Urbana Union

Written for the Urbana Union
THE FORTUNES OF
FLORA ST. JOHN.
A TALE OF VICISSITUDES.
BY MRS. S. N. W. RICE.

CHAPTER III.

Capt. St. John had given the cousins equal advantages but Flora far excelled her cousin in mental capacity. Besides mastering various sciences with perfect ease, she possessed an artist's skill in painting, and nature had given her a prima donna voice of great power and sweetness. She read the most difficult instrumental music for piano and harp with a facility astonishing to her masters. There was about her a piquancy of manner refreshing to those who disliked affectation. Georgy was a very pretty blonde with engaging manners, but in no way remarkable except for her lovely disposition. She worshiped her cousin and Flora was fondly attached to her. Charles St. John had insisted that their wardrobes should be similar in elegance and Arabella was compelled to submit. There was no way to deceive the Captain in this, but she vented her spleen by cordially hating Flora, as she had done her mother. A grand party was given to introduce the young ladies into society and as they entered the saloon in full dress, the fond father and uncle surveyed them with pride. They wore rich white silk one adorned with rubies the other with pearls.
"Very, very sweet, both of you" cried the Captain "but Georgy. Flora is the prettiest!" said the affectionate girl, presenting her cheek for a kiss.
"We'll see what the world says" before making a decision. adroitly put in Mrs. St. John, who was very stately in velvet and plumes.
"Nay, Arabella, the world has an eye to my stock in bank and my three steamboats and Georgy will be 'the belle' as a matter of course. Don't listen to its flattery, my child but why should I caution youth and a warm heart. Some miserable fortune hunter will carry you off in six weeks."
"No no papa" laughingly answered Georgiana. "Forewarned is forearmed" and I am on my guard; besides I am in no hurry to try my fortune yet.

