Year: 1875

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a hirt, and withdrew his claim to my
hand"


"Oh, Flora such heart as you
have thrown away. In the hours he
has spent here trying to entertain me
have learned much of the noblenest
of his nature and of his love for you
He has 80 hoped that you would lei
your own generous nature show you th,
folly of your frivolous ways"


81 have had one lecture, Kate, pray
spare me second. Ralph Benedic
may seek somewhere else wife as colC
and censorious as himself"


"And your"


"Oh with nervous laugh--"h
has kindly indicated my future for me.


"Flora, You will not marry Harry
Vane"


"Such brainless hirt. No! Though
Ralph hattered me enough to think W,
are well mated. All | Ralph thinks tc
moriify me by his rejection he shal
see how gladly | accept my freedom.
And Flora left the room as abruptly al
she had entered it, to fly to her owl
chamber lock the door, and indulge il
long and bitter fit of weeping.


That afternoon Ralph Benedict waS
riding and musing. With his own hand
be had torn from his heart its one bright
spot. In the few glmpses Flora had
let bim see of her generous heart, her
many secret acts of charity, her tender
care Of her cousin. he had learned to
love the bright little beauty, all the
more that her vivacitv so strongly con-
trasted with his own rather stern nature.
His life was one OF earnest aims and
steady seeking for the highest ends OF
life. He had seen in his short time Of
practice such hard realities of life, such
scenes of suffering, such calls upon his
deepest feelings that life had become to
him one broad field for the exercise of
usefulness and self.sacriticc.


His one dream of happiness he had
broken that day, because he dared not
trust the hopes of his life in the hands
of triher Yes, he loved her, loved
her as such q nature as his loves the
bright loveliness of gay little beauty
like Flora, and his heart ached solely as
he took his long, lonely ride. He had
promised his uncle to finish his pro-
! iected visit and remain some weeks
longer, and he was nerving himself to
think of his cousin as the wife of an
other, lost to him by his own act. As
he drew his horse up 20 the stable.door
one of the servants came running to
meet him.


"Oh, DR.. Benedict, am so glad you
have come Miss Kate, sir, is very ill.
Will you come to her quick ?"


"What is it, Nora?"


"Ohsrl one of those dreadful spells
she used to have when she first hurt her
spine"


The quick, firm step of Ralph was
the first grateful sound Flora had heard
since being called to her cousins side.
All embarrassment was forgotten as she
sprang to meet him.


ooh, Ralph, help me !"


"You have seen her in these attacks
tefore," he said, gravely; tell me
what you did then, and how she has
been taken now."


Clearly and concisely, while sitting at
the bedside OF the sufferer, Flora de-
scribed former at acks and their treat.
ment, and the probable cause of the
present one.


Quick to decide and prompt to act,
Ralph made Flora useful as nurse, while
he tried his skill with loving zeal to
ease the gentle girl before them. His
uncle came in late in the afternoon,
and, seeing how things were, refused to
send for any other advice, and, thus
free to act, Ralph was busy, faithful,
and untiring, yet his hand was not
firmer, his step quicker, or his mind
clearer thantbose of the pale, yet steady
little nurse. For three nights and days
she never left the sick girls side, and
in the whispered talks beside her when
asleep all levity was gone, all trlfling
vanished. Sorrow and anxiety did what
harshness or coldness could never have
done-subdued the frivolity that was on
the surface of Flora's nature, showing
the devoted love, the quiet presence OF
mind, the unwearying capacity for self
sacrifice, that dwet under the vivacity.


At last the danger was over, and after
fortnight of devoted Watching Kate
! was pronounced cOnvalescent, and her
weary little nurse consented to leave
her for long afternoon sleep IN her
own room.


eff you please, SIR" said Nora's
scar, ID voice at Ralph's door, Miss
Flora has tainted clean dead away,
sir"


"Where ?" cried Ralph, starting up.
"In her room, sir. She is altogether
worn out with nursing"


Worn out, indeed Ralph thought,
az he raised the little figure in his
strong arms and looked into the pale,
very pale face. 1t was only the reac-
ton from fatigue and anxiety, and in a
few moments Flora opened her eyes to
sec Ralph bending over her. his face
full of tender, anxious love.


"Flora, poor child, you are worn
out, l have been careless and selfish
not to watch you more closely. On,
Flora, can you ever forgive my imper-
tinent harshness, and let me tell you
how respect as we'll as love you ?"


"Ralph, / am good for.nothing
flirt." but if you will trust such tor
ment once more she will try to be a
wife worthy Of you. And as Flora
afterwards declared, "the man actually
began to find out what his magnificent
eyes were made for.


So she consent d, and was from
youth to age the pride and JOY of his
faithful heart.


WHAT WAS IN THE PROGRAMME "A
colored man employed as deck hand
| -, n nronnllar ,raa rnshinp around town