Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-02
PRI.DE'S CONFLICT.
A STORY OF CASTE.

She tried to answer indittcrently.
ssTour brother has been in for a few
minutes only, and he said he should be
late al business tonight; he Went away to
tell aunt Clara himself" How THANKFUL
she felt for the dark room, lighted only by
the fire.
ooh, how tiresome! The Hastings are
coming in, and it viii be so dull without
him. Are you sure he has gone%' Ethel
asked.
81 think sol am not quite sure" Flor.
ence answered.
She was only too sure; but Ethel hasten
ed below, to return, a few minutes later,
with a much longer face.
ooh, Maud, | am yeXed! Mamma tells
me that Phil says q busy time has sudden
ly come upon him, and he will be very lit
tie at home for the next fortnight. It is so
tiresome! ] hate the house without him;
and | know he is going to Rugby for two
or three weeks" and Ethe's bright face
clouded, betraying the real disappoint-
ment she felt.
alt may not be so bad, Ethel, Phil rare
ly stays away so long, even when he thinks
he must. However, we must make the
best of it,"
Maud's thoughts were travelling in one
I'LL CCblOI Ollg ollt DtIlcN CIt SuC SAW q lllO-
tive for her brothers absence.
sAnd it is u shame, Florence, that you
have decided to leave us so soon, as mamma
tell u.s." went on Ethel. owe quite be-
lieyed you would always stay with us;
and now it seems your coming to us was
only visit. Just as we have got fond of
you, and YOU have become used to us,
you are going away for eyer-for [ don't
suppose that we shall see much more of
you"
ooh, Ethel, don't say that! / should be
grieyed to think So" Florence answered.
81 can never forget how kind you have
been to me. 1t has been the happiest time
of all my lifcp' And Miss WOrthington
suddenly burst into tears.
oEthe, you should not be quite so
brusque, child" said Maud; and then,
turning to Miss Worthington, she asked,
.'Why cannot you stay with us, Florence,
if you are really happy? You know we
wish you to do So"
"Not more than | wish it, Maud" an
swered Florence. "But you see aunt Ra-
ven has, or, | suppose, ought to have the
first claim; though you may be certain my
life with her will not be so pleasant as
here. Who knows, if you will receive me
back again, but | shall Gomez" Florence
added more brightly. Gladly Raven near
ly always goes to the South of France in
the autumn viii you have me back
them"
1t was a new idea to her, and gave her q
sudden thrill of relief. The girls too
frightened at the thought.
sYou know we will have you back only
too gladly, if you are content to come; but
/ doubt if that will be likely" said Maud.
~ l.,xr =,
pleasures of the fashionable world, [
scarcely think our quiet home will suffice
for YOU"
care your designations so very delight
full, Florence?' asked Ethel. at always
seems to me as if one must get tired of
them. | am sure | should"
"And you are right, Ethel" said Flor
ence. ''But, you see, | have lived amongst
them all my life, until they have become
part OF my nature, as it were. Neverthe-
less, the happiest time that L have ever
had" she repeated, |"has been here with
YOU"
"And yet you leave us?'' Intercepted
Maud.
81 am following my fate, | suppose"
Florence answered sadly.
The days passed quickly; they were
gliding into weeks, and three had fled
Florence began to count the hours, and to
find herself listening intertly for steps
which rarely came now. Thrice had she
seen Philip since he had asked her to be
his wifC-twice for few moments before
them all in the sitting-room, once for mo-
ment on the stairs, on the day he was pre-
pairing to leave London, when he babe her
goodbye, and when all her pent-up love
for him seemed concentrated in its fullest
strength. But it availed her httle-and
his words were cold and formal. She no.
ticed that he looked i'll and worn, and heard
the others remark the same, adding that it
was due to OVerwork.
Miss Worthington had decided her own
fate; but She did not find it easier to bear
on that account. She was almost sure she
could detect a shade Of coldness, or rather
disapl ointment, in her aunt's manner
towards her, and less freedom in that of
the girls. She felt that they suspected
what had really happened; and she began
10 wish now for the last few days to pass.
She was sure she would suffer less in an
other house, where everything would not
remind her Of her lost happiness, the tru-
est and pureSt she had ever known.
Florence's preparations for leaving were
all made, and acting under her daughters
lNF ICt, ldItN hdNtH StGlHCu tlCuilCb W 1C-
ceive her niece into her home with all fit
ting honors-she showed no signs of treat
Ing her as a ''poor relation" Twice had
her ladyship's carriage called at the Car
rington's-once to bring excuses that she
was too i'll to come herself, the next time
TO ask for Florence'S presence for couple
of hours to make arrangements for her re-
turn. Her ladyShip'S own maid had also
been several times TO make the necessary
arrangements for the removal of Miss
Worthington's wardrobe. Lady Raven
seemed to have forgotten nothing; she
even counSelled Florence to give her cous-
ms suitable parting gifts.
The time was come at last; and Lady
Ravens carriage, with the imposing dark
bays, stood at the Carringtons' door. Be-
fore entering it, Florence returned to her
room for something she had forgotten;
and, leaving it again, she saw Philip,
breathess and excited, standing on the
threshold
"Flcrence," he said, ''it has seemed to
me many times since, that l was hard with
you a month ago. OF course you must
study your own happiness; but let us part
as friends at least-we may never meet
again. | so feared | should not be back
in time" His words We're low and his face
was very white and set. "GOod-bye, Flor
ence. Think of us sometimes-torget
what l may have said to torment YOU
your favorite expression, he added smiling
little; ''and, if you ever want friend,
do not forget those you leave to-day-you
may seek far to find truer ones"
She had been nervously fastening her
glove while he spoke; and when he had fin
ished she turned with sudden passion
passion held back, controlled until it mas
tara6 md th,.nnxr !, It