Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-03-21

AZ 'Oh Flora"
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.
81 expected It'll" exclaimed a high
! pitched voice, despairingly. Each
day sees my opinion of you verified,
Nora You cannot be trusted to gather
a few flowers or handle vase."'
Surely, Flora, you do not think
! 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
1t purposely or not?" she retorted
contemptuously. 'Those great awk-
ward hands of yours are forever doing
mischief; they are perfectly useless"
AS Nora looked at her sun-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, and 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 a natural dignity
she could not initiate. Gather
more flowers and clear away that
rubbishI"
Nora was looking at the broken
china with glad relief in her face.
II can mend this, Cousin Flora" she
said, land 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 con-
slider it worth while to come down this
evening. Mother thinks two unmar-
ried daughters sufficient to entertain
her guests, without"
"a penniless niece of her dead hus-
bands. understand, interrupted the
girl. II am glad to be 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 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 moro
pansies, and completed her task of ar
ranging the table, besides riyinr nu-
merous little touches to the fruits and
ices, without which the whole effect
would have been marred.
When all was completed she felt free
toseek her own pleasure on that love.
ly summer evening. She took her
broad-brimmed hat from its place be-
hind the kitchen door, and in her sim
pie calico dress, with It's neat white
collar, hastened through the back gar
den out on the highway and took the
road to the village.
"The new doctor Ia n society man ~
she thoupht ~ did hone that n c1ev-
er. earnest nbvsician MIGHT come IN
Loneville and help the poor people,
but instead we have an exquisite who
frequents lawn parties and flirts with
silly girls Oh, If were only"
Nora was crossing muddy place as
she arrived at this wish. Making q
quick spring to the dry side of the
road she turned her ankle and fell to
the earth.
"Oh dearl Flora Is right, after ALL"
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 Maryl" she sobbed. "She
will think have deserted her; and she
Is so I'LL
Perhaps can help you," was just
then said in a pleasant voice.
Looking up quickly. Nora met pair
OF frank, manly eyes.
II don't KNOW" she began, doubt
ingly.
We'll, there's nothing like trying
laughed the stranger-a young man
coming at once to her side. What is
| Rrnlynn oh