Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-12-23
CuAPIER XIII.

To see Philip Darlington again, II 10
were onlyfor once, TO know II he still loved
her, TO hear only a few words from lips that
had SC long been dumb, Florence thought
must bring her back some comfort scanty
though It might be; but for Philip Car
riugton 10 be dead 10 her, and yet living,
was uncomfortable; and, as Lady Ravens
carriage, rolling down Oxford Street,
passed the very bricks and mortar where
ct that moment Miss Worthington's hearts
treasure was perhaps enshrined, the old
familiar street, the windows from which
she had looked on that one happiest day In
oil her life, brought back the past with
siekening thoughts all too quickly; and
the suspense, the deathiy silence, were tor
turing.
Florence would not compromise herself
In any way, yet she would try to still her
heartache with n CLEAN OF comfort. Ia
would plead for a line, written by himself,
20 that he could not refuse IL. Her resolve
was taken; but eyes she could not bafie
were watching her, an influence beyond
her power TO defy surrounded her; for La
dy Raven kept unceasing guard, and her
vigilance was rewarded at last. The few
lines expressing little but sisterly interest
but yelling how much passion were
written, and some precaution was taken
although Miss Worthington never stopped
to suspicion. Fol many reasons she pre-
ferred TO keep all correspondence with the
C~arringtoufs a. far rs possible from her
annt's notice; and she did not wish that
she should Enc now Of her letter 70
Philip. With beating heart and light step
Florence laid the letter on the hall table,
where all letters for the post had to be
placed.
Her iadyship was supposed to be In the
enjoyment Of her afternoon siesta; but In
reality her brain was planning . splendid
rousseau ut the least possible cost, and o
brilliant w~edding-an arrangement wnicn
she thought her kindness merited, and
which might give her some months sojourn
yearly In Lady Harcourt Vernon's house.
These thoughts kept her wakefu.. She
heard Florence's door open, and the rust
ling silk and the light step pass her bou.
doir. She waited for her niece's entrance,
but she did not Gene; and then she listen.
cd more eagerly, only TO hear Florence de-
scend still lower-a proceeding 10 unusua
that II BODIED mystery 1t least. The step
passed again, and then she heard her
niece's door shut.
Lady Raven was always velvet-shod her.
self, while the carpets were velvet-piled;
and gathering her rustling train In her
hand, her ladyship went noiselessly down
the stairs. and found F~lorcnce's letter. adj
dressed, as she had feared, 10 her obnox-
ious cousin, Philip CarrNgton, lying I'M
dernaath n Of her own episties. She re-
fected for 4 moment, and then rcmounted
the stairs, but returned q few minutes ID.
ter with a letter In her hand. also address
ed to Philip Csrrington-the writing sim
ilar to Florence's bold scrawi-containing
no ~loyo-words, but only q wine imposser's
list placed In a plain envelope.
The ruse was still incomplete. The real
letter was taken. aud Lady Raven soon
possessed herself of the contents, the
harmlessness Of which rather relieved her
fears; but II wal better suppressed, she
thought. Another letter was written, her
hell was rungs and the tootmap summoned;