A would be the belle was verified. In a short time, while her cousin in the same circle received an offer of marriage, which she declined.
Arabella, about twenty-eight years of age, a widow, whose refined manners, handsome well cut features, and aristocratic bearing gave her somewhat the air of a heroine. His marked attentions were always agreeable to Flora he possessed of varied information, and having been a tourist of foreign countries always gained her attention, at the onset she never thought of him as a lover. Unwearied devotion will however, work miracles, and the time came when Flora noticing his kindness ters, "mistook the feelings of her heart and fancied the grateful emotion which swelled it to be love:
An engagement followed, with which Mary St. John was wonderfully pleased, as St. Aubin was possessed of a handsome estate. The Captain gave his consent, but not eagerly and Katrine declared herself not "pleased." She had caught a good look at the gentleman, as he passed into the drawing-room, she muttered,
"I dinna like that mon, He is muckle like a lamb, in look, and I see nae resolution in his face!".
But the young lady thought otherwise and chided Katrine for her want of appreciation of character.
Shortly after this Flora was attacked with a light fever which confined her to her room for several days, St. Aubin was all devotion, called three times a day, bringing and sending books, flowers, oranges, everything that an invalid or convalescent could fancy or wish for.
Katrine was somewhat softened. "Aweel, my dear," she said. "After a while."
when Flora was recovered sufficiently to meet him in her aunt's dressing room he was as tender and solicitous, as any one could desire. Mrs. St. John was all affability, and considered herself very fortunate in so soon getting rid of her charge. She considered the matter as a settled affair.
One morning he came later and informed them that the death of an uncle required his immediate departure for Memphis. As he bade Flora adieu the entrance of her Uncle prevented the reception of his first lover's kiss. The Captain slapped him good humoredly on the shoulder, with this blunt phrase.
"Tell St. Aubin you are good metal I suppose you will come back!"
"I intend to claim your niece as my wife," answered the indignant lover.
"Well well, I mean no offense, indeed I meant it in jest, but be sure you do come back, for I want to see more color in these pale cheeks," turning to Flora.
Flora retired to her room to weep and be solaced by Katrine, feeling nothing more secure than the love and honor of Victor St. Aubin.
But time showed its truth and cruel vanity.
I see you would be delayed quite a bit settling the estate of his uncle which had soared; but a time came when the letters were shorter and less rapturous.
For delay inserted than Katrine declared like so many words about a small matter,
"One line is enough to satisfy a true heart."
Finally the letters ceased. Flora in silence wondered, and when her uncle returned from a trip northward, communicated her fears to him, "I will soon know" he said gravely and hastened away again. His stay too, was protracted, and she felt as if the horrible suspense would kill her, and said so to Katrine, but that dame much worthy booted the idea. "Nae, nae, ye'll never die for love of that man." I ken ye fancy ye love him, but I ken the signs of true love too well, to be muckle grieved.
One day Flora flew down stairs to learn the word. "Tell me at once dear uncle, for I see by your face that you have bad news, Is he dead!"
"No he is not"
"Then why so gloomy. He is ill, dying speak out"
"Nothing of the kind child. Be courageous Flora. Do you love this man!"
"I believe I do love him sincerely. Indeed I should feel very badly if I knew he was dead!"
"But if he was false to you?"
"I should tear his image from my heart."
"Ah! never fear it"
"You'll braw, my ain bairn, which is not lucky he is married."
Flora paled for a moment, for if she did not know human nature like Katrine, she had believed that all the tenderness of her heart had gone out with this man truly"
There, exclaimed the girl.
"Say no more I shall certainly shoot him."
"Oh no cried Flora in alarm. I do not love him and if Victor did, there do you not believe me!"
"Convince me by your looks and I will believe you, but if I see a pale cheek and forlorn looks I'll certainly put a bullet in the first time I meet him."
"Oh Uncle, believe me I fear worse for your safety, than his, should you attack him. I pray you do not make the matter public to the family or his behavior engagement. I would avoid that scandal"
"You need not fear more as such. I waited in Memphis three days searching him but he managed to keep out of my way. I wrote him a note to which I received no answer."
"A coward too: cried Flora For I know I could never really love him.?"
"Well my dear the best way is to treat such conduct with silent contempt. For my own part I am relieved. as I never liked him; he never impressed me favorably. I cannot tell why."
Think no more of him, get yourself ready for the theatre as I believe I'd like to enjoy a good play with you all to night."
Flora could scarcely analyse her emotions. Her heart was certainly very sore and leaving love out of the question she had felt such a deep respect for St. Aubin. No one can lose a friend without a sigh or regret. She had trusted him so implicitly, she could scarcely realize what she had heard. How she longed to be alone, to think it all over, but this could not be. The only way to allay her Uncle's passion was to be gay and cheerful. During his stay at home, he delighted in attending his family to places of amusement, and she knew there would be no time for reflection until his departure.
She calmly told Katrine the result as she went into her dressing room.
"And where's your grief, bairn, exclaimed the faithful creature. Ye should weep tears of true love on my auld breast; instead ye look as proud as any princess!"
"Ah Katrine I feel sadly enough. Is all the world so wicked as this?"
"Sure, an' this is a wicked world: I did nae think sae mean of the man. but I doubt na it's a lucky miss ye've made. And who did he wed ?"
"I did not ask Uncle, I did not care to know."
"That's a sure sign ye no love him. else your first thought would be of the ane wha cheated ye. Gang your gait, my bairn and dinna mistake next time. He was nae fit for ye. The uncanny mon!"

