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

them? This Is generally Maud's proyince1
but she will have to resign IL into your
hands, 1 Sec
Florence laughed n%ervously; but the
| cloud had left her face.
"When did YOU fipish your journey
And where have you been!" she asked
graciously."
He told her that he had sscrossed" in the
| night from Calais to Dover, and that he
had been for n short tour in Normandy,
briefly describing his travels; and the lee
seemed broken between them a little-at
least for the time, until IT. should again
gather.
IL was n blow 10 all Florencc's expecta-
tions that Philip Darlington should be all
that he was. She had been so certain Of
finding him a low-bred obtrusiye trades
man, that she was somewhat mortified To
be almost obliged 10 confess 10 herself that
he appeared 10 be a gentleman in every
sense, and Of no ordinary calibre. so he
seemed, she thought; but in half an hour
it was really impossible TO be sure. lie
would be on his best behavior too In her
presence, Of course, though he had certain
ly committed himself In his greeting-she
little knew how much warm-hearted Ethel
had Influenced him.
As a flower sends forth its fragrance
with the morning sun and refreshing dew,
so did Miss Worthington's nature, in the
home atmosphere which surrounded her
for the first time, soften and improve; she
grew more yielding, less self-confdent-
often in spite of herself, she found her.
self lingering in the garden in the cool
fresh evenings, Ethel ostensibly her conf
panion, but Philip also in close attendance.
AI-. T.,..l Iarnzlf aru e. 81. aa,n
mans soft voice and often joining in his
light laugh, but always under secret pro-
lest-only for the time, she told herself
only for Maud and Ethel's sake, who size
must admit were very kind to her.
On the evening Of Philips return she
was initiated into the mysteries Of b~illiarun
with Philip for her teacher. And the
pastime was not so distasteful TO her as IL
might have been-as she had felt so sure it
would be. Not for months could che re-
member so brigh. an evening. Her pride
was aroused a little when Philip Caring
ton laughed at her blunder and tried 20
set them right. He had been spoilt, she
told herself. She tried not 10 let her slen-
der fingers touch his, even by chance, while
he was patiently teaching her the game.
But Ethel's Objectionable friends OF a few
previous evenings did not appear. and the
time seemed endu.able TO Mis- Worthing-
ton.
The game was over, and they were all
lingering over their '.good night"
"My boy. come and have a smoke with
me downstairs" proposed Mr.. Darlington
to his son.
.Why not here father" Philip asked
with apparent amazement.
"Oh, l never sm0k here o his IA
Their answered with a nervous glance at
Florence. "Your mother has given me her
work-room below: it does better, and Is
cooler now. In winter we can have it
warmed. Come IL l. getting late"
Florence knew that she had been the
cause of the smoking-room being changed;
1t was another piece Of seIf-denial on the
part of her shopkeeper kinsfolk.
Kisses seemed a. plentiful a. ''blackber-
ries" in the Darlington menage. Miss
Worthington withdrew into herself, dread
ing q possible repetition Of her cousins
greeting; but the offence was not repeated
their hands only met very cOldly. She
kissed her aunt and the girls, even her I'M
Gle, and in a few moments found herself
alone in her W room, thinking, not ulk
pleasantly, over her past day.