Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-14

| Harcourt,' she began with unwonted ner-
| vousness, tears from sudden pain-or was
/ 1t passion?-rising unbidden to her ewes.
| but tears that saved her words-thev were
so all-satisfying to any lingering doubt his
| lordship might have had.
Il would not for the world agitate YOU
| tonight, Florence. Calm yourself, dear
| est, and let us return to the ballroom
| But 1 could not endure my suspense: it is
| over, and happily, now. You give me full
| leave TO apply to Sir Arthur to-morrow?"
| he asked.
But Florence felt prompted to postpone
| still the final settlement, to crave vet for
! longer period of freedom.
| s|To-mOrrow-whe YOU will Lord Har-
court. But papa leaves early in the morn
ing for Lincoln. Perhaps he may be away
for some days"
az am quite content to wait Florence. /
am too happy now with your answer to
| myself shall have the pleasure at least
OF seeing you tomorrow. [ can refer to
| Sir Arthur whenever it may suit your con-
venience and his. Of course our betrothal
will be incomplete without your fathers
| sanction: but l am content now-supreme-
! ly." And, bending down gracefully, he
! lightly kissed the forehead of his fair fan
| Gee. Could he only have known the loath-
| ing she felt.
"And now, my dearest, will not de-
| priye you any longer Of the pleasures YOU
ought to be enjoying. We may 90 and dis
| play our triumphs to your probably sus
| pecting guests"
In Lord Uarcourts estimation their tri-
umphs were evidently equal; and the
words made Florence Worthington, burn
with indignation. But she could not re-
/ sent them; and, after awhile, she tried to
console herself. There was some satisfac-
ton in displaying to her world that she had
won cOrOnet, the owner of which was
young, handsome, and fabulously rich. She
silently accepted his lordship's extendc,
| arm, and few minutes later they were i.
the ballroom, amid a blaze of light, ar.
with admiring, enyying, and suspicion,
chances on all sides.
Lady Raven saw in a moment what had
happened, and she smiled with wonderful
cordially at her niece Sir Arthur was
leaving the room as his daughter entered,
and he graSped her hand with feverish en-
ergy. load-such a heavy One-seemed
raised little. if not moved entirely, from
his heart. He could only hope for the best,
and entangle his future son-in-law beyond
all power of cxtrication.
The ball seemed to have been a brilliant
success-"thC success of the season" many
guests had whispered in parting to their
young hostess, as 4 tribute of f1attery, pos
sibly to the future Viscountes<, and the
last to take his leave was Lord Harcourt
He, his beautiful fiancee, and Lady Raven
were together; and his lordship was saying
few farewell words to Miss Worthington.
"After tomorrow you say Sir Arthur will
be at liberty to see me?" he asked.
"And why not to-morrow-or rather to-
day." Lady Raven suggested. Fatigued
even as she then was, she did not lose sight
OF the desirability that 10 time should be
lost to make all things secure.
"Papa leaves at six o'clock-in about
two hours, l should think-for Lincoln"
Miss Worthington said smiling with some
triumph at the thought.
"After tomorrow will suit me Just as
well" Lord H&rcOurt answered gracious
ly. "But l may see you to-day, Florence
not too early to fatigue you? You must
want some hours rest. Shall you be equal
to ride in the park towards evening, when
it will be cOOler?" his lordship asked
Miss Worthington'S face Swallowed pain
fully.
".l have no saddle-horse now Lord Har-
court. Papa did not like the one had and,
as we are leaving town so soon, he said he
should defer getting me another until we
were settled again.
"He had better defer doing so altogether,
and leave the matter in my hands," his
lordship said CALAMITY. SEWill you be
afraid to ride Sutana? Lady Theodore has
often ridden her when in town."
Miss Worthington was not at all afraid.
She was as fond of riding as of dancing,
and she was accepting her Efate"-if it was
hard One-bravely.
al shall be enchanted, Lord HarCOurt,
especially as l have not ridden for several
weeks. 1t will refresh me more than any
thing else. And we have an opera box for
tonight. viii you join us there later?"
she asked graciously. EETowards the end
of the season one tries to crowd as much
gayety as possible into the long days, or the
last weeks in town would be uncomfortable"
81 must salute the future Lady Har-
court!' the Countess of Raven declared, a
few minutes later, when Lord Harcourt
had departed. Her ladyship never was
very demonstratiVe or enthusiastic in any
way; but on the present occasion her salts
faction was too complete to be concealed.
''It is thought a bad omen, aunt Marga-
ret, to call a bride elect by her future
name" Florence answered, submitting rath-
er ungraciously to the embrace her aunt
offered.
EEOmens good or bad can have but little
TO do with you, my dear. l think fortune
seems scarcely able to favor you enough
How we'll you have managed, Florence =
You have fulfilled all our highest hopes,
and will be the most ,enyed girl in the
world. Your beauty and your good sanse,
| must say, deserve it. But you have also
shown courage at the right moment, and
rhaY,
pretty OF interesting to anguish under
some tiresome previous ENHANCEMENT. You
have the true Worthington blood IN your
veins, Florence, and you know your own
value"
ado I, aunt Margaret? I doubt it,"
Miss Worthington answered, apparently
but half-grateful for her aunt's sudden
praise ~ can only hope my one act of
wisdom may bring me the same amount of
happiness as my many foolish ones have
DONE" she answered YEARLY.
''Ask yourself the question seriously,
Florence. Do you think you could endure
poverty-eXpatriatio For it is useless
to disguise it-your father must leave Eng
land for a time, at least. Do you not rath-
err think your happiness may be more COM
plete in splendid home of your own, SUR
rounded by all the luxury and grandeur
that YOU have been accustomed to from
childhood, and J must say deserve, for you
are thoroughly able to appreciate ii all
- TO say nothing of an uneXceptionably
handsome and fascinating huSband?"
III, you are right, aunt Margaret! l
do not doubt anything you tell me; and
you see how well ] am protiting by your
advice. still when one is young, one cali
not help having craving for romance in
love, some sentiment touching on the SUBJ
lime: and | do not think that my court