Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-26
PRIDE'S CONFLICT.
A STORY OF CASTE.

was round her-her pride, her pain, her
resolves, all scattered to the Withstand
she was flying around the ballroom with
Philip Darlington, reyelling at last in her
old pleasure, which was enhanced by the
encirLing arm, the close contact with the
man she knew now she loved dearly, hope
lessly, she thought. He danced admirably
more lightly more sympathetically with
the music, with more support to herself,
so she discovered-than Lord Harcourt
Vernon had ever done. 1t was the most
delightful, most estate, dance size had ever
known, as the music ceased, he guided her,
GREATNESS, but with sparkling eyes ana
flushed face, back to her easy chair, muir
murlng, as he did so, a few low words of
thanks in her ear.
GLOW well you dancep' she said. Il
had no idea you could"
81 dare say not" he answered. "But
why should L not? / love music L have
health and strength, and am not very Old
you give me credit for nothing, Florence.
And yet don't know-you granted my Pc
tition, thinking that / might disgrace you
with failure. Well, | am thankful that
l have not done So"
Why did he always humiliate her so with
with his irony, with so cOntemptuou>l :
reading her inner thoughts, and, worse
still, declaring them aloud? But there
was no peryersity troubling her tonight.
The remaining dancers were making tie
most Of their quichly-passing evening
Florence and Philip were almost alone.
'sShall L tell you of the last time that
waltzed to the same music?" she asked,
with scarlet cheeks.
''If it will not pain you; but, if it does,
try to forget it-tor tonight at least" Ac
said gently. But she went on unheeding,
as if following her own thoughts.
dit was the week before poor papa died,
at our own house-it was with Lord Har-
court Vernon" And then she hesitated
with strange mingling Of pride and sim
certify, her face flushing deeply. "1'hat
day be was my atianced lover" Her voice
trem0led but not with the feeling he sus-
pected and Philip Carrington's face turned
pale as marble.
"YOu never told me this BEFORE" he said
quickly; 'Esurely you might have had sutti-
cient confidence in some of us to trust your
secret to my mother or to my sisters. 1t
scarcely seems right that the tiancee of a
peer, Miss Worthington, should have come
amongst us under false colors, to be treat
ed as one of ourselves"
She could detect unmistakable signs of
anger in his voice, which he strove family
to hide. She saw the same signs in his
blanched face. Though his words might
be lightly construed, they were very sweet
to her. She looked up at him with ire
presSible triumph in her face; and this he
was quick to discover
"Ah, Florence, [ see you pride yourself
upon being heart-slayer! But some vic
Tins may have strength to escape your
wilcs; they may not all be yanquished-
some may seek something better than a
pretty face" He was standinng close to
her, his arms folded on his broad chest, his
face very set and cold, and the sunny light
had faded from his gray eyes.
"IOu are always so hasty with meal
ways trying to put the worst construction
upon all say or do" she said, in quick
low tones.
81 have not the smallest right to put any
construction, good or bad upon what you
may do or say" he answered. "YOu are
your own mistress; but it seems to me if
my thoughts are anything to you, that you
might have favored some of us with the
knowledge of your true position when you
honored my fathers house by accepting it
for YOUR home; you have placed but little
confidence in u.s." His voice lacked all
the tenderness of tone she had always hith-
erto heard.
-, hat if have told you my true posi-
tom she asked.
''Eou cannot have done SOP
"Neverthcless | have" she answered
cal;u!v.
'FYou have Just told me for the first time
that YOU were atfianced. / suppose that is
tha rtf-NIp\- form ar LOO in,
position?" he said coldly.
g. told you that 1 was-I certainly am
not Eow."
"Iave you Tilted him then?"
Her eyes flashed at her questioner.
"You are certainly pitiless in your ques-
tions. | did not jiIt his lordship, but he
Tilted me-there is just that difference, if
you see any," she said; and her voice
trem3led as she confessed to her humilia-
tion.
1t was as if sunlight suddenly flooded
the face before her; there was now only
wistiul tenderness lowering over it.
.'Nlorence, will you ever forgive me?''
Philip Darlington asked bending down over
her.
81 do not know that | ever cam" she
answered coldly. ''You have forced my
secret from me only to condemn me in ev-
cry way
"And are you sure you cannot tell my
reason, Florence? Or is it that you wilfuI-
ly ignore it? But forgive me-" he pleaded
again. "Gou have given me so much pleas
ure tO-night-do not undo it all. | was
wrong III all l thought of you just now
but YOU cannot realize what | felt at stake.
Forgive me-" he said for the third time.
ellis submissiyenesS was very sweet to
her, his pleading very difficult to resist
but pride and the pleasure she felt in tor
turing the mar she loved were all-power-
full.
81 win do better than forgive-I will try
to forget tonight, and all the follies it has
brought" she answered coIdly.
Ethel was coming near her on Mr.. Hast
ing's arm. Florence rose quickly to meet
her, followed by u glance OF keen rUproach
from her cousin.
"Ethel, am tired after my folly in dane
ing-did you see me? But it was all YOUR
brothers fault. VIII you forgive me if
l steal away to bed? 1t must be very
late"
GAS you like, DEAR" her cousin answer
ed; ssbut your face looks too bright for
much fatigue, does it not, John?" she said.
turning to her companion; but he had
glanced towards Philip and had discovered
hidden meaning or trouble III his face,
and ne drew Ethel gently from them.
Florence gathered her bouquet and fan
from the little table by her side, and, with
her trailing velvet skirt falling round her,
passed her cousin Philip without glance
or word. and proceeded upstairs to hei
room. Size heard him sigh heavily, but
he made no effort to restrain her; and, ~
she turned on the stairs, and gave another
look back, she saw him pass his hand wea-
rily over his face and then re-enter the
nearly empty ballroom. where she soon