The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-10-11
JUSTAS Ii OUGHT TO BE.

unendurable, regarding their capricious
faneies as law, and seeming to imsgine
that anyone over five and-tweniy years
of age has no right to exist. And eonse-
quently, when Florida heard that her
mother, gentle, soft voiced little person
age Of forty, was seriously contemplating
a second marriage, every nerve and pulse
in her being rose up in protest against
the idea.
"I-don't-see," said Florida, show
you can look me in the face"
Mrs. Farlie, who was hot very much
older-lOoking than Florida herself, blush
ed and faltered pitiably at these double
edged words.
But, Florida, darling" she began.
I'm not your darling" said Florida.
"If l were you'd never, never think of
such thingw
Dear Florida, do hear me out?"
Il don't want to hear you out"
This schoolteaching is such wearing
uuslness 1of YOU and
Mother, have you ever heard me COM
plain ?"
mo, dear, but"
"And l was TO have a raise in my sala-
~ next quarter and L could have kept
you so nicely" moaned Florida, wiring
ing the small hands, taper at the fingers
and dimpled at the joints, which were
yetstained with the blackberries she had
been gathering for dinner.
"But you see, Florida, We have been
obliged to economize SO seYerely-and
We have both been positively shabby as
to our clothes, and can't tell you, dar-
ling, how many nights have lain awake
wondering how on earth We could make
both ends meet, and crying"
Crying, mother " severely echoed
Florida. %with me to the fore Had
you nc more confidence in me than
that ?'
swell, Florida" fiuttered the poor
little woman, you're only a girl, and q
delicate one at that And l never was q
good manager and business details fin rry
me so. And Mr.. Semple is the kindest
man in the world, and he says that you
shall be all the same as an own daughter
to him, Florida"
Miss Farlie drew herself disdainfully
up.
Much obliged to him, I'm sure" said
she; "but don't want to be anybody s
own daughter I've only one dear, dear
father, and he lies buried on the banks
of the Chattahoochee River and re-
member him if no one else does"
Florida
Mrs Ea5lie had grown pale and begun
to tFemble, and Florida, dreading one of
the old heart attacks which had so often
imperiled her mothers life, flew to
sprinkle eau de Cologne on her forehead
and hold smelling salts to her nostrils,
Florida" pleaded Mrs. Farlie, won't
you try to reconcile yourself to this idea
for my sake? He is so good and noble,
and-oh, Florida, give me my handker-
chief quick! Here he comes now"
Horrible old nuissnce" audibly utter
el the beligerent step-daughter elect.
"Oh, Florida, Pm sure ne heard you !"
"Yes," spoke upa pleasant voice, as q
hale, middle-aged gentleman of the coun-
try-squire type came smiling in; "he
heard you, Miss Florida, sure enough.
But didn't bring him into the house.
l left him outside."
Florida's face had grown scarlet.
LEFT whom outside - said she, with a
guilty glance at her mother.
"Why, the old mastiE, to be 1are. He
is cross and cid, ! grant you, but he per
sists in always following at my heels. Ol
course, he's hardly parlor ornament,
and Mr.. Semple laughed heartily. "Why
where has the girl got 10? ~
"She had something very parliculy to
do" fluttered Mrs. Farlie.
Mr.. Semple shrugged his shoulders.
"She doesn't like the program? ?"
"Oh, Geryase, Pm afraid she doesn't
swell, well" said the stout gentleman
"perhaps that's natural enough. We
try and reconcile her to it. How would
she Ike husband Of her own, eh p
Florida had caught up her sketehine
materials and rushed off TO the hills
for during the vacation Of the small boar
ding school, where she taught music
painting and modern languages, she was
endeayoring to rest and recruit all she
could.
'I do think" pondered Florida, with,
in herself. "that I'm the most wretched
girl alive. thought that my mother, al
least, belonged to me, and now know
she doesn't. Well, all have to do hence
forward is to devote myself to art"
And Miss Farlie sat down and began tC
sketch away in a fine frenzy of despair
THAT isn't the best way Of treating the
Pine Gap" said a quiet voice over her
shoulder.
Florida never looked around at the
tall. slender young fellow, with an artists
kit, who had paused 10 greet her on hi.
way down the hill, with the air OF ar
old acquaintance.
81 can't help it, said she, petulantly
Mr.. Pevere looked st her questioning
ly. He took out out his csmpchair un
folded it and seated himself.
"Why, what is the matter ?" said he.
"Pm the most miserable girl in tn
world," fzitered Florida, mist of tear
stealing over her bright brown eyes.
tremulo coming into her voice.
Cant you trust me, Miss Farlie :"
Now, Floridais acquaintance with thi
collaborsteur Of the artistic world was o
the very slightest. Mrs. Wallis. the heai
Of the @Art Bureau" in New York, ha(