The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-01-10
i FREAK OF FATE.

Crash. went the delicate china flower
dish ON the stone steps, and at the cuI-
prit's feet lay heap of beautiful pam
sics.
oh. Flora" she cried in a low, grieved
voice.
\ scarlet robe. dainty and perfumed,
flashed through the open door in angry
haste, and paused beside poor Nora.
i expected it,' exclaimed a high
pitched voice despairingiy. Each day
sees my opinion OF you verified, Nora.
You can not be trusted to gather a few
flowers or handle vase.
surely, Flora. you do not think l
purposeiy 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 a foreign air, she thought
What matters it whether you did it
purposely or not?' she retorted, CON
temptuousIy. 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
True, she sighed, as She bent 10 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
yetand 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 augrily
as the proud, quiet manner of the other
betrayed a 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
- can mend this Cousin Flora" she
said, "and ii can be used with safety"
The task will require gentIer hands
than YOU have" said Flora, coldiv; "but
do rs 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
y penniiess niece Of her dead hus-
bands | understand" interrupted the
gin. i am glad to be released; | do
not Ike useless things any more than
you do.
Flora stared in amazcmcut, but before
she could vent renewed anger on her
hapicss cousin She WAS gone.
Nora hurried away with the broken
dish and crushed flowers. SHE cared
not to handy words with hauguty Flora
She quick y gathered more pJu~ies and
completed Ler task 81 arranging tie
table, Icod,s giving numaIou, 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-brimmed hat from lis 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 4 society man."
She thought. i did hope that clever,
earnest physician might come to Lone
vile amt help the poor people; but in
stead we have an exquisite who fire.
quents lawn parties and liirts with silly
girls. On If were only"
Nora was crossing a muddy place as
she arrived at this wish Making
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 desHa:G, haIf comcal