Floy

“ Trust Him, trust Him; He will—never—leave you.”
A gentle sigh, and Floy knew that she was alone. No wail of sorrow broke the deep hush of that death-chamber, no tears fell from the burning eyes of the solitary mourner. They found her with the still form clasped in her arms, her dead mother’s head pillowed upon her bosom, the tearless eyes gazing with mingled love and anguish upon the calm, sweet face on whose unruffled brow Peace had set its signet. The lovely smile yet lingered about the pale lips which to Floy’s ear seemed ever whispering, “All is peace, peace, the sweetest peace.” ”

“ The sky is cloudless—the birds are singing—and little Floy's tears are all dried up. Her cheeks are plump and rosy; she has plenty to eat now; and another pair of shoes, when she has danced her toes out of those she has on. And mamma?—why, she can sit whole hours with her hands folded, if she likes, and go to sleep whenever she feels tired; for she has earned plenty of money for herself, and little Floy, too. Floy is glad of this, because mamma smiles now, and looks happier—and because all her old friends, who forgot all about her when she was poor, are so delighted now whenever they meet her. ”

“ Floy was enthusiastic, too. She declared that she could not be grateful enough to Miss Beresford for putting her face in that enchanting picture.
“Only think!” she cried. “When I am dead and gone—when the light has faded from my eyes—when this form of mine is dust in a forgotten grave—this beauty will live on upon the deathless canvas, and some one may say of me: ‘She was so pretty, this little Floy Fane, that Miss Beresford made her face immortal by painting it as Cupid.’”
Alva saw that the girl’s delight was genuine, and it charmed her very much. ”

“ For even in the horror and remorse of the moment, knowing that he had caused Floy’s death as certainly as though he had plunged a dagger in her heart, a swift, prudential consideration restrained him from following his first impulse to rush to the window and watch the doomed girl’s terrible plunge to destruction. ”

“ In reply Floy, having finished her meal, intimated that she would like to get to work at once.
“Then come with me; I’ll take you to the sewing-room and give you the skirts to work at till Madame is pleased to be fitted,” returned Mary, leading the way.
This, too, was a bright, cheery, prettily-furnished room, and Floy was not sorry to be left alone in it for the next hour. Quietness and solitude had become rare luxuries in the busy, crowded life of the homeless young orphan. ”

“ It seemed like a ghastly legacy to Floy, and she tried to atone for the sin of old Jasper Nellest, by devoting more than half of it to works of charity.
She had seen so much of the world’s poverty and sorrow while she was poor herself, that she knew how to pity and sympathize, and, better still, to lend a helping hand.
She did not neglect to search out the good Mrs. Banks, who was now adrift on the world since poverty had fallen on the Maury family, and oh! what joy it was to the kind soul to see Floy again, whom she had mourned as dead. ”

“ A sudden suspicion flashed upon him, a pang of jealous rage stabbed him to the heart, and he grew white and rigid.
“You love another; you have played me false, and are glad of an excuse to get rid of me!” he said in cutting tones.
She made no reply, but drew herself up proudly, yet kept her face turned from him.
“Farewell, then, false girl; you are free!” he cried, rushing madly from the room.
Floy looked after him, with a dreary smile more pitiful than tears.
“Oh, Espy, Espy! must we part like this?” she sighed inwardly, putting her hand to her head.
“Miss Floy, are you sick? got a headache?” ”

“ George’s projected return, Floy had made sure of a refuge that, though lowly, would be safe and secure.
In an humble quarter of the city, not very far away from the Beresford mansion, lived a poor woman who made her living by lace-mending and embroidery. The Beresford ladies frequently employed her, and Floy had seen her a number of times during her stay with Alva. She knew that the woman lived alone very quietly with an aged, bed-ridden mother, and she had made private arrangements to go and board with this humble soul for a week until she could make arrangements for her future. ”

“ They telegraphed each other with nods, winks, and smiles, neither the Madame nor Floy perceiving.
“The sun has set, and it is growing dark,” remarked the Madame, closing her book and breaking in on a long silence. “You are straining your eyes in your efforts to thread that needle, Miss Kemper. Come, put up your work and rest a little, while Mary and Kathleen prepare our tea.”
“Thank you, Madame,” said Floy, “but Mrs. Sharp would not approve of so early a rest, and if I may have a light I will go on with the work.”
“Tut! tut! I’m mistress here, and I’ll have no such overwork!” ”

