The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-05-22
4 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 pan
sizes.
"Oh, Flora ~ she cried in low,
grieved voice.
\ scarlet robe, dainty and perfumed,
flashed through the open doorway in
angry haste, and paused beside poor
Nora.
~ expected itr' exclaimed high
pitched voice, desparingly. Each day
secs my opinion OF you verified, Nora
You cannot be- trusted to gather few
flowers or handle a vase"
"Surcly, Flora, You do not think |
purposely broke the dish?'' asked the
browncd-eyed girl.
Flora Fame shrugged her shoulders
she had learned the trick from her
French master, and the action gave her
quite a foreign air, she thought.
''What matters ii whether you did it
purposely or not.tr she retorted, con-
temptUously. "Those great awkward
hands Of yours are forever doing mis-
chief; they are perfectly useless"
As Nora looked at her sun-browned
hands she smiled sadly.
''rruc,n 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, and my record may
read differently some day"
"Nonscnse, You will never he lady
like or graceful, so do your best with
year other virtues" cried Flora, angri-
Is. as the proud quiet manner of the
other betrayed natural dignity she
could not initiate. "Gather more flow
ers, and clear away that rubbish"
Nora was loollingat the broken china
with a glad relief in her face.
~ can mend this, and it can be used
with safety
.'The task will require gentler hands
than you have" said Flora, coldly ;
"bIt do as you please. Only, Nora, you
need not consider it worth while to
come down this evening. Mother
thinks two unmarried daughters suf-
ficient 10 entertain her guest, with
out"
"a penniless niece of her dead has
bands. | understand interrupted the
girl. al am glad to he released; | do
not like useless things any more than
you do"
Flora stared in amazement, but be-
fore she could vent renewed anger on
her naples cousin she was gone.
Nora hurried away with the broken
dish and crushed flowers.
She cared not 10 handy words with
the naughty Flora.
She quickly gathered mofe pansies,
and completed her task of arranging
the table, besides giving numerous lit
tie touches to the fruits and ices, with
out which the whole effect would have
been marred.
When all was completed she felt free
to seek her own pleasure on that lovely
evening.
She took her road-brimmed hat from
its place behind the kitchen door, and
in her simple calico dress, with it, neat
white collar, hastened through the gar
den out OH the highway and took the
road to the village.
''rhe new doctor i a society man, J"
she thought. II 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 fre-
quents lawn parties and fiirts with silly
girls. Oh, if were only"
Nora was crossing a 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, |"
she moaned in despair, half comical
and yet painful. 1.-TWO whole miles
from the village and home and unable
To mover
After thus summing up her position,
Nora first laughed, and then cried.
'Poor little Mary" she sobbed. "6he
will think | have deserted her; and she
is so iIlr'
"Perhaps I can help YOU" was just
then said in pleasant voice.
Looking up Nora metapair offrank,
manly eyes.
~ don't know" she began doubt
ingly.
"NNell, there's nothing like trying,
laughed the stranger-a young man
.op,;ne, at once TO her side. what Is