Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-16
PRIDE'S CONFLICT
A STORY OF CASTE

and their return was improbable until late
at night.
81 wish you would have come with u.s."
had been Lady Ravens parting words to
her niece. 'Lady Maine viii be 50 disap-
pointed"
"Brides-eIect are generally inaccessible
or invisible" Lady Margaret said, laugh
ing. "Take my advice, Florence, and have
good days rest on the sofa with novel.
Really from the heat or oyerwork, you are
looking terribly jaded," she added good
naturally.
Later in the day, his temper not i'm
proved by the burning sun under which
his lordship had ridden all the way from
Kingston, Lord Harcourt Vernon stood at
Lady Ravens door, his groom slowly lead
ing off his masters horse for period OF
two hours-that being the daily limit of
Lord Vernon's cOurtship.
|.Niss Wcrthington is at home, my lord !;
but my orders are to say that she feels in
disposed, and dose not wish TO be disturb
ed"
al fancy neverth eless that you have stu
pidly mistaken Miss Worthington's ORDERS"
his lordship answered and, rs he spoke,
he entered. and as usual assembled the
stairs into Lady Ravens morning room--to
fnd it empty.
How keenly Florence counted every
hated step on the stairs
81 will call hen Iadyship's maid to you,
my lord" the footrRan volunteered.
"Tell Miss WOrtAingtOn / am here" his
lordship said.
His imperiousness syailed him but little
he was doomed t.. disappointment. oHer
ladysaip's maid" a rived, inflated with the
Importance of her message.
''If you pleas. my lord, her ladyship
and lady Meddowe5 f,aye gone to Syden-
ham for the day, and Miss Worthngton is
indisposed, She has just desired me to tell
you; and also that She has an appointment
after three, and wishes to remain undis-
turbcd until then"
Lord Iiarcourt Vernon was dsiked by
his interiors, and they re;oiced now in his
disappointment. There was 10 tender in
quiry, no delicate anxiety expressed as to
the nature OF the extent OF his fair fam
GEES indispoSttion; but there was undis-
guised dispIeasure In his lordship's face,
and muttered imprecation escaped his
lips. He was amazed at her presumption,
and he turned silently away down the
stairs again.
'.Shall | give Miss Worthington any
message, my iord?" Lady Ravens maid
asked.
''Not any" was the reply. And in
few moments his lordShip had left the
house, and was Sauntering in no enviabe
temper down the hot street, looking vainly
for his horse.
'|Shr has some al.ominabIe tricks of tenn
per and caprice, which must be eradicat-
ed, his lordsaip thought.
"Edward>, | am expecting my cousins
this at'ternoon-show them into Lady Ra-
ven's room. | am not at home to any one
else, and on no account let us be disturbed"
Miss Worthngton said when his lordship
had departed.
There could be no mystery in this ar
rangcmcnt, Edwards was sure. for she
knew Of Florence'S long visit TO her aunt
Darlington, and probably the plans were
pre-arranged for to-day.
Florence did not know whether her
hopes would be realized. She hoped al
most against hope; and intolerable though
suspense might be, at any rate it seemed
better than positive denial. sEFor the last
time-for the last time," she kept saying
to herself. .SIf he comes it will show me
thought too that then she would be hap
pier. Instinct told her he would come
and almost to the moment she had fixed,
she heard the visitors bella moment la
ter his quick, firm step upon the stairs. A
moment later he was before her, alone
and she felt half sutlocated with the beat
ing OF her heart.
He entered self-possessed, cold, and very
L
than when she had last seen him, when
she had buried her face on his breast and
had sworn faithfulness, binding him to
keep silence till she should free his lips
For a moment she felt halfstified; she
could only meet him with outstretched
hand-which he scarcely touched-and
wordless. He broke the silence first.
Dwell, Miss Worthington, you see, as
usual, your wishes have prevailed; and
contrary to all my ideas of right, [ have
come to see you once more-for the last
time, suppose; for our paths in the fu-
ture will be widely apart. You tell me in
your note of yesterday that you cannot be
happy unless you hear forgiveness from my
lips. If so little lies between you and hap
pineSs, Heaven knows | would not deprive
you of it. For your sake alone ! have
come, and that at least my conscience may
be clear of ever voluntarily causing you
pain. DO not fear that [ have to reproach
you-a woman'S idea of honor differs wide
ly from mans"
What could she say to him? She knew
what she had done; and now how Bit
terly she repented it! Her head was bent
down and her tears were dropping fast.
1.-The happy past must all be dead be-
tween us, Philip, | know. But | crayed
SO to see you again, to know that you do
not utterly scorn mew she pleaded.
"Ah, Florence, man, l fear, rarely
scorns woman he has once lovedl Hon.
estly | would scorn you If / could. Heay.
en- knows which man you have wronged-
the tradesman or the peer. But one or
the other you have wronged, and are wrong.
Ing, with open eyes and bitterly" His
reproaches were sweet to her, harsh-sound-
Ing as they were. "You once refused nv
love, Florence. Well, that you had a per-
feet right to do, beyond doubt; but Won
had no right to steal my heart, hiding from
me the while that yours was not free to
give in return. You had less right to re-
call your refusal and bind yourself to me
with voluntary oath, forcing me to 81.
ience. You had no right, again. Florence,
10 leave my letter unanswered, to keen
me in such cruel suspense, because You
were too cowardly or careless to tell me
the TRUTH
81 never have had one line from you.
Philip, since 1 left your fathers house,
she declared steadily.
'Nevertheless | wrote to you" he said
incredulous in spite of her denial: .and
letters rarely miscarry, Florence. But it
matters but little; hearing from me would
have made little difference! All power to
act rested with yourself alone; and you
have, | suppose consulted your own wishes
and happiness"