FLOSSIE’S BRAVERY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 11, 12 March 1892, Page 260

FLOSSIE’S BRAVERY.

BY

MRS E. BURKE COLLINS.

SNE cannot help admiring bravery-a truly brave and fearless nature. If 1 ever marry, “ the not impossible she ” must be a brave lady. None of your silly, affected, bread-and-butter misses for me. I could not love a cowardly nature, but one that is strong, bright, and brave—an—’ • Anomaly, Herbert Wylie, you are a dreamer. Women are not prone to be brave and al) the rest of it, and heroines such as you describe are not found every day. Give it up, my dear boy. If you wait for this very “ impossible she ” you will doom yourself to a lonely old bachelor’s existence. That’s my opinion.’ . And Arthur Way proceeded to light a cigar, while his friend, Herbert Wylie, unfolded the morning paper, and began’to glance indifferently over the freshly-printed pages. Two strikingly handsome young men were they- boon companions and warm friends for years. Herbert was dark and grave of feature, while his friend was fair, with goldenbrown hair and moustache. Herbert had just arrived upon a visit at the Way farm—a large and valuable stock farm. It was Herbert’s first visit since his boyhood, and the two friends were anticipating, all sorts of pleasures in each other’s society. The farm' lay on the outskirts of quite a flourishing town —a small city, in fact, and there was no lack of amusement. The Way household consisted of Arthur Way and an only sister. • I can’t help your opinions, my dear Art, observed Wylie, glancing up from the paper all at once. ‘ I am in real, sober earnest, though you do not seem to believe me. lam tired of these namby pamby girls who scream at the sight of a spider, and go into spasms over an unfortunate little mouse. I want a wife with a stronger mind ; but none of your woman’s rights, blue stockings, spectacles, and short hair for me. In fact, I suppose 1 shall never realize my dreams, or meet my imaginary divinity.’ And he sighed dolorously. Arthur Way laughed aloud. ‘ Then, I suppose you wouldn’t care a stiaw for Flossie?’ he observed. ‘ She is a perfect little blue ’ A terrific crash in the adjoining room startled the young men and put an end to the conversation. Arthur hastily entered the apartment, where he remained an unconscionable time ; then he returned to where Herbert sat composedly reading and smoking. If there was a mischievous twinkle in Arthur’s blue eyes, his friend did not observe it ; and how was he to know that there had been a plot laid during Arthur’s absence. ‘ Cats '.’ was Arthur’s laconic explanation of the tumult which had called him away. He seated himself once more and turned the conversation immediately back in its old channel. ‘So you want to marry a strong-minded woman, eh, my boy ? Well, I prophesy that you will marry the very reverse.’ 1 I will never do it,’ warmly. ‘I do not mean that I prefer a strong-minded woman in the usual sense of the term, tine thing sure, I will never fall in love with a “clinging vine ” —a silly, sentimental school-girl. Arthur, who is that glancing as he spoke from the open window at his side into the tool, flagrant grounds, wlieie a giacelui figure had just come in sight—a beautiful young woman attired in a soft white gown with a basket of roses on her arm. She was gathering flowers and singing softly to herself as she went. Arthur Way’s eyes twinkled once more. ‘ She ? Oh, that is my sister Flossie ; but you will never fall in love with her, Herbert, much as 1 should like to have you for a brother-in-law.’ ‘Why?’ eagerly, excitedly, the cigar which he had just lighted tossed into the empty grate as he spoke. • Because she will not till your bill; she is anything but strong minded. I have known her to shriek like a Comanche chief in bis war paint at a spider ; and one day coming into the kitchen, 1 found her actually perched on top of the table, holding her breath in unfeigned honor because she had seen a small mouse capering across the kitchen floor. “ Had seen,” 1 say, for the poor little wretch was half a mile off, I suppose, before Flossie could be induced to come down from her perch on the table. Ob, no 1 Flossie will never do for you ; and 1 must say, Bert, 1 have dreamed lots of nice, romantic dreams about you and Floss falling in love with each other. What in the world are you staling at ?’ For all during this harangue Herbert Wylie’s eyes had been fastened upon that graceful figure in the white gown and big sun-hat, with the roses all about her. • Are you never going to present me?’ he cried. Stifling a laugh, Arthur led the way through the long window out into the grounds. Two minutes later Mr Herbert Wylie had been presented to Miss Flossie Way, and the mischief was done. She was the loveliest little creature whom Herbert had ever met—a perfect blonde, with a crinkling mass of golden hair, and pansy-blue eyes — almost black beneath the shadow of the longgolden brown lashes. Graceful as well as beautiful, there was a nameless charm about her that made the young man's heart thrill in his breast whenever her beautiful eyes met his own. Yet remembering Arthur’s remark in regard to Miss Elossie's lack of wisdom as well as heroism, the young man studiously avoided all reference to abtruse topics, scarcely ventured to discuss books and authors, and only then did he touch upon the very lightest of novels—mere froth. Miss Flossie said little, but there wasademnre look upon her face all the time, and Herbert never dreamed that there was a conspiracy against him. Ihe very first day of their acquaintance Herbert was treated to a succession of proofs which ought to have satisfied any man that the young lady was not different from the rest of her sex as represented by the silly school-girls already frowned down by Mr Herbert Wylie. Flossie was really and unfeignedly frightened half out of her wits by a toad which ran across her foot while standing in the garden walk with Mr Wylie, and a spider discovered upon the filmy white skirt of her evening dress that evening, when they all sat out in the porch watching the moon rise,

