and that She must be |'set up'' for
tne summer season lii town. She also be-
Geyed the best way to break the link be-
tween her niece and the last six months
was to leave London behind them for
while. All might then begin afresn. Be-
sides Miss Worthington had lately lost her
roses. There was Il languor and a restless
ness and an apathy about her which her
aunt began to read Alright.
Lady Raven refrained from asking any
questions about her niece's late life; she
guessed much, but she preferred to remain
partly in doubt. Moreover, she constantly
praised the Carrington's for their goodness
in all ways, the girls especially for their
sweetness and refinement. She even vol
unteered the suggestion that at future
time their warm friendship might be re-
newed with advantage to both sides. In
this way she felt that she could soothe any
lingering regret or soreness in Florence's
heart, and stitie feelings so often reused
and irritated by unconcealed objection or
dislike; but she lost few chances of point
ing out the difference which must always
exist between their sphere and her own,
while she carefully respected Florence's
utter silence. She noticed her flushing face
when the post, though it was rarely,
brought her news from her cousins-her
glistening eager eyes while she read it; she
noted ALSO her fading color when she asked
if there was letter for her and was told
there was none.
Lady Raven took ways and means-jus-
tifable in her own eyes, doubtless, for her
conscience was elastic-of finding out that
the letters came from the Misses Caring
ton, and that they were harmless in their
contents; better still, they were rare in
coming. With that she was content.
Florence herself began to think that the
past six months must have been dream.
She had lost much of the brightness which
had dawned upon her, and in its place
seemed to have gathered all her old haugh-
tiness, with more apathy; this, however,
was not displeasing to her aunt, especially
as she found her niece wonderfully docile,
and apparently anxious in all ways to fall
in with her views and plans. Florence
was miserable enough; but her unnhappi-
ness was half hidden under mask of pride
and apathy. The days as they passed were
not unpleasant to her. She tasted a little
of her old life, and found the taste not Bit
ter, though there was none of the warm,
glowing sunlight she had before so pleas
antly revelled in.
Lady Raven and Miss Worthington were
occupying Lord Ravens house at Brigh-
ton-which he often allowed his mother TO
do when she was so inclined-and her la
dyship's barouche was hired for the season.
But it rolled along the paraue none the
less easily; and Florence, reclining haug.l-
tily beside her aunt, with the fresh sea-
breeze tanning her face, was not Il little
pleased at the notice her relatives equip
age or her own beauty attracted.
The Countess of Ravens plans were all
admirably arranged for some months to
come. Brighton was getting rather full,
and her ladyShip found friends enough to
make the evenings pass pleasantly; and
even so far she found not a little cOmpen-
sation for her trouble in the admiration
that Florence's beauty excited and the at
traction she felt her to be amongst her &C
quaintanccs.
Miss WorthingtOn did not succeed very
well in putting from her the last day at
+ Ilham: but she endeavored to forget the
fact that she herself had forged link be-
tween herself and Philip which could not
honorably be broken on either side. She
thought Of the past only with dull aching
pain; and she believed also that between
her life and his there must remain the bar
rier Of caste, and that only submission to
her fate, as she chose to call it, was left to
her.
One afternoon In March. as Lady Ravens
carriage stopped before her house, horse
man rode up quickly, and was welcomed
| by Lady Raven with considerable eager
| ness. His voice brought back a rush of old
! painful memories to Florence; and turning
| round suddenly, her eyes fell upon Lord
Harcourt. He was off his horse in mo-
ment. and at her side. Her hand in any
sort Of greeting she would have withheld !;
but, as he aided her to alight, she was per-
| force obliged to touch his arm. She took
| care that the touch should be the lightest
possible.
..Need I tell you the pleasure it gives me
to see Miss Worthington again?" his low
| voice said, half to Lady Raven; and then
to Florence he added an earnest inquiry af-
| ter her health.
Her face was flushed BEAUTIFULLY by the
| fresh sea air. Her eyes were bright as
stars. with more subdued expression