CHAPTER IV.
The box of Mrs St. John was brilliant in beauty that night. A feverish excitement lit the pale cheek of Flora with a glow not usual. The cousins always contrasted well, and Georgiana never looked better. Mrs. St John, whose good looks were yet in preservation, was radiant in satin and diamonds. Flora looked down into a sea of faces, wondering if all those 'human men, divine' were as faithless as Victor St. Aubin. Suddenly the rich tones of an unusually musical voice arrested her attention. Two gentlemen had entered the box and were conversing with the Capt. and Mrs. St. John.
"Miss St. John allow me to introduce to your notice my friend Mr. Fitzhugh," said the familiar voice of Col. Grange, a fashionable acquaintance.
A strange thrill pervaded Flora's frame as she turned and beheld the stranger. He was a man of uncommonly fascinating exterior; every movement of his graceful elastic figure, possessed a strange power over those who beheld him. Dark gray eyes, speaking volumes to those he chose to fascinate, added to a voice of thrilling melody, a man who was born to captivate almost every woman who came under his influence. A man who had seen the world in all polished kingdoms and republics. A more dangerous suitor could not have approached Flora, in her bitter disappointment. Subtle as a venomous serpent, he at once enchained her attention, and she may be accused of a want of constancy, or great susceptibility of feeling, when we say, that before the play had ended, she had almost forgotten Victor St. Aubin.
Mrs. St. John was visibly annoyed. James Fitz Hugh was not a marrying man, as she well knew and if he had been so, he had no visible means of existence. She knew him as the votary of all fashionable circles in various cities, and to do her justice she wished a better fate even for one she disliked as much she did Flora. When they returned home. she had a long private talk with her niece, in which she represented Fitz Hugh as he really was. But Flora had no confidence in her aunt, she knew that Arabella had kept up a systematic of falsehood to her uncle, for years, about household affairs, and her own conduct and therefore, her words had little effect.
It is hardly necessary to mention the arts which this fascinating villain used to enslave his victim. At first she tried to repel his attentions, but the character of St Aubin, a man respected by every one, and his conduct to her had made her somewhat reckless of consequences. This man, she flattered herself might be the best of the two. James Fitz Hugh's attentions to her were not open. Ever on his guard he could say more in a few moments, than other men could in months of courtship. When she was not present, he made ardent love to Georgiana, but strange to say the simple hearted girl, could barely endure his presence. Months passed away and he was still a devotee to the St. John party. He followed them to a fashionable watering place, determined to bring the obstinate Georgy to his feet, figuratively speaking. He really loved Flora as much as a dissolute nature is capable of loving. but he could not afford to marry her. He imagined Capt. St. John richer than he really was and was intent on securing the pretty property, which would descend to Georgy. The winter of gayety had again set in, in N. Orleans when Capt, St. John was suddenly called to England on business of importance. Some rich relative of the family was on a dying bed and summoned him to his side, Before sailing he had a long interview with Katrine, in which he charged her to keep a constant eye on his two darlings. He had no suspicion of Fitz Hugh's influence on Flora, as he was not often at home, and Fitz Hugh had managed to deceive Mrs. St. John, Pressing Katrine's hand he said, my good woman, you know Arabella is too fond of fashion and gayety. I look to you for the morals of my children.' Katrine promised to do her best and as he left
Blind by half as we think him. Flora, marked off some bank, to the amount of $500 dollars. "An old debt due to Aurelius, St. John, Ltd. be paid with him. The generous girl had begged him to keep it. He refused declaring that Flora might need it she little thought how soon it would be called into play.
Mrs. St. John had watched with anxiety the attentions of Fitz Hugh to Georgiana, and fearing for the result, determined to play a cunning game against him.
During the short absence of Fitz Hugh from the city she made ready for a trip to St. Louis with both the girls. On the eve of their departure Flora was attacked with a violent sore throat, and was of course unable to go. If Capt. St. John had been at home, Arabella would have never dared to leave her sick and unprotected by her presence, but she was now enjoying a liberty for which she had longed ever since her marriage. Her husband was a man of correct principles, and although fond of conviviality, he did not like too much of it, and could not permit an intimacy with certain fast ladies of their acquaintance. He had no sooner, sailed to England, than she began her plans for renewing her acquaintance with a lady in St. Louis, whose reckless life of gayety, had long ago made her a great favorite of the Captain. True he never openly declared his dislike of her conduct as he had of some others, but Arabella knew he could not approve of this visit. We will not attempt to fathom her motives— Perhaps the restriction, to which she had lest subject, induced her to follow the example of perverse human nature, in doing as she pleased. One thing was sure: She immoderately fond of pleasure, and was never satisfied with anything but a round of fashionable excitement, in the way of ball, theatre or opera. She expected to create quite a sensation in St. Louis and perhaps secure for Georgiana a brilliant match. In her heart she was glad that Flora was unable to go. Georgy pleaded to remain with her cousin, but Mrs. St. John assured her there was no danger, and hurried her away. Flora's attack was not so serious as was at first supposed and day or two after her aunt's departure she was up and in her usual health.
Mrs. St John had left her house and servant in charge of her sister a coarse looking woman with neither education or refinement, She and her family were the only living relatives Arabella could claim, that there was little intercourse between the sisters. To do Mrs. St. John justice, with all her vanity and want of very strict principle, she was in every way superior to this woman, who was capable of almost any meanness. She had not been born a beauty like her sister, neither had she the good fortune to marry a gentleman. She considered that she had not been fairly dealt with, and being of an avaricious turn of mind was every ready to come at Arabella's bidding. The Captain had often helped her along with money and presents since her children to support, but he has not liked her house now. knowing that he would be kept a sharp eye on the new housekeeper.
TO BE CONTINUED