The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-02-14

SelLeu lne cdru anu reau aluuus
Miss Florence Packard"
"Miss Florence Packard! l cannot
see her, EMILY cannot see her. Tell
her am indisposed. Offer any excuse
you think proper, for l cannot-dare
not see her to-day"
AZ explained your feeble condition TO
her, John, but instead of withdrawing
she seemed to be more anxious 10 see
you than before" said Emily.
Tell her will be better tomorrow,
and will call upon her. Tell her"
The door opened gently, and light
footstep glided noiselessly across the
carpeted floor toward the sofa on which
John Furlong lay. He saw her, and
tried to raise himself to a sitting pos
ture.
"FIorenceg'
"Johnr'
The effort had exhausted what little
strength remained, and he fell back
unconscious.
When he revived, Florence Packard
sat by his side. Her lace shawl was
thrown over the back Of a chair, and
her dainty little hat occupied another.
She kept her little fan busily employed
upon his face, and the lifeblood was
fast returning into its regular chan
nels. In a spirit Of gratitude he ex.
tended his hand. She grasped 1t, and
held it in hers. For few minutes not
word was spoken on either side.
"John Furlong," said Florence, 81 am
not a stranger to the nature of your
affection for me. l have known 1t for
years. You love me. You have
struggled on and on in the hope of pros.
pering in business and bettering your
condition before you made your gffec.
tions known to me. l have watched
you, John Furlong. l am rich, and
you are poor. Day after day, with a
salary that an unprincipled firm was
cutting down, you saw your hopes
crushed. Still you labored on with an
unfaltering zeal. To-day you We're dis
charged l heard it all. Mr.. Lord
went to the club, and there boasted of
his conduct toward you. In the midst
of his hilarity he was seen TO reel in
his chair and fall. A doctor was sum.
moned, but life had fed. He who had
cut down others was in turn 'cut
down" by the hand of God. When l
heard of your misfortune I hastened
here. Surrounded as l am by host OF
giddy admirers, l saw at once, and
read their hearts. They loved ME for
nv money. There is one brave man
who loves me for myself alone, and
that man is John Furlong."
FLORENCE! Florence! you have read
my heart Alright"
II know it, John. I also know that
your love is returned. have endeav-
ored to disguise the fact from myself;
but it is useless. You would not, from
sense of honor, ask me to become
your wife-John Furlong; 1 ask you
to become my husband. You are i'll
l cannot leave you. Give me the right
TO remain and care for you-make me
your wife"
"Oh, what joy it would be to me!'
said John, in the ecstasy Of the mo-
ment. Florence Packard the wife Of
poor John Furlong! Never! never!'
Not never, John, but forever" said
Florence 81 do not care for what the
world says. You are all to me-the
world is nothing You will consentT
She pressed her claims eloquently
and fervently, but still he resisted. He
pleaded for delay.
II will not leave this house save as
the wife Of John Furlong," said Flor
ence.
He could resist no longer. When he
breathed the happy consent, Florence
wound her delicate arms around him,
and kissed the tears from his cheeks.
4 clergyman was sent for, and before
an hour had passed Miss Florence
Packard had become Mrs. John Fur
long. When his health permitted, they
removed from the apartments on the
fourth floor to a granite mansion on
West End avenue.
The house of Lord & Co. is no longer
in existence. The share Of the senior
member was purchased for our friend.
and it is now known as John Furlong
& Co.; and when the clerks are sum-
moned to the private Office they always
emerge with smiling faces. Their sal
aries have been increased TO the old
standard, and cutting down. is ,un-
known in the firm of John Furlong n
Co.-New York Weekly.