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

1
them all happy below by joining them. My
dear mother, bless her lis so tender-heart-
| ed that she keeps tOrmenting herself about
you lncessantly-blesS her!-Maud too
Ethel just now has counter-attraction,'
| he added, laughing. GU are coming
| All, Florence. | see [ have prevailed p
| But he spoke too quickly.
"Indeed you have not! / was not think
ing of such a thing"
"Shall [ tell you why you will not come
| downstairs Tonight, Florence-though
| perhaps you will never forgive me ii
| do?"
81 have no idea what you meau, Mr.. Car
| rington. What reason can you impute to
me, except the one [ have already given
my deep Mourning"
.INo FIoence; that is not quite the rea-
| son." Philip said. "It is Shall tell
you the real truth, Miss Worthn@tOn: 1t
is always best. 1t is that you do not con-
slider our visitors-nay, ourselyes-quite
on the same footing with yourself Y gu
feel your pride little hurt by the contact,
Doubtless you have always been accu>tom-
ed to a different sphere; but in some unac-
countable way we are all fond OF you, and
that should make you overlook our many
shortcomings. We are all tradespeople,
indisputably; but still you are related to
us by blood-ties; and surely we do not
overwhelm YOU with our business con-
Germs, be added quietly and-for him-ner-
yously
Florence listened with a flushing face,
and eyes so full of tears that she dared
not raise them lest some should fall and
betray her indignation at his reproaches.-
That he had dared To read her heart so
plainly filed her with burning pain; and
yet blent with it was a latent feeling of
pleasure at the unmistakable interest he
had betrayed.
"YOu have no right to say such things to
me, Mr.. Darlington, [ have never said or
done anything to make you accuse me in
this way! 1t would be impossible for me
ever to feel grateful enough for the kind
ness have received in this house, from
the first day came until now" Florence
said quickly, in a low passionate voice.
"If l am wrong in what [ have said,
Florence, forgive me, | pray you," Philip
Darlington entreated, again putting his
hand on hers; eli am right, then lay it
to heart, and try to make the best OF us to
like us little, as we like YOU"
81 think you are very unjust and disa-
greeable, Mr.. Carrington," Florence re-
| joined taking refuge in anger, the only
thing lett Tor her.
"Do you? | am sorry, and must try in
some way to retrieve my character" Philip
said laughing his ordinary light laugh and
| rising. Then, as il something suddenly
struck him, he sat down again. ..Florence,
why is it that you never call me by my
| Christian name? Do you dislike it or me?
No, do not really think the LATTER" he
added, seeing quick alarm or denial in her
-l,7rN you .I,D, 4
so; but it seems TO me rs il it must be CD
sier for you to call me Philip than 'AIr.
Carrington,' which confOunds me With my
father. Will you try onceI" her torment
or asked.
SEX0u are not really my cousin, Mr. Car
rington." Florence answered peryersely.
cam / not? Well, that never occurred
to me before, Florence. My mother and
sisters have been real mother and sisters
to me; | could not for a moment look upon
them as au@nt else; and, without your en-
tightening me, | must have looked upon
their relatives as my own. For their sakes,
Florence, give me Il little bit of couSinship
the least little bit," he asked pleading
ly, his gray eyes bent mercilessly upon her
face. .1l eS, YOU will, | see. All. I had
nearly forgotten"' he said suddenly, draw
ing from his Dreast-pocket u loa@ parcel
l.See here, Florence; | heard YOU admire
the whte-rose perfume that Ethel makes
use of so extensively, and | have brought
you some. [ am afraid L must confess TO
yOu," he added slowly, ".that / have man
ufactured it myself expressly for you; yet
who knows but that have taken especial
pains with it on that account? See-I have
spared your feelings by discarding the
business label and not availing myself Of
the ordinary essence-botte; | have even
put the perfume in a passable ornamental
one; and hope you will Use it and forget
where it came from" Mr.. Darlington con-
Guided laughing.
Florence felt that her cheeks would nev-
er cool again. Pride urged her to reject
his present, and yet she yearned for it
perhaps for another reason than its own
Sake-as it lay on the little table close to
her hands; but he did not wait for her
answer.
"Well, good night, Miss Worthington. I
have been elcroaching unWarrantably up
on your solitude; bat am so thoughtless,"
And in another moment he was gone.
"She has had q lesson, MOTHER" he said
on his return TO the room below. "Poor
girl, she will not come downstairs to-
night; but [ think she will another time"
Florence remained alone; she was heart
sore, and angry with herself for things she
had said, but perhaps more angry with
Philip. Had he asked her only once again,
she knew she would h9ve yielded. AS it
was, the happy voices below, and Philips
mellow laugh and voice, which she heard
so plainly amid the rest, gave her many
heart-burnings.