The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-05-14

LEFT the gruesome place. but not until
he had bestowed . kindly parting
glance at Floribel.
Then she dreamed All life seemed
radiant. II was as II some royal
prince had entered squalid Gin.
derella hut, leaving behind him q
rare memory OF bewildering sensa-
tions. Poor child! love budded In her
tender heart. in her very humility she
worshiped at its shrine.
Floribel treasured the card. She
memorized the names upon IL. Could
the vision indicated by her courteous
visitor ever come true? To have such
friends. 10 be cared for amid cleanli-
ness and comfort-she thought not OF
opulence or luxury-just TO be near
such sweet natures. to toll for them.
to love them-this. simply. was the
aspiration OF her childlike. loyal na-
ture!
All that afternoon the madame
poked and ferreted about the place.
When her husband came home she
a
with him. Then both of them pro-
ceeded TO ransack pile after pile OF
hitherto unassorted wreckage.
A quick token OF interest came into
the mind OF Floribel, as she saw them
Fastening to the wretched room digni-
fed as the office OF the old topping
warehouse. The names Willis.
Neal" floated TO her hearing. eau
tiously spoken. She gained a court
where she could overhear what was
said.
IT'S the paper" she heard the
tune"
How do you know" spoke the
rasping tones OF old Jacobs.
Il have read It. A family secret.
man-an old scandal that these rich
people would surely give fortune to
suppress. All. we are rich, rich. rich
at lasti"
Guileless as to the ways OF the
world as Floribel was. she realized
from what followed that her avari.
cious guardians were bent on a vast
blackmailing scheme Her mind woke
up TO the immensity of the occasion.
To celebrate their discovering a
fortune. the old man and woman sent
out for liquor. II was long after dark
when they sank into a sodden sleep.
Floribel approached the recumbent
madame
She had noticed where She had Sc
creted the blue cAlored document
with a white ribbon encircling It, just
as Mr. Willis had described. Her
eyes grew brilliant as two stars as
she secured the precious paper. She
thrust 1t into her bosom.
Over and over again she repeated
the name and address that Arlo Willis
had written on the card.
Floribel rarely went out OF the
wretched building where she had
toiled so hard II was a bitter cold
night, and her ragged shoes and thin
covering poorly kept at bay the fierce
biting frost. Twice as she hurried
along she felt as IL she would sink to
the ground. benumbed and overcome
Bravely, however, she fought her way
against the wintry blast She located
the address given on the card. great
ornate mansion on a fashionable thor
oughfare. Floribel had Just sufficient
strength TO totter up the steps and
ring the doorbell. when her senses
reeled and she sank to the cold
marble step, unconscious.
There she had been found by Mrs.
Neal. Floribel awoke 10 find herself
in luxurious bed, a beautiful lady
lowering over her. What loving
grateful arms inclosed her, as she told
her story-so simple in its naive re-
cital but meaning SO much to the
proud Willis family!
And II was in silken attire. a trans
formed Floribel, that Arlo Willis saw
the lovely ward OF his sister the next
day
Like one transported to a perfect
paradise. the sweet little waif entered
upon her new life.
Her bright ways, her gratitude. her
beauty and then her fervent love ap-
pealed to the great nature OF Arlo
Willis.
The Jacobs people never saw her
again. but society did. In all her bril-.
liant loveliness. loyal. unspoiled, radi-
antly happy, the humble child Of the
lonely rag warehouse became the
reigning bride Of the season.