Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-01-08
THE INITIATION
OF FLORENCE.
BY ROSE WILLIS JOHNSON.


ise of days rest and an old-time din
ner warmed his blood.
"Help Rene clean up," he whispered
to Florence, as he lighted his stub OF
candle at the log. Pm going to ask
some fellows home to dinner. Have
something decent to eat''
With the first light Florence shivered
into her clothes. 1t was Saturday and
Ben's birthday. There was much to
do which must be done well.
So well was it done that by 8 o'clock
the house reflected wonderful iuster.
Rene was at the mirror when Flor.
ence came siding in.
"Flo," the elder sister called pleas
antly, "if you'll do something for me
I'll give you a dime! There's plenty
Of bread and butter, milk and cheese,
and there are three pumpkin pies.
Father'll be out late, and no telling
when the boys will get in. When they
come, set out their dinner, and you
shall have the dime"
Slow dismay usurped the bustling
cheerfulnes of the child's face. "Where
are you going?" she demanded.
''To the church. Tessie and T."
"But Benz" Florence interrupted,
breathlessly. cts Ben's birthday!
| And you said-''
20 hush"' Rene gave her halr a
vicious twist. and jabbed in hairpin
"Ben won't be in before night. I'll get
him good dinner tomorrow; perhaps
I'll invite the minister over. I have to
go to-day, I'm on the flower committee
You'll do all right. II you are lone
some have Ida Barton come over"
Il don't want Ida Barton, and you're
too mean to livc!'' Florence choked
"You are! I'm not going to your old
church again-see if I do! You told
! Ben"
''Now, that will do!' Rene inserted
the last pin, and took critical survey
of herself. I'm not Ben's slave, no]
yours. You'll do what / say. Witt
Rover here there's nothing to be afraid
off, -
"I'm afraid Of nothing but mean
ness!' Florence stormed. But words
failed. She turned and fled, banging
the door in way to make the toile1
articles jump in astonishment.
"Spitfrew Rem commented. pinninl
on her hat. "She's dreadful! I dom
know what is to become Of her!
must hurry. I wonder if Mr.. Morgi'
will be there to help u.s."
When the storm was over Florence
came back to the deserted kitchen
1t was nearly ten by the fat Dutcl
clock i'll the corner. The kettle sim
mered very invitingly. and an expect
face wore look of detern mation.
"Ben is going to have his birthda,
dinner" she announced to the clock
You needn't look blank and eros
your hands. I'm going to cook it my
self.'
| It was very cold. There was nothin;
to save the Easter promise from til
sword of the frost. Florence's pets, tn
barn-yard fowls, huddled together il
sunny corners. looking frowsy an
!. midtown. Size went out anon
them, pan in hand, her ears tingline
She was Judas: she meant to betray
, They knew no fear of her. Sh
| picked up a young cochin, who merel
, reached round in an effort to secur
the corn in her hand
, ooh, you poor thing she whimperei
feeding him. II have to have you-fo
| Ben. 1t won't hurt but a minute.
J know the axe is sharprohv'
She leaned against the fence, whit
. and sick, and the chicken floppet
! When all was still, she ventured t
peep. The deed. was DONE Shudde,
ing violently, she snatched up he
!, victim and fed, leaving his heartles
brethren fighting over the pan.
, One unconscfously imbibes inform:
l ton. How to remove the feathers di
not trouble her now that she ha
$ solved the problem Of his head. Sl
f rose with the strength of conviction
;. she knew she could cook!
3 How nice it must be- to be Rene
: to have passed beyond dish-washin.
1t occurred to her to be Rene, and 81
), donned discarded wrapper and ape
d her sisters ways. Her enthusias
:. 6AN"' 0uC CESd1Cu SS5CldUlSS
q watched the pot, from which rit
e odors began to rise. Then she turnt
s. her attention to the fruit-cellar.
Rene was very particular about b
d fruit. It was there 'for show To
=. | asserted, in speenfnl moments. The
were vandal hands upon it now. Tv
e of the choicest jars and mold of jel
Invent to do honor to Ben's majority.
8 Ben, meanwhile, was walking sober
homeward. His heart was heavy wi
K the discoura cement which falls easi
,r upon the young. How many times h;
he ploWed these fields? How mai
n times gathered the harvests-for OF
of ers?
t. Tom had given voice to a thong
long dormant in his mind. Why ling
n in the rut, why go on as father a
n. | grandfather had done before him
d. There was youths natural longi
tx for change, coupled with silent, so,
ing ambition. Who knew to WI
m. heights he might not climb? The
M were none to care for him here, no
al save little Florence.