created great havoc, Mies Flossie shrieking wildly and executing a war-dance until the unfortunate insect was safely removed. Every night of her life it was Flossie’s custom, as housekeeper, to make a regular tour of the house, to see that every door and window was secured and several times during Herbert's visit she aroused the household with a false alarm of burglars. In short, Flossie Way was a perfect little coward ; it did not require much penetration to arrive at that conclusion. Yet, an awful thing had happened to Herbert Wylie. He awoke one day to the terrible truth —he was desperately in love with Flossie ; his heart gone forever into her keeping —this silly, shrieking school-girl, who was afraid of her own shadow ! H*. smiled grimly at the thought. • I should be ashamed of such a silly little wife !’ he decided, sternly ; ‘ and yet, oh, heavens ! how bewitching she is! Of all the ladies of my acquaintance —and their name is legion—there is none to begin to compare with her !’ And at last the end came. He was out riding one day with Flossie. She, with her characteristic timidity, rode a gentle, slow old horse, while Herbert had mounted the most fiery steed in the Way stable. Something frightened the animal, and it started off like a mad creature, dashed into a belt of woodland, and threw its rider upon a pile of stones which lay at the roadside. When Flossie, urging her own horse into its fastest pace, arrived at the scene, he lay there pale and insensible. Dismounting from her horse without a word, the girl bent over the prostrate form. Her lips trembled ; she was pale as death. • I must help him !’ she murmured, wildly. ‘ Poor Herbert ! he thinks me a cowardly little fool. Now is the time to prove the truth ’ A swift examination, such as a practised physician might have made, revealed the fact that his right arm was badly fractured. With swift, deft fingers she tore up her own handkerchief and his, and speedily bandaged the arm, doing all that could be done without help. Then she bathed his brow and restored him to consciousness. Fancy Herbert’s astonishment to find hie injuries attended to by the cowardly little creature who was moving about him now like a real physician. But Herbert had more wonderful truths yet to learn. Flossie had found a conveyance in which to carry him back to her brother’s house, and he was soon placed in bed and the old family physician summoned. To Herbert’s intense surprise, Miss Flossie proved an expert assistant. ‘ Oh, yes !’ cried old Doctor Holden, smiling at the young man’s astonish ment, * Flossie Way is a medical student. She has studied under me for a year or two now, and is a splendid surgeon for a beginner. A trifle nervous by nature ; but when there is work—real work like this —before her, she becomes as cool as an icicle, and never breaks down.’ ‘ But,’ interposed Herbert, ‘ she is so young !’ • True; she is not much over twenty-two ; but she is a brave little woman, and has already done much good out here in the country, nursing the sick and assisting me. She will soon be ready for a diploma. She has also contributed several very able articles to a medical journal. She is going to be one of the intellectual lights of the day.’ • I never dreamed of such a thing,’ murmured Herbert. * I thought her just like other women.’ The good old doctor laughed aloud. • Well, to be sure she is. And, I tell you, Wylie, if I were young and eould win her, Flossie Way is the girl who would be my wife.’ And before Herbet Wylie had recovered from his injury —nursed all the time by Flossie, in conjunction with the old housekeeper—he had asked a certain question, to which the girl whom he had found to be so self-reliant and brave, with the truest kind of bravery, blushingly answered yes.