“ Floy answered, helplessly.
“He was saying that he needed two new salesgirls in his big dry-goods store in New York, and he wondered if any girls in Mount Vernon would like to go. He said he had thought of you, and that maybe old John Banks would be glad to have you find a situation and help earn your own living.”
Floy reddened, paled, then gasped:
“I don’t believe Uncle John would like it at all. He loves me—he and auntie—and he doesn’t mind taking care of me.” ”

“ Left alone with the Madame, Floy set herself to the task of persuading her out of the absurd notion of putting on mourning, her main argument being that it was an unwholesome dress and the lady’s health already poor enough.
“That is true; nobody knows what I suffer every day of my life,” assented the Madame; “and as I’m not going to quite lose the darling,” hugging the dead dog lovingly in her arms as she spoke, “I’ll give it up; that is, I’ll wear white instead; and you shall stay all the same and make me some lovely white morning dresses, tucked, ruffled, and trimmed with elegant lace.” ”

“ The rest of the chat was about the dress, and fell utterly unheeded upon Floy’s ear.
An artist, so handsome, so good a conversationist—it could be no other than her own Espy—hers from her very babyhood. And this girl had his likeness—no doubt given by himself. ”

“ Beresford wondered if she would be willing to kiss him; but he did not dare to offer the caress that was burning on his lips. His strong, true love made him timid and respectful.
He said, soothingly:
“I do not think he will ever dare to annoy you again.”
“I should think not, or I will tell Uncle John, and he will punish him,” Floy replied; then added, timidly: “But the dream that sent you to me?—I am quite curious over it.”
“I should like you to hear it, only—promise me you will not be angry,” tenderly.
“Of course not. One can not stop dreams. And this one must have been a good one.” ”

“ Don’t get such notions in your head, Floy. I love to work for you; that is what I told Miss Maury last evening, when she called to offer me a place for you in her father’s great New York store. I told her you should never go while I lived to take care of you, my child. ”

“ Such a thing will seriously annoy one sometimes. The eyes of a portrait may take on a living look, and render one horribly nervous when alone at midnight.
Those following eyes, so persistent in their stare, annoyed Floy, and gave her the same creepy chill down her back that she had felt when the mice scurried over the piano keys.
She could not resist a sudden longing to escape from the room, and from the grim scrutiny of her pictured ancestors. ”

“ But look, look! what a shame to be deprived of so lovely a sight as that!” cried the Madame as the queen of night suddenly emerged from her watery bed, flooding the whole scene with mellow radiance.
[Pg 166]
“It is very beautiful,” murmured Floy, sighing softly to herself.
How often in the happy days gone by she and Espy had enjoyed the moonlight together!
“I would not stay there if I were you,” pursued the Madame. “Why should you stay where you are so badly treated? Why should any one?” ”

“ Espy answered shortly, and obeyed the summons at once. The card was his father’s.
Mr. Alden was in excellent spirits, and greeted his son with effusion. He was glad to see him looking so well; hoped his affairs were prospering as regarded both the paintings and his relations to Floy.
Then, hardly waiting for a reply, he went on:
“I’ve had a delightful time; got back this morning; landed from the train at the Centennial; spent the day there; and, by the way, I met a young thing out there this afternoon who is wonderfully like Floy. ”

“ There! take that!” she retorted, giving him a resounding slap upon the cheek.
Flushing crimson, he seized her by the wrist.
“See here, young woman!” he hissed in a tone of concentrated fury.
But becoming suddenly aware of Floy’s presence, and that she was standing gazing upon them in disgust and astonishment, he turned shamefacedly away, muttering, “A man can’t stand everything!” ”

“ You must rest. Sit down in that chair, and Mary shall bring you some refreshments.”
“Many thanks, but I have no time for rest; these are busy days for dressmakers,” Floy answered, with a sad smile, thinking of the piles of dress patterns still untouched, and garments in various stages of completion, in Mrs. Sharp’s work-room.
“Sit down!” repeated the Madame, with an imperious gesture; “I am used to obedience from all in this house. Just slip my wrapper on again, Mary, and then go to my closet and bring out all the good things you can find.” ”

