Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-11-18

meant-Florence, was In tears. Her hand
was suddenly drawn from his ARMAND she
strove TO join the others; but her walking
powers did not equal theirs--thcy were al
ulost out OF sight.
"Forgivc me, Florence: I have pressed
you too hard" he pleaded gently, trying
again to make her take his arm; "but l
really wished 10 know exactly the ground
we all stand on with you. You have pain
ed me not a little many times, ! must con-
fess, and perhaps | have now retaliated
too hardly. Can you forgive mei"
lie pleaded, but Florence was hopeless
ly offended, hopelessly hurt; her happy
day was turned into something the very
reverse. Her feelings were quite incom-
prehensible to her. Could they have been
clearly analysed, she might have known
that she had begun TO like her cousin, but
wished him Oh no account to imagine this,
while exacting the return OF u friendship
he could in no way recognize.
.You will not say "A word, Florence?--
How wrong 1 must have been" But she
was still silent, as well AZ a little tired
"You are too fatigued. Let us drive the
rest of the way her cousin proposed.
But she would not be conquered by q
walk.
81 am not nj all tired" she answered
coldly. And they plodded on in silence.
"Only angry them"
eyes, l am angry" she tried to answer
Indignantly, but her voice was broken.
swell l am really sorry, Florence. You
must try and forgive me-"
al can never forgive you, Mr.. CARING
ton-neyer! You have said things to me
that I shall never forget nor forgive. You
are the only one who tries to spoil all my
pleasure"
IL had no idea what a culprit 1 was"
he answered grayely.
They walked on in utter silence, Miss
W%orthington tortured as she had never
been before, Philip C~arrington's conscience
a little hurt; but TO him there was hidden
sweetness in the hurt. He had discovered
his power TO pain his cousin; and, had she
cared nothing for bim-as she tried to
make him beiieye-she would have laughed
nj all his accusations. Instead, she had
only betrayed the depth of her displeasure;
and Philip Darlington felt more victor than
yanquished.
He was "a man who would always thor
oughly understand every inch Of the
ground he occupied or intended 10 tray-
erse; and he had been a little uncertain
regarding the relative positions of himself
and Miss Worthington. But she had that
day broken the Ice herself, and felt strange
elation as to all that she had said TO him.
lie valued her reproaclIes at exactly what
they were worth. Nevertheless, man-like,
he was grieSed when he saw he had thor
oughly succeeded In paiDing her. She
might place her little foot upon his neck,
should she choose 10 do so; but she must
once acknowledge his equality with her.
self. 1t was only that day he had been
yainly wishing to himself that she had new
er broken in on their quiet home-circle;
now he was inwardly blessing the day she
had come. The prize he lad dared to COW
ct he now felt sure in time would be his
own. She might torment him as 10 the
ways and means Of obtaining it; but ia the
end she would be his.
Miss Worthington walked straight from
the lall-door to her w room; the girls
fingered for a few moments below, and
then followed her. When Florence raised
her veil Maud's quick eyes discovered that
She had been crying. Ethel was too full
OF her own walk, aud said that John Hast
ings and herself had been quarreling.
"He is so proyoking!" she declared
lie persists in always wishing Cambridge
10 win the boat-race. And he has not for
gotten my oxford blue bonnet OF last year,
which he said was hideous," she said laugh
ing. "Neyertheless 1 told him that have
kept il religiously for the next race. l have
not really; but | will have another made
OF exactly the same color"
..What nonsense Ethel!" her sister said.
GAS if you cared a straw which won"
..But | do care Maud! And John de-
cides for Cambridge only out OF pure per-
versity-and i do believe 10 tease me. Now
/ stand up for oxford, because Philip was
there; so | at least have reason on my side
you know that"
Could Florence believe her ears?
..Was your brother 81. Oxford" she Ask
ed quickly, turning from the light.
..Philip was ut Harrow and oxford too"
said Maud. 81 fancy papa wa, unable to
afford it; but uncle Edward insisted upon
it. 1 think Phil would liked best to have
gone to the Bar afterwards; but papa
wished him SO much to be with him, and
TO be an analytical chemist, that Philip
gave up his own wishes; and then uncle
Edward left him all his own business,
which papa says is u good me-. Phil has
always been lucky" coatinned Maud.
"Let us hope lac will be luckyin his wife
them" laughed Ethel.
difference, you are over-tired. The walk
has been too much for YOU" said Maud
aCome down stairs and have some wine,
and then 20 to bed" Blu Florence refused
to 20 down stairs. "Philip was foolish to
let you walk so far. Of course it is nothing
unusual for us"
"Your brother did wish me to ride, and
I would not; but | shall be all right to-
morrow. Say good night for me down.
stairs, Ethel" Florence requested.
vainly Philip watched the drawing-room
door for his cousins reappearance.
..Is she coming:" he asked Ethel softly,
as she passed him.
mo; / think not. She says she Is too
tired"
A few minutes later Philip was standing
before Miss Worthington's closed door.
ssOnly say good night, Florence he re-
peated thrice; but no answer came Tor
him.
Maud heard him on the landing as she
passed, and stopped n moment TO listen.
"Why, she must be asleep, Phil! She
was dead tired"
..she must have been pretty quick about
il then. 1t can be only ten minutes
since Ethel left her. You say good night,
Maud"
Florence's voice now responded quickly
enough
ssGood night. l am so tired. and hurry
ing TO bed. Don't wait, dear"
.Little witch" Philip thought. 'she
shall pay Inc for this" And the next
morning he was up and away before Miss
Worthington's first appearance was made.
Ethel, with an unusua long face en-
licstencd her rs to her brothers move
ments.
alt Is q shame, Florence! Philip de-
clares that he shall not be At home again
for a week or ten days. lie says he has
some heavy work on hand, which he mus:
attend to closely night and day."
sublimely Indifferent.
alt Is SO odd that he never said a word
about 1t yesterday" Maud interposed.
"Yes; il is u shame Of him." Ethel de-
clared. sand he 50 seldom stays away
only once or twice in a way. He told
mamma this morning he could not be home
for a week at least, though he will run in
to see papa. And he says we may have
tea with him Thursday, IL VIC like. ]
can't endure the house when he Is away"
cat any'rate you will have to try to do
so for u week at least, Ethel!' her sister
answered.
A burning sun, though 1t was nearly
winter, was shining iBto the ope windows
of a handsome drawing-room in the Rue
Guiaclnta, Nice. Orange-trees were IN
flower, and the air was heavily laden with
- Al