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

done about your dress, Florence; the tWen-
ty-ifth is little more than week OF, and
dressmakers are all so busy at this time of
the year. What had you ordered:"
ooh, most elaborate dress. But will
never 20 again to Therese; some one else
must undertake it; Therese has made her
last for me. Papa himself chose it-and it
is so rarely he takes any interest in my
dress, at least as to its details. He seemed
to think | would look so well as MedOra;
but am afraid it will be a costly dress"
and then she began to describe to the
Countess the combination of gold and sill
yer tissue, delicate satin, and lace necessa-
~ for its production.
mA costly dress indeed, child! No Won
der Therese has declined it For her own
credit she must send it home perfect, and
at no slight expense. She. may really well
demur, As She evidently thinks payment for
it may be indefinitely postponed; and
there is also a considerable sum in ar
rear" her ladyship declared.
"What do you mean by payment being
| Indefinitely postponed?" Miss Worthington
asked haughtily. ] have never been in ar
rear with her before! Even papa has al
ways been content with the way have
managed my own affairs 1t is simply pa
pas dreadful habit Of prOcrastination
which is putting me to this Inconvenience
now. Papa could write me twenty checks,
if he liked" Florence averred. Greatly
| don't know what is the best to be done
now" she added "You see this is no
common dress; and don't know any other
person to apply to. But Therese at any
sacrifice, shall never make NE anotherW
"Have you no money, Florence, with
which you could content her for the time?
Surely it might be wiser to do that than to
quarrel with her under existing circum-
stances"
"The sum total Of my riches at the pres
| ent time, aunt Margaret mounts to about
seven pounds. don't think Therese would
thank me much for that. Besides, she shall
work no more for me! The moment papa
returns 1 shall insist upon his giving me
check for the whole, and rid myself of her at
once. [ can never stand impertinence like
that. And | did not like her manner the
other day."
Lady Raven apparently did not, on the
! present occasion, see affairs in the same
| light as her niece. She was silent and her
| face betrayed some annoyance or perp1eXity.
care all arrangements made for your
! ball on the 25th, Florence?" her ladyship
| inquired.
~ think So"
/ "Who provides the supper"
"MOrtOn-this time"
81 thought Bunter provided the last.'
eyes, last year he did; but it seems that
papa has had some unpleasantness with
him, so this year he has arranged with Nor
| ton. He will do as well, fancy"
"And who provides the flowers, and ar
ranges them?" Lady Raven asked,
"WillsOn or Williams forget which,
y
| ious to satisfy us; at least so papa says.''
al thought Fuller was your florst?"-
! Lady Raven asked again, with meaning
| look on her face.
| '"He has been hitherto" Miss Worthing-
| ton answered.; but papa does not seem to
| have been contented with him either. For
| this occasion he made arrangements him.
! self with Williams"
care you sure they are made?"
"Certain on that point, aunt Margaret.
Williams has been here himself to see the
rooms and staircases."
care you equally sure that Lord Har-
| court is coming?'
'EYou seem really very anxious on his
| lOrdship'S account" Miss Worthington re-
! joined, with assumed carelessness; "but I
! can set my mind at rest on that point, I
| have his written acceptance. / can tell you
| also that papa has lately seen him, and he
! has been polite enough to express interest
| in my costume, and suggest that he should
wear companion TO it,"
A more hopeful expression passed over
| Lady Ravens face as she answered.
at seems a rather suspicious suggestion
for his lordship to make, Florence, does it
| not? If you are to be Medora, he intends
to play Conrad, | suppose it will suit him
| too"
Florence laughed uneasily and Redeemed.
at seems to me rather as if he will be
| destined to play Conrad without Medora.
| My costume for the occasion appears to be
| falling to the ground. will not-no | will
| not" Miss Worthington, declared vehe-
| mently, assume any hackneyed, common
| costume-any kind of peasant or flower
| 5irPs dress! They are always so stupid
| and monotonous. detest dress that any
| girl can wearl Mine must be a recherche
| one, If l wear costume at all. 1t is most
| provoking about Theresel And it is not
! only for this one occasion; but after her
rudeneSs, | can never go to her again, al
! though she has suited me so WELL"
81 tell you candidiy, Florence, L think
| you will never GO to her again. Lady Ra.
ven said Oracularly.
The tone of her voice made Miss Worth
Il do not understand you, aunt Marga-
ret"
NO. my dear, dare say not. And per-
haps | am wrong in wishing to enlighten
you; but yet it seems to me scarcely wise
to let you be walking perpetually over a
mine that is likely to explode at any mo-
ment."
"1Ou are still more enigmatical," Miss
W0rthingtOn answered, with little more
hau@htiness in her voice than she generally
favored so important a parsonage as the
Countess Of Raven with.
at is extraordinary to me, Florence,
that you appear to remain in such complete
ignorance yourself. Everything | have
seen in your house lately-everything YOU
have told me to-day-only proves to me
what | have feared for several years past
Your father is on the verge of ruin He
has Weathered the storm many times be-
fore; but fear his resources are pretty
nearly exhausted now, and his relatives
tired Of lending what he will never be able
to return"
\ scarlet flush dyed Miss Worthington's
beautiful face, and faded again as quickly.
Her hands were pressed tightly together,
as II she were trying to restrain any emo
ton which her aunt'S words called forth.
"For goodness sake, don't faint, child!
To manage your affairs with any amount of
cleyerness you must exert all your cour-
age, and think you have fair share"
But Miss Worthington had entirely re-
covered her ordinary lfposSeSSion-at
| least outwardly.
81 am certain you are wrong in all you
imagine, aunt Margaret. You were always
preJudIced against papa, and have not