“ At her own request sympathizing friends had all withdrawn and left her alone, and Espy, coming softly into the parlor unannounced, found her weeping bitterly before Mrs. Kemper’s portrait.
[Pg 48]
“Floy, dearest Floy, my own little wife, would that I could comfort you!” he whispered, taking her in his arms.
“You have been—you are a great comfort to me, Espy,” she said, gently releasing herself.
“Then why may I not embrace you, dear Floy? Ah, I understand! it is because there has never been a formal engagement between us. But we know we love and belong to each other. Is it not so? ”

“ I shall have need of all my [Pg 314] strength. But oh, if I should be a moment too late!”
“Try to be calm, dear Floy,” he said low and tenderly, gazing down upon the agitated face in loving solicitude. “You have been very brave and hopeful thus far, and are, I trust, soon to be rewarded for it all. But try to be calm and collected. You will need to have full command of yourself.”
“I will try,” she answered with a deep-drawn sigh; “and oh, I am glad and thankful that I have you with me, Espy!”
“Bless you, darling, for the words!” ”

“ After a moment’s thought and stroking of his [Pg 65] beard, he began on another tack, speaking of Espy and his plans, and dwelling at considerable length upon the great advantage it would be to the young man if his wife had sufficient means to give him a start in life.
Floy heard him to the end in unbroken silence, her hands tightly clasped in her lap, a look of pain more than once crossing her features, while the color came and went on her cheek. ”

“ Any one can see you are a lady—your speech, your manners, your appearance, all tell it. But, ah well, you have youth, good looks, health! and though I’m rich, I’d be only too glad to exchange with you,” and in her wheezing tones, and with many a pause for breath, the Madame went on to give a long account of her sufferings by day and by night.
Floy listened with a patient attention and sincere sympathy such as the Madame, in her loneliness, was little accustomed to.
“It must be very dreadful to have so many ailments,” she said feelingly. ”

“ She greeted Floy with an angry nod and the question: “What’s the reason Mrs. Sharp sends you instead of coming herself? You can tell her I don’t like such treatment, and I consider that my money is as good as any other body’s. She says in her note you can fit as well as she can; but I don’t believe it; it stands to reason that a ’prentice-girl couldn’t do as well as her mistress.” ”

“ Kemper had told Floy that, allowing for difference in age, health, and circumstances, she was in face and form almost the exact counterpart of her own mother, and this was not the first time that the girl had earnestly studied her own face, trying to anticipate the changes to be wrought in it by the wear and tear of the next eighteen or twenty years, that thus she might be ready to know at a glance that other one she so longed to look upon. ”

“ Beresford, disappointed in a faint hope that she might have proffered Floy to him as a partner, went away with Otho, and Maybelle made herself agreeable to her companion.
At last she observed, patronizingly:
“You’ve never been anywhere, have you, Floy?”
“Not since mamma brought me a little girl back to the farm,” Floy answered, flushing sensitively, for she felt the sting in Maybelle’s patronizing tone.
But the latter continued, gently and purringly:
“It’s too bad your having to stay with those poor, hard-working [20] people, isn’t it? Shouldn’t you like to support yourself, Floy?” ”

“ The Madame at first refused to eat, but presently, yielding to the combined entreaties and expostulations of the two, made a very tolerable attempt. Kathleen was retained to wait upon her, and Mary was directed to assist Floy until the gown should be completed.
“You’re looking very tired,” the latter remarked, as Mary resumed her seat by her side.
“Not a bit more’n you do, miss,” said the girl, [Pg 179] with a compassionate glance at Floy’s pale cheeks and heavy eyes. “Dear me! don’t you think riches harden the heart? ”

“ And this was the state of affairs until the fervid [Pg 204] heats of summer began to drive the fashionables away from the city.
Even then there was small respite, for some left unfinished dresses to be sent after them, and many who remained behind wanted work done also.
In all this time Floy had heard but once from Cranley—a few lines from Miss Wells telling of the death of Espy’s mother, and that he had gone she knew not whither.
“Gone!” Floy’s heart almost stood still with grief and pain ”