Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-11-04
v.
iCONTINUED.l

W age, just twenty-one, Ethel two years
younger. Had her cousins been unretined,
ordinarylookiDg middle-class girls, she
would have turned from them with ire
pressible disgust; but even in so short q
time she could not help admitting to her.
self, that, as far as outward appearance
and refined manners went, they in no way
fell short Of her own standard. Their POI
sition OF course was their misfortune,
though a misfortune which appeared to sit
but very lightly upon them she discovered
rs their intimacy progressed.
Her uncle, the chemist was a necessary,
though dreaded evil, she admitted to her.
self; still he was her uncle, and had thrown
open his doors 10 her when all others were
closed, and she must treat him with at
least some outward Difference and consider
alton. But her step-cousin-detested ILL.,
favored specimen Of humanity-he had no
call upon her for the slightest regard. and
her manner should At once, from the first
moment they met, show him what their re-
lations towards each other must be: at any
rate, she would have a fortnight's breath
ing-time and that was no little relief 10 her.
At present he was the only grievance she
was able 10 discover.
The girls had left her To prepare for an
evening meal they called tea, and Florence
turned YEARLY towards her toilet table, so
literally furnished for her pleasure; eS-
senees, perfumes, pomades, all in their pref
tiest forms, were there, but On them all
was stamped the hated badge, "John Car
rington, Chemist" and Florencc's face
flushed crimson TO the temples while she
read il.
John Darlington, chemist, generally ar
rived at the Laurels in time Ia partake OF q
meal with his family which they all called
''high-tea," and which they all seemed cs-
pecially to delight in. About a quarter
before six o'clock his wife and daughters
stationed themselves at various windows,
or ~garden-gatc, ready TO hail his descent
from the omnibus at tho corner Of the lane.
Had he seen no welcome awaiting him, his
disappointment would have been very
great; but the welcome had never failed
him yet.
When his appearance was announced,
Florence buried herself ncryou>ly in the
depths of an easy-chair, and tried to pre-
pare herself for the reception and embrace
she considered inevitable. That lie might
arrive in a ~Shopnau's apron and sleeves
she thought possible; il might be the in
variable habit of his claSs-sbe did not
know, being utterly ignorant of it, ordina-
~ manners and customs. But, after all,
the introduction was less disagrecable than
she had feared. Mr.. Darlington was hab-
tied in the ordinary costume of an Eng
fish gentleman. lie hurried past his wife
and daughters, and greeted Florence sim
ply and kindly as one Of them, only tell
ing her how glad he was she had come TO
them; but all was said 20 simply, and was
30 evidently sincere, that IL took away any
u~npleasantness.
The evening meal over, they all went in
TO the old-fashioned garden, SO full Of foli-
age and flowers, and roses red and white
and creamy that filled the evening air with
delicious perfume. 1t WAS Utmost Flor
ence's first breath of country air, since her
father had sacrificed their country house.
London, Paris, and the seaside had been
their routine for many years. To see roses
growing in such prcfIsion and perfection
gave her ineXprcssible pleasure, which
she could not help half admitting TO the
girls.
.slou have never seen roses growing in
such luXuriance, Florence:" Ethel Tues-
toned incrcdulously. ''Why, | thought
girls in your p%o.itios always dwelt in =
paradise OF flowers"
"Oh, yes, | have had many flowers, and
always in the greatest perfection; but they
have been in splendid bouquets, or in pots
for our conservatory, 10 be changed when
they began to droop. Really, l doubt il 1
have ever seen roses growing freely like
these BEFORE" Florence said thoughtfully,
and while she spoke she bent over q large
creamy Gloire de Dion.
Then some voices were heard, and two
gentlemen appeared ia the garden; and
Florence noticed quickly that one had pow
er TO bring rosy bushes into EthePs face.
In a moment Miss Worthington's socia-
biIity had vanished; and u little later she
had escaped TO the welcome solitude Of her
own room. For her the bright evening had
darkened quickly. As far rs the means
Law in her power, she intended 10 avoid q
breath OF contamination from any lower
order of her fellow-mortals. Still. the first
day in her new home over, she could not
deny 10 herself, when her somewhat weary
head rcposed on her pillow, that 1t had
been more endnrabie than she had deemed
possible. There remained however the
hated aud mIlcl-drcaded step-cousin. IL
IL were not for him. she begun TO think q
years scciusion with the two girls, her
NNltts, anu tNtu utE lIau'NiitAh
latter absent all day--might not be passed
SO badly.
One little scene she recalled when they
parted for the night, which somewhat stir
red the depths of her better nature. The
girls aud her aunt had kissed her, and her
uncle had turned 10 do tho same, aud, rs he
did so. he held her hand a moment In his
own, and told her that once for all he
- -, ..l.. Ia. l.....a hnr.J fnr
n long as she chose TO remain in IL.
s.1l,erc has been a great fault some-
where, my DEAR" Mr.. Darlington told her,
..that you have been 80 long Il stranger to
your mothers sister. Whose fault il has
been, 1 scarcely know or care, but there is
plenty of time 10 retrieve IL. Try 10 he
happy with the girls. my dear, and to be-
come one OF thcm.'
Then he released her, and, for the first
time in her life, Florence felt her face suf-
the verge OF tears.
CHATTER vi.
When one hears n name frequently on
the lips Of each person in q ipouscnoiu, al
ways in praise, always coupled with anx.
ious thought for its owners presence, one
may know pretty well that he or she Is
pretty well worth the love iayishca, that
the love j. beyond all ~partissnship, and
that il Is not excited by s~elfshne-s or self
interest.
allow many days shall we have TO wait
for Philip was the daily question put by
Mr.. Darlington.
..surcIy VIC ought 10 hear from him to-
day; it seems 30 long since he has writ
tcn,'' was the never failing Suggestion Of
his stcp-mother, ii the Jews from him was
In the least seanty.
"Oh, I do want Philip back" was
Maud's childish wish.
"When Philip comes, we can take Flor.
cucc TO Kew, 20 see the flowers, aud Ia
Hampton Court 10 see the old pictures"
pretty Ethel said o hundred tunes.
One pair Ut lips alone were silent, or
curled contetaptuousiy; n pair q bright
eyes downcast, that they might yield NO
answering sympathy.
At last Philip came.
Florence In the proud solitude Of her
w room, which she seemed especially 10
favor for the first time for many days, heard
tho rapturous greeting Ia the hall below,
the soft glad voices Of the girls, the tri-
umphant welcome Of their mother, the
ul...aps ....a ~ slo u.atas. .sl Lr. 49,