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

CHAPTER III.
Sir Arthur Worthington was a man just
past middle life. Of slight frame, tall, and
aristocratic-looking, with what would have
been a handsome face had IL not been 80
hard and worn, and with eyes too restless
and anxious. suggesting a brain tormented
with worry.
Sir Arthur was, at present engaged in
pacing his room restlessly, feeling eager and
irritable, until the door opened aud his
daughter Florence entered; then his face
lightened and softened wonderfully under
the only purely humanizing and unselfish
influence his nature knew.
A spasm Of pain and fear passed sudden
ly through his heart when his eyes fell up
on the dazzling picture before him-the
radiant face, the tall, graceful girlish figure
draped in pale-colored silk and lace. The
pride In the young face was subdued into
marvellous softness n Florry came forward
10 welcome her father after nearly a weeks
absence. Her eyes were not keen enough
10 note the oyerstrained cheerfulness in his
greeting and the anxious feverishness in
his face.
"why. Florry child, / wondered with
er YOU had flown with my lady the Count
ess'! You are 80 rarely out now in the day.
Of curse you had my letter this morning."
he asked.
NO, papa, | did not"
"Then that stupid fellow Peters must
have posted il too late yesterday, or forgot
ten it altogether. ] wrote you a line IN
good time purposely that you might expect
me. How well you are looking, my DARK
ing" he said suddenly, the sigAt Of her
beauty raising his sinking spirits-if she
had only known in what way!
lie seemed nervous and distract, and
Florence also, her aunt's late conversation
returning wildly and painfully to her mind.
SHOW is all going on for the twenty-tfth,
Florry? Everything settled, hope, dear
hot a hitchy | mean our ball 10 be a
brilliant climax TO a brilliant season. All
is right, DEAR" he asked, fancying he saw
a shadow on her face.
..Yes, papa, | think so; YOU settled ey.
erything, you know before YOU left"
s.Eyen To Medora's dress, eh-the most
important thing of ali? IL should be per-
fection-and will he, if you have kept ex-
actly to Hunts picture. We must have a
private dress rehearsal. Florence, l dont
fancy l shall see much Of YOU on the occa-
" DoN Au FA1Nf' h~
fallen now on Miss worthingtoh's face
which her father saw. "What is wrong,
childy Has Therese made a mess Of it:-
But there is time TO rectify IL yet"
sTherese has not Numbered in the way
you think, papa; what is more she Is not
making my costume at all"
..Theresc not making il, Florence! Whai
do you mean:" sir Arthur asked quickly
..Dnl. sAsa N, 1nar Th.rn.1 h.a hnAt
very annoying and impertinent. And Miss
Worthington's face flushed again and shad'
owed more AS sine recalled her sun:'s wcrd.
to her mind. And then a great pity came
into her heart for her father. 1t Is moi
much, papa dear-nothing of consequence
And aunt Margaret has kindly helped me
out Of my difficulty, or Medora's dress
would have failed entiraly," she added
lightly.
..Be more explicit, Florence" Sir Ar
thur said irritably; but he knew too well
what was coming.
"You know | have asked you many time.
lately for money; but you have always for
gotten TO give me some. And l owe The
reese quite a hundred pounds-perhap'
more; for / think il must he nearly TIVE
years since ! paid her entirely, and ae
counts run up so quickly" Miss Worthing
ton said thoughtfully. "But / have sent
a check when / could. And now she has
written me an impertinent note, declining
to nil any more orders until her account /,
settled."s
"Hang her impertinsnce" Sir Arthur
broke out angrily. But leave her TO me
my dear. Give me her account, and / viii
settle il. or course YOU will mol go 10 hel
again. IL is provoking IL she suits you
though l suppose there are Others as good
But what have you done about your cos
tumey There l. no time TO be lost"
.Aunt Raven came To the rescue, As vol
were away; and she has taken INT TO Mrs
Gilbert. There need be no fear about m,
dress" Miss Worthington said.
Even Sir Arthur, in spite Of his sublime
Indifference TO feminine attire. had heard
Of so celebrated an artist rs Mrs. Gilbert
and he knew she would not fall short ii
any way-therefore on that point he fel
considerable relief.
lit Is a most extraordinary piece OF goo,
nature on smy lady the Countess's' part
never knew her guilty Of "a similar one be
fore. All Is well that ends well, Florence
But what have You done about the picturs
Did Therese return thats"
ave have had 10 do without i'll woul,
not send for it; but you know il was al
most the same as the one in our illustrate,
Byron. l have taken that TO Mrs. Gilbert
and as we drove 10 her. u Margaret sug
gested my buying a colored print at Al
bert's. But Mrs. Gilbert seems perfect,
competent. She says she understands tn
costume entirc!y-and l am sure she does
Her only anxiety seemed about M, jewel
aud the string OF pearls; and I told her W,
would choose what we though: would d
from the two oid-fashioned strings Of poo
mammals. So l must have them from tn
hank YOU know they have been there eve
since before we went to Deanville thre,
years ago. wanted to ask you abou
them before papa, but have always forgot
ten"
eThose emeralds and rubies Of you
mothers are too old-fashioned and heavy 70
you Florcrce,- Sir Arthur answered quick
~. @You must have some strung pearl
The idea Of appearing in borrowed fne
~ seemed distasteful to Miss worthington
and her face betrayed what she felt.
alt is constantly done. ~child-done 70
all the Drawing-rooms,r Sir Arthur said
Ask your aunt II ] am not right" he ad
ded. 1--WE must try to make out a list o
what you require--half a dozen armlets n
least, n unlimited strings Of pearls; the.
would oil cost = larger fortune than mine
florencc," he said with . sigh. .sBut II I
getting lste, dear, and I have not broker
my fast since early morning" He did lool
tired, and faint ms heart wearicd. ssen,
your aunt 10 me for q few minutes Will
you drcss--I don't suppose YOU viii b
long,
s.Ten minutes will suficc to-day, papa
] don't imagine you will care for my max
ing nm elaborate toilet, ~ we shall be alone
But there 10 nothing wrong, Is there" sh'
asked, hesitating . moment, and laying be
pss that yoa wsnt - - supt Margaret