Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-07
PRIDE'S CONFLICT.
A STORY OF CASTE.

Florence Worthington's blood boiled in
her veins, but she could not retaliate-she
could only endure as best she might.
awe must tell Mrs. Gilbert that Therese
has ANNOYED you; she will never imagine in
what way, and it will only give her greater
zest to please you Is there any kind of We
hicle we can have, Florence, or must it be
cab" Lady Raven asked.
"There is the brougham, and a horse
from Bentley's as l told you;o and Miss
Worthington rang the bell impatientlv and
gave the order.
"One word, Florence, before we start
we seem to be tolerably d'accord on ali 9TH
er points-have you invited Young Garlic
ton to your baLl:"
Again blnsh deepened into scarlet on
Miss Northingon's ordinary pale cheeks,
and she answered neryously-
81 think so-it would not be easy to ex-
clude him, aunt Margaret: he and his sis
tiers are certainly our oldest friends, and
we visit Netherwood nearly every year,
at may be so, Florence; nevertheless his
exclusion on this occasion would have been
very desirable. Just now matters have
reached crisis between yourself and Lord
Harcourt-and a man is too easily scared
from his intentions"
ellis love must be very valuable acqui-
sition them" Miss Worthington could not
help retorting.
..You speak as you do not think, Flor
ence," Lady Raven answered. "hIen are
not fond of having their amour propre
wounded, and, in fact, he did allude in
some way to young Carleton's attentions
which, you must admit, are rather marked
to your father the other day"
"Did he presume to do such a thing?"
Miss Worthington asked Indignantly.
81 scarcely know what you mean, Flor
ence. Honorable men are generally straight
forward and he certainly limited to your
father that he was afraid of forcing his at
tentions where he saw others than himself
were at least privileged. He did it most
delicately; but he could only alade to
young Carleton-and he might easily mag
Inc what he did. OF course | know that
you are not imprudent; but his lordship's
fears vii! just now be easily aroused. Ey-
cry one must admit that Hugh Carleton is
fascinating enough to turn any ordinary
girls head-and he has the excuse too of
being the youngest son of poor Viscount;
but it would be too absurd if he were to
imagine any sort of engagement between
you as possible. You must know that per-
fectly well, Florence"
well; but the knowledge so far brought
her no comfort.
"And when one string is useless, my
dear, it would be too foolish to run the risk
of breaking the other" her ladyship de-
clared. "You must be studiously cold to
Mr.. Carleton on the twenty-tifth, Florence.
You must force Lord Harcourt to see that
others attentions are as nothing to you"
Half an hour later Lady Raven and her
niece Miss Worthington were deep in the
mysteries of Medora's costume in Miss Gil
bert's handsome reception rooms. The IA
nous artist was only too delighted to un-
dertake the costume for the beautiful heir
ess-tor the future Lady Harcourt. She
was delcately enlightened On both points
by Lady Raven. Madam Therese's short
comings were freely discussed and COM
mented on. Medora's costume being per-
fectly understood, and faithfully promised
two days before the twenty-tifth.
For the time Miss Worthington's troubles
Were scared away by the rustic of silks,
and the sights Of delicate and brilliant col
ors displayed artistically before her. She
re-entcrcd her carriage radiant, and even
proposed for her auntS pleasure a short
drive in the park in the hated brougham.-
They returned only in time to make their
late-dinner toilet, and to find that Sir Ar
thur had Unexpectedly arrived in their alb
sence.
elias he lost all, or gained enough to
float yet little longer in his present posi-
tom" the Countess of Raven asked herself
fearfully while she languidly assembled the
stairs TO her dressing-room.