Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-07
CHAPTER III.

Sir Arthur Worthington was man just
past middle life, of slight frame, tall, and
aristocratic-looking, with what would have
been handsome face had it not been so
hard and worn, and with eyes too restless
and anxious, suggesting a brain tormented
with worry.
Sir Arthur was, at present engaged in
pacing his room restleSsly, feeling eager and
irritable, until the door opened and his
daughter Florence entered; then his face
lightened and softened wonderfully under
the only purely humanizing and unseIfish
influence his nature knew.
A spasm of pain and fear passed sudden
ly through his heart when his eyes fell up
on the dazzling picture before him-the
radiant face, the tall, graceful girlish figure
draped in pale-colored silk and lace The
pride in the young face was subdued into
marvellous softneSs as Florry came forward
to welcome her father after nearly weeks
absence. Her eyes were not keen enough
TO note the oyerstrained cheerfulness in his
greeting and the anxious feyerishness in
his face.
"'Why, Florry child, l wondered With
er you had tlown with 'my lady the Count
esS' You are 50 rarely out now in the day.
OF course you had my letter this morning?''
he asked.
"No, papa, | did not"
"Then that stupid fellow Peters must
have posted it too late yesterday, or forgot
ten 1t altogether | wrote You IA line in
good time purposely that you might expect
me. How well you are looking, my darl
ingw he said suddenly, the sight of her
beauty raising his sinking spirits-if she
had only known in what way!
He sapppd ppryolJS and distract and
Florence also, ner aunt's late conversation
returning wildly and painfully to her mind.
"HoW is all going on for the twenty-fifth,
Florry? Everything settled, l hope, dear
not hitch? | mean our ball to be a
brilliant climax TO brilliant season. All
is right, dear?" he asked, fancying he saw
q shadow on her face.
eyes, papa, | think So you settled ev-
erything, you know before you left"
"Even to Medora's dress, eh-the most
important thing of all? 1t should be per-
fection-and will be, if you have kept en-
actly to Hunts picture. We must have a
private dress rehearsal. Florence, / don't
fancy | shall see much of you on the occa-
sion" But an unmistakable shadow had
fallen now on Miss Worthington's lace,
which her father saw. s.What is wrong,
child? Has Therese made mess of it?-
But there is time TO rectify it yet"
HTherese has not hlundered in the way
you think, papa; what is more she is not
making my costume at ALL"
''Therese not making it, Florencei What
do you mean?" Sir Arthur asked quickly.
s'Only this, papa dear-Therese has been
very annoying and impertinent And Miss
Worthington's face flushed again and shad-
owed more as she recalled her aunt's words
to her mind. And then 3 great pity came
into her heart for her father. It is not
much, papa dear-nothing of consequence
And aunt Margaret mas kindly helped me
out of my difficulty, or Meaora's dress
would have failed entirely" she added
lightly.
'.Be more explicit, Florence" Sir Ar
thur said irritably; but he knew too well
what was coming.
"You know | have asked you many times
lately for money; but you have always for
gotten to give me some. And l owe The
reese quite hundred pounds-perhaps
more; Tor think it must be nearly two
years since | paid her entirely, and ac-
counts run up so quickly" Miss Worthing-
ton SAID thoughtfully. ."But | have sent
check when | could. And now she has
written me an impertinent note, declining
to fill any more orders until her account is
settled"
'1Hang her impertinence Sir Arthur