Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-12
CHAPTER TX.

given nGr DuL niue cndDCc OF doing SO.-
| She listened eagerly for his footsteps day
| after day, but in vain. one evening he
came home, and then she flew upstairs to
| the stronghold of her own room, fully ex-
pecting that few minutes would bring
| him after her; but he never came. She
| thought she would meet him when she
condescended to join the others later; but
he was gone then, and the girls made no
comment upon his absence.
If he knew her so well, she little knew
him. If he had wooed princess, she must
still have acknowledged his superiority;
but, could he have loved beneath him, how
gladly would he have stopped to raise the
loved one!
In the meanwhile Florence's love for
Philip. which she hardly dared to acknowI-
edge toherself was turning-ors she thought
was turning to burning indignation and
hatred. Why, it would have been difficult
for her to say; but she told herself many
times day that he was nothing to her,
that her pride was saved from giving way
just in time; and yet in spite Of all, her
days were very weary ones.
"W hat on earth can Phil be doing?" her
uncle asked more than once. ale called
upon me to-day, and | questioned him;
but his work did not seem to me very i'm
lect it,
"And [ am afraid he will lay himself up
again." Mrs. Darlington said.
OF need not fear that" her husband
told her. Gle looked all right, and un-
commonly bright, thought"
This WIS pleasant ucWS TO Florence.
Shortly afterwards Lady Ravens letter
arrived, and once more t!orence's old pride
was stirred within her, the pleasures of
her present life were dimmed, and she
found herself craving for the position that
she thought would satisfy her better.
NoNcmpcr WAS passing away, Christmas
was near at hand, and she might accept
Lady Meddowes' invitation, to punish her
cousin Philip for his GOODNESS, for trifing
with her, She began to crave, or think she
craved for her old past life and its luNu-
rieS, though she could not feel the lack in
her present one; but she never asked her
self whether what she really lacked WAS
not the sunshine of Philips presence.
Her days were now very gloomy ones,
she thought as she strained her eyes read
ing alone by the freight, little needing
what she read, and listening for footsteps
that did not cOme-bro0ding too not lit
tie over her aunt's letter, with all the
urgent advice it contained, and some
temptation too, for, although she hated her
cousin Margaret, she loved the Continent.
And might not the pleasure outweigh the
draWb back? She was miserable enough, she
told herself, though she did not admit the
cause; but the light seemed darkeued in
her pleasant nome. the long days endless
any change must be preferable.
While she sat and Thought thus until her
dark eyes were full of tears, she heard the
al pl hal n rat
the outer door, and in moment she had
flown to her own room breathless and
trembling She heard Philips voice call
ing his sisters above and below, and their
quick pleased greeting. She herself had
not seen him for ten, long, weary days. She
was full of indignation against him, simply
because she loved him.
She sat alone, fretting, waiting, listen
ing breathessly; but nothing happened.-
She heard laughing voices below, and
lolged to 20 down, but pride would not let
her. There was no one in the world, she
thought, who really cared whether she
lived or died.
About ten minutes before the ordinary
tea-time, she arranged her toilet and went
down stairs. The lamps were lighted, and
looked cheerful and bright after her soli-
tude in her dark room. She saw her three
cousins bending over table in the farthest
corner of the room and examining some
thing so earnestly that they did not hear
her soft football, or she thought they did
not. But she was wrong; Philip turned
suddenly to where she had placed herself
in her usual corner:
"Florence, come and look, and help us
to decide this all-important question:" his
clear voice said.
'Why, [ never heard you! Come and
look here, Ethel observed. .'And you have
not'seen Phil for more than week"
at is surely only three days, Ethel" he
corrected, with his eyes bent mischieyous-
ly on Florence.
Then he had not even noticed her absence
and this was no small offence in her eyes.
He held out his hand towards her, and she
Only intended to touch it; but he drew her
firmly towards the table in spite of her de-
termination.
s.Look here, Florence; and decide this
all-important subject. 1 have had my pho
tograph taken for my mothers birthday
She really wished to have one,' he said,
laughing; ..and we cannot decide which is
the best of these"
Thus appealed to, Miss Worthington
glanced down, but rather disdainfully, and
saw the eyes so full of light and sweetness,
the firm yet tender mouth, the broad mas
sive brow, depicted before her on the ta-
BILE.
"Only say which you think is the least
Objectionable" Philip begged.
..Don't be so foolish, PHIL Let Flor
ence look properly. L like this one the
best" Maud said handing it to her.
Florence Immediately preferred the 9th
er, SO the subject still remained an open
one.
..Look, Florence, here is something pleas
anter," Philip said, taking up q large bou-
uuet of splendid roses. "Here is peace
offering which you must accept-nay, 1
will ask you very humbIy," he added in a
lower voice, seeing her hesitation; and
then their eyes met for tie first time since
their evening walk.
She was delighted with the flowers,
which seemed like old friends of happier
times, and the girls were in ecstacies with
them.
"Philip would not let us even look at
them until YOU came down, Florence"
Ethel said. Gle thought we might wither
them with our jealous eyes,"
81 see that you have forgiven me by
this time," AIr. Darlington remarked.
81 have nothing to forgive" Florence
answered coldly.
.Then still less to remember unpleasant
lv " her eonSn told her. 81 am content.