The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-12-26
A FREAK OF FATE.

Crash! went the delicate china flower
dish on the stone steps, and at the cul-
prit's feet lay heap of beautiful pam
sizes.
"Oh, Floral" she cried in a low, grieved
voice.
A scarlet robe, dainty and perfumed,
flashed through the open door in angry
haste, and paused beside poor Nora.
q expected it," exclaimed high
pitched voice, despairingly. Each day
sees my opinion of you verified, Nora.
You can not be trusted to gather few
flowers or handle vase"
Surely, Flora, you do not think I
purposely broke the dish?" asked the
brown-eyed girl.
Flora Fame shrugged her shoulders;
she had learned the trick from her
French master, and the action gave her
quite foreign air, she thought.
"What matters it whether you did it
purposely or notP" she retorted, con-
temptuously. "Those great, awkward
hands of yours are forever doing mis-
chief; they are perfectly useless.
AS Nora looked at her n-browned
hands she smiled sadly.
"True," she sighed, as she bent to pick
up the pansies, that seemed to cling
lovingly to her fingers. "True, they are
useless as things count in your sphere,
Flora; but we are not at the end of time
yet, land my record may read differently
some day."
Nonsense! You will never be lady
like or graceful, so do your best with
your other virtues" cried Flora angrily
as the proud, quiet manner of the other
betrayed natural dignity she could not
initiate. "Gather more flowers and
clear away that rubbish"
Nora was looking at the broken china
with glad relief in her face.
Il can mend this, Cousin Flora" she
said, "and it can be used with safety"
'The task will require gentler hands
than you have" said Flora, coldly; 'but
do as you please. Only, Nora, she
paused at the door, looking back over
her shoulder-"you needn't consider it
worth while to come down this evening.
Mother thinks two unmarried daughters
sufficient to entertain her guests, with
out"
"a penniless niece of her dead hus-
bands, I understand" interrupted the
girl. Il am glad to be released; I do
not like useless things any more than
you do"
Flora stared in amazement, but before
she could vent renewed anger ON her
hapless cousin she was gone.
Nora hurried away with the broken
dish and crushed flowers. She cared
not to handy words with naughty Flora.
She quickly gathered more pansies, and
completed her task of arranging the
table, besides giving numerous little
touches to the fruits and ices, without
which the whole effect would have been
marred.
When all was completed she felt free
to seek her own pleasure on that love-
ly Summer evening. She took her
broad d-brimmed hat from its place be-
hind the kitchen door, and in her simple
calico DRESS with its neat white collar,
FASTENED through the back garden out
on the highway and took the road to the
village.
"The new doctor is society man."
she thought. 81 did hope that a clever,
earnest physician might come to Lone
vile and help the poor people; but in
stead we have an exquisite who fire.
quents lawn parties and firts with silly
girls. Oh, if were only"
Nora was crossing muddy place as
she arrived at this wish. Making a
quick spring to the dry side of the road,
she turned her ankle and fell to the
earth.
"Oh, dear! Flora is right, after all, Z"
she moaned in despair, half comical
and yet painful. 1.-TWO miles from the
village and home, and unable to novel"
After thus summing up her position,
Nora first laughed, then cried.
poor little Mary!" she sobbed. "She
will think have deserted her; and she
is so ILL"
perhaps I can help you," was just
then said in a pleasant voice.
Looking up quickly, Nora met pair
OF frank, manly eyes.
Il don't know" she began doubling
ly.
well, there's nothing like trying" "
laughed the stranger young man
coming at once to her side. "What is
itP Broken any bones, eh?"
Nora had to laugh, he was SO pleasant
and SO breezy.
"Oh, no! Only twisted my ankle, "
she said, shyly.
"Only! Humph! You are used to
making light of great matters, I see."
To her horror, down he dropped on
his knees, and coolly took possession OF
her foot.
$50 much for wearing a loose shoe, u
he said, half angrily, as he looked at the
active little foot and then deftly re-