Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-23
her head was raised, her hands left his

ner heao was raised, her hands left his
shoulders.
But the words proved eficacious. He
caught her IN his arms and held her fast.
~ begin TO breathe again, Florence, now
That see you once more defiant. l per-
celYe the truth-the reality seems more
possible" He turned her face forcibly
towards his own. "Look straight into my
eyes and confess all"
'1es, | WILL" she answered bravely. II
love you, Philip, with all my heart-I al
ways have, and shall until l die. And,
If you send me from you now, / will creep
back again, or 1 will die. I will not live,"
she declared firmly.
His lips sought hers, his arms held her
fast. She knew she was forgiven.
Was ever happiness like hers? she
thought. The only reflection marring her
bliss was the knowledge that sine had cast
Ii from her for so long, that she had lived
in poisoned atmosphere when there had
been an earthly paradise awaiting her.
$50 after all you have rejected the Prince
to marry very ordinary mortal? Are You
not already beginning to repent, Florence:
But who can tell? Princes are sometimes
powerful. May he not come back, and
carry you of by force?"
If you permit it, l will CO."
ssNo, my darling, will not. You have
placed yourself i'll my hands now. You
are no longer free"
And how she loved her serfdom. She
bent down and pressed her lips to his
hands
.Philip be generous!"
Scan [ be?' he asked. .sWhat is it,
child"
sLet my old past be dead. 1t is SO sick
enIng to me in thought. Otherwise you
will spoil all my present happiness"
:.Are you quite free from it, Florence?
There is no tie to call you back. The
Countess OF Raven has no power to come
down upon us and carry you off,"
Poor aunt Margaret She says she has
washed her hands OF me-that she can new
err get over the disgrace, and will never
see me again"
"And will my love compensate you for
that?"
.What do you Think" she asked.
sMy darling with little patience on
| my part, a little perseverance, l think that
| 1t will"
"Will wonders on earth never cease?"
Mr.. Darlington thought when he entered
as he imagined, his empty house that even
ing, and found his son, who should have
been across the Channel at least, and his
niece Florence, who ought to have been
Lady Vernon, seated together, and evil
IDENTIFY very happy. Noting the old bright
ness in his boys face he was very thank
full.
"Father you must begin your holiday
| tomorrow INSIST Philip said. eve
must both take Florence down to East
bourne to join my mother and the girls"
And Mr. Darlington did not demur.
The autumn passed and Christmas came
again; and in spite of Ethel's declaration
that cold weather rendered brides SO hope
lessly ugly, there were two at Fulham who
passed the ordeal with tOlerable success
Ethel said that she should escape well, be-
cause no one would look at her while Flor
ence was near-a sentiment that her BROTH
er fully shared. Whether John Hastings
thought SO no one asked; but Ethel seemed
content.
Mrs. Philip Carrington's pride had so fall
len--Or riSen-that she insisted on living
for time in her husbands ..chambers,' -
close to his laboratory, in dreadful Oxford
Street.
''lt will be so nice to think that Philip
will never be away from mev' she told
them all.
And her anticipation proved correct.
The Countess of RAVENS resentment
against her niece did not fubside for some
years; and it was Flor x only grief in
her sunny married Ii I'm other re-
spects unclouded-fC d.nesaten had
been good to her in nj any Ways. But when
Florence's little son arrived-not her first
born-and she was duly informed, age
doubtless had softened her heat or her
pride, for her ladJship came sometimes
and tried to forgiyelner niece for her .'fol-
ly." Florence was .liYin@ then in a charm
ing villa at Fulhan
Sand be might I've had a coronet wait
ing for him, my 'lr," her ladyship tod
her, while she W ched the child cooling
and laughing on. young mothers knee
'EThank HeaH he has not, aunt! I
should have ha, him, l do believe"
.NWelI, my G. !, it may all be for the
best; it was " fate, suppose. Your
husband is cert 1 lv one of the handsomcSt
and incest men hhave ever known. Oddly
enough my mind misgave me the first mo-
ment [ saw him. | wonder now how Won
resisted him so long."
So thought, SO wondered every one wheI.
Philip Darlington was near. Even the
Countess of Raven had to confess as nue.
THE END.