Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-12-02

over his lips. He coveted the prize, and
he would try hard 10 win it, but pride
was deeply rooted in his nature also.
No one would have known the Miss
Worthington Of a year past. Her cheeks
were now flushed 10 the hue Of rose, her
eyes sparkling aud brilliant, her dark hair
was tangled and fell almost to her waist
worse still her dainty hands were soled,
and were grasping long ivy and holly
wreaths. To crown all, she was mounted
II seemed precariousiy, on a ladder and
was weaving wreaths with artistic taste
round the pictures and glasses Of the Car
rington's drawing-room. How happy she
was, and how fair She looked, as she keenly
enjoyed her first labor!
"a year ago, She would not stop Il
think but yet some thoughts forced them
selves into her mind. Ayesr ago the splen
did rooms IN Portland Place were being
decorated for heavy Christmas dinner
where mirth would be the only thing lack
ing. Then she had languidly given order,
TO professional artists, and criticised theii
successful efforts, only to tind trivial de
fects. IL was different now. Maud. Ethel
and Philip were all in council with her
but they did little else than admire
"Look, Ethel, and tell me IL this long
wreath must droop lower. / am too near
to see" Florence said; aud she drew back
wards from her insecure position TO try tC
note the effect.
Philip had been anticipating eXactl,
what now happened. Florence, not very
expert in climbing ladders, lost her foot
Ing /; and but for Philips strong arms would
have fallen heavily to the ground. As II
was, she was held safely enough, her head
lying on her cousins upturned face, hel
hands clutching reeklessIy At his breast
her face afame. lie held her only for 4
moment, aud she fclt--she was nearly sur,
her cousins moustachc brush acros,
her forehead. Reseutful, frightened, snC
ashamed, she struggled from his grasp; but
her resentment was dSarmed I'm an instant
She saw his hand covering his face. she
did not see he was smiling.
'sI have hurt you. am sure - she cried
and she graspcd his wrist, shaking It pett
lantly.
"Florcnce, he j. laughing at you," hci
cousin told her; and then Florence san
that he was, while she was almost crying
herself.
always had power TO torment her, aud she
almost hated him for il.
"IIow dare what--catch YOU when you
felly Well IL was presumption on my part
Florence, was Ii not: 1 have read some
where" Philip said grayely, '.of spanist
Queen, whose horse was carrying her swift
ly to destruciion--to touch the Queen wa
death In those days. Well, common
herdsman periiled his life-doubly you see
for he caught her Majesty in his arms a.
she was falling to certain death below
The Queen was very magnanimous-sh'
actually spared his life, in spite of hi
contact with her Majcsty's sacred per
son !"
lie spoke half in anger. half in fun, ant
she was listening, watching like fright
ened child. A sudden impulse prompted
her TO reach out her hand towards hin
again, and he grasped it quickly.
"iiow foolish you are 10 say such thing
to mel mean how good you were to SAVE
me, might really have been hurt! AnC
how silly was she said neryousiy and in
eoherently and trying now yainly 10 looser
her hand from his grasp.
.My presumption is forgiven, 1 see" ht
answered lightly; .'bat forbid YOU
mounting again. / might not be equal!
successful nor YOU equally magnanimous.-
You see | had been thinking for the las
ten minutes how TO catch you, for | saw
your fall was evident sooner or later. Per
haps it Is an omen, Florence" he said
laughing the laugh that angered her SO of
ten, that hurt her pride so sorcly, aud tha
touched her heart so deeply.
=
"There is an utter want Of delicacy # lor
ence, in your making any sort Of public ap
pearanee in your present deep mourning
Your cousin Margaret and myself are botl
equally amazed at your wishing such 1
thing, or indeed for any gaieiy. IL, As yol
say, il is impossible to avoid il, at least yol
must not think of dancing; but this surely
/ need not warn You about. Unless yol
are strangely altered you will scarcel!
care, think, to make an exhibition Of your
self with tradespeople."
Thus wrote Lady Raven 10 her niece
and, though Florence crushed the letter
| Indignantly in her hand, she could not hell
feeling how deeply she would have sympa
| thized q year ago with the sentiments il
contained.
Her pleasure was spoilt, she told herself
| but her pride and conscience were alik,
uilaurt. She knew Ter mourning was 10,
! deep for ordinary festiyity, but her wishes
had cheated her into thinking she cOult
| not avoid this. A compromise was just pos
slble, she thought, and Of that she woui,
| avail herself--she might adorn herseh n
| best she could, and as she secretly yearnet
! TO do. for admiration, but she would no
dance. She could hardly absent herself oi
| the occasion, ~ her aunt had postpone,
| the yearly ball from Christmas to the com
mencement OF the year just OH her account
| That alone must make her join In the fes
tiyity, and she also ic;t instinctiyely tina
the Carrington's were proud Of having heI
with them, Of displaying their high-5ori
relative, and her Dranty--thls she felt
though She scarcely admitted it to herself
|
Miss worthington could not dlscoye
one single sbortcoming In good taste or re
| finement In the arrangements made for tn
| reception Of her aunt's guests. The girl
looked charming In simply-made white sill
dresses. There was no full band Of mu
sieians engaged for the occasion--whici
| Florence had always considered as indis
nansable for their own balls--but ther
~as a grand piano OF splendid tone, wit
:. efficient performer, and cornet to adj
effect to the dancing. But Florence coul'
not help feeling that she was unsuitably at
| tired for the occasion.
81 look like bird Of ill-omcn among yo'
su.v she told Maud diseonteItedly. :.
must hide ayse,f in corners whore j al
not much seen, and happily, ] shall no
! dance"
| In former times she had always revelle,
In the knowledge that she was the centr
Of attraction ip any gathering. Now, Il
| her sombre dress, her want of sympath
! yitL the rest, she felt herself eclipsed
| hut she had not much to fear, although sh
did not know il. Her black velvet dress
exqiisitely made. and cut square at tn
neck. with falling elbow sleeves, suttet
| her to pcrfection---at least so Thought fiiil
IN Darlington when she met him on III
stairs. He was laden with three large boa
Quets--one Of them pure white, without
| tingc Of color.
stake which you like the best, Flor
enee---you are to choose; and could nc
tell whether you might not object to color I
She took the white one, and the best
| with sparkling eyes.
"And these belong to II alsc," ha salt
opening a mysterious little box and dia
playing two splendid white camelias.
ssJust tho very things longed for. How
good you are!' And good she felt h'
4 YVES.
AAm Ifv he said, laughing. ~ shsi
| remind you vi what YOU have just told m
luvips nsiv prst quarrel"