Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-10-07

earnestly.
awrong, deart nothing that I know Of
what co.. there be but that ] want my
dinner! Tout va bien-ali goes well, i
should say. But one word, Florence dear
cst"-asd he detained her ~ she was pass
ing him. alas YOUR aunt spoken 10 you
about Lord Uarcourt? Tell me, dear"
Again q scarlet flu.h passed over Miss
Worthington's face, and she answered hesi-
tatingly.-
ayes, papa; she told me to-day that there
was some understanding between his lord.
ship and yourself-proyidcd l should be in
clincd 10 receive his attentions she added
haughtily.
What a world Of anxiety there was I'm
Sir Arthur's face. How tightly he grasped
her hand!
"You will do that nv d%arling-it Is the
dearest wish Of my hearty II viii be .
priBcely match for YOU, Florence. Answer
me, dear" he pleaded anxiously; don't
keep NE ia suspense. You will not he mad
enough To throw away such q positionf
What could YOU wish for moreg"
But Miss WorthingtOn bad no intention
o: throwing away such "A chance. IL suited
her pride exaetly-tbat il suited her heart
as well she could not say. She knew hat
it would remove a mountain Of difficulties
that Ter aunt had lately piled up before
her-and she was at least heart-whole-
But her Instincts were always truthful,
aud with her father she eeuld feign least Of
all.
cit Is all as you say, papa. perhaps; but"
and She llesitated painfully.
"But what. FIorencc:"
IL have seen SO little of him; he seems ia
me almost a stranger" She could not help
saying.
lis that all Florence? Must YOU keep
company with your young man for weeks
before YOU decide that he will suit YOU?
That Is rarely done in our station, Flor.
encc."
lie well knew her weakness.
Nor is it what / mean, papa. II "a only
- | tell you. Lord Harcourt seems al.
most a stranger to me. ! doubt II I have
seen him six times" she said.
'But it is always so in our sphere. Tor.
ence. Suitable marriages are arrang by
competent people-they do not arrange
themselves, A. in the lower classes: there
Is too much ~ stake. " you tell me that
his lordship l. really distasteml 10 YOU,
darling, Heaven knows / will not for the
whole world force your inclination or make
YOU wretched. But, Florence, all my
hopes are centered in YOU 10 keep up the
honor Of our house by your beauty. dear.
You cannot inherit my title, and" Sir Ar
thur bit his lip angrily-.'the bulk Of all
my money must go with i'll cannot touch
it,. And. oh, Florence. / I'm miserably poor,
dear-cruelly poor"
Florence had never seen her father 50
bowed. Had her heart been softer than il
.... z, ,.a,.tI la,-. u.l.I 60. 10, A. {.
was, she felt strangely moved-moved
enough 10 feel inclined TO make more than
= little sacrifice on her own part.
IL will try To do all you wish, papa
Nothing Is settled vet; but | will not
thwart your wishes"
THAT j. nv darling girl" he said thank
fully. .'Once let me see YOU settled safe
~, and in your proper position, and | shall.
be content. For myself, | must get on ~
| can; but / could not bear TO see yOu de-
barred from luxuries or comforts which are
essential to YOU"
ado you fear that" Florence asked, dis
mayed
mo, dear, not actualIy-not immediate
Is. But | have great liabilities. Florence
mortgages and other troubles hanging
over me. happily beyond your covers OF
/ COMPREHENSION. NOW ~ ual ilaE. lDA
have relieved my mind Of a load. send
your aunt TO me for 4 few moments. aud
then let Us have dinner-it is now within
a few minutes Of the time.'
The interview between sir Arthur
Worthington and the Countess of Raven
was characteristic enough-fear of impcnd-
ing consequence on one side. and little
4 lusa IN .ftbne I,,t ,xfth n .nr,raIIa at,s
ward show Of the conVenances Of society
from both. Brother and sister though they
were, they were but little alike in appear.
ance. sir Arthur Worthington. in spite OF
his unfortunate propensities. inherited the
refinement Of his ari>tocratic father; while
Lady Raven inherited all the plebeian attri.
butes Of her mother, a cotton-spinner's
widow. But e-ourteousness between broth.
cr and sister was never wanting. With
studious politeness the Baronet greeted his
sister and led her To chair near his own.
s'Tell me quickly, Arthur, what bad
news you have. Florence has just fright.
ened me To death by sending me here. Let
me know what other fearful catastrophe
may be banging over u doomed heads ~
her ladyship said hurriedly, apparently in
great anxiety.
Thank you for your sympathy Marga.
ret; but happily there is nothing fresh b
communicate: YOU kIow the worst-in
fact, l have had a stroke of good luck since
| saw you. l have won a clear five hun.
dred pounds in ready money. which l have
here in my breast-pocket," sir Arthur said
touching his coat as he spoke. III you
wish for all my confidence, Margaret, !
may Us well tell you that l have lost an.
other two thousand 10 Bulkely. But he ID
a good fellow; he has added TO the arrears,
and awaits a speedy reckoning for the whole
Inlay he get it. However. he is a gentle.
man., which is 4 comfort; aud he shall not
lose eventually. l AN determined. But
this five hundred pounds in ready money il
worth everything 10 me. With care i,
may almost tide me over Florry's marriage
II had had it only a fortnight ago, l might
have trebled it,"
cor lost IT," interposed his sister.