| Show CONCLUDED BEHIND THE SCENES it was nearly dusk when miss avery summoning tip up all her resolution ascended til the brown stone steps of the richley mansion and rang the bell Is mrs richley at home your business with mrs richley TI asked the servant suspiciously scrutinizing the little basket that she carried laura bit her lip this manner from servants was entire entirely lv a new experience to her yet et i how ofin alm n must poor ellen have andu endured red it 1 I have called to bring home a dress that was finished for her she said in a tone of quiet dignity oh all ah yes well yell I 1 spose best walk in the servant conducted her up stairs to a sort of sitting room or boudoir where mrs richley a portly dame of about fifty gorgeously dressed in crimson silk was sitting in her easy chair in front of a glowing coal fire laura was inwardly grateful that the gas as had not been lighted particularly when she observed that mr florian richley was lounging on a velvet sofa in one of tile the window recesses mrs richley looked up as tile the servant ushered the new comer well young woman what do you want lauras cheek tingled at tile the tone of course insolence in which she was addressed but she commanded herself to greyly reply meekly I 1 have brought home your dress mrs richley where is miss gaynall Way nall she is ill lii 11 very well lay down the dress it is all ri right ht 11 but laura stood her ground valiantly miss gaynall would like tile the money tonight to night madam seven sevell dollars on tile the old account and three for this dress it is not convenient to tonight nir night flit 11 but mrs richley lyli miss as gaynall is ls is 14 ill and needs the money persisted laura there florian said mrs richley petulantly addressing tile the young man in the turkish dressing gown and elaborately bora tely arranged hair 1 I told you just how it would be what the duce is the matter now snappishly asked florian for tile the first time condescending to evince any interest in what was going on why these impertinent dress mak ing people are always cla cia clamoring for money just when you have drained me of my last cent let lem em clamor then my advice said mr florian without taking the trouble troubie to move his head just give me back that tondolear ton an dollar bill elorian florian FI orsan orian urged his mother you tant lant want it tonight to night 11 but I 1 do want watt it it happens happ enSi said lorian florian coolly I 1 you are just going to fritter it away in in some of those gambling places or drinking yourself stupid again fretted mrs richley I 1 its too eara kara hard getting my money away fromm from me ejust just to indulge in those horrid habits why dont you earn carn your own money for yourself easy mamma easy said the dutiful sc son n lazily bazily dragging himself to a sitting posture dont lose your temper for it worthwhile worth while this ten dollar bill is going to help make my fortune it shall take the lovely laura to the opera tonight to night I 1 nonsense this fine scheme will flash in the pan just like all the rest of your castles in the air she wont have you oh yes she he will my incredulous mamma wait and see I 1 shall brin bring her to the point very soon then ill IA pay you back the money with interest out of my ladys bag of shiners 1 I 1 an and d will you leave off your gambling habits oh florian FI orian orlan they will be the ruin of you yet I 1 perhaps perhaps not returned the young man insolently that will be very much as I 1 please both tile the mother and her hopeful son had apparently entirely forgotten the presence of the young girl who standing in the dusk shadows near the door until this moment when mrs richley eichley tur turning in sharply round saw her what et are you waiting for she asked irritably I 1 have already told you that it was not convenient to pay ady you the money tonight to night her cheeks were flushed even beneath their artificial bloom of rouge I 1 and her chill gray eyes sparkled with rising an anger ger as laura avery com composedly walked forward she took one of the wax tapers from its china shell and lighted the gas with a steady hand whose flash of rich rin rings s struck mrs richley with astonishment 1 I am very sorry you cannot pay your just debts 4 madame said laura quietly looking the amazed mother and son in the face I 1 but I 1 am not sorry for any occurrence occur ence that has had the effect of opening my eyes to tile tiie true character of mr florian elorian richley eichley I 1 will take the ten dollars sir to my sick friend as you will find it entirely unnecessary to go to the expense of taking miss laura avery t to the opera tonight to night florians handsome cheek had grown very pale his knees quivered beneath him as he mechanically took the bill from his pocketbook pocket book and placed it in the hand of the imperative beauty while mrs richley sank back aghast aleast in the cushioned easy chair florian made one desperate attempt to retrieve his lost fortune even in the moment of sora sore defeat and discomfiture 1 I am very sorry awkward mistake hope you will me an explanation lie he stammer stammered dd 1 I require no explanation sir 11 was lauras cold reply as she withdrew from the apartment haughty and unapproachable proa chable as a statue of ice iee she hurried home through the twilight 11 t streets with a burning cheek and beating beating heart and it was nearly dark when once more she entered miss way nails nalls room lighted only by the faint glow of the low fire back so soon laura asked ellen elleu somewhat surprised here is the money nelly and tile the wine she said thankful for the dim light that could not betray her telltale tell tale features fa tures and now you must get well as fast as you can oil oh I 1 laura I 1 am so much obliged to t you said elien elfen ellen elien earnestly laura stooped to kiss her friends pale cheek check inwardly reflecting how much she had to thank ellens hY disposition indisposition but she never told her of the discovery she had unwittingly made while fulfilling the gentle gentl e mi mission assion of friendship and no one ever knew the precise manner in which the contemplated match between florian richley and laura avery was broken orf off there are some things that bring their own reward in this world and the one act of kindness had saved laura from unconsciously taking the tile step that would have her into a lifetime of misery children said a considerate matron to her assembled progeny you may have everything you want but you in want anything you yon adji cant n I 1 t have at the rebel battle cry is 18 described as a concentration of equine canine bovine porcine ee and gallin gallinaceous accous utterances with witha an indian war whoop thrown in |
