River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-09-11
A SITUATION.

one stood at the crossing OF the vii
lage street just as the shower came
down. 1t had been a rainy morning,
the drops filtering playfully through
the clouds, interspersed with dazzling
outbursts of sunshine, but now a pelt-
ing, lnerciless torrent rushed sharply
downward, gathering vehemence from
past delay.
And there stood Bessy in the midst
of it, one pretty foot stretched doubt
fully outward to feel for a stepping
stone amidst the torrent that swept
over the crossing.
Quite by accident, of course, young
Brownley, dawclling at the depot, in
doubt whether to take the next train,
caught sight of this vision, as he
drummed with idle fingers on the gray
green panes of the waiting room. 1t
was quite an accident also, of course,
that in a second after this ne was cross
ing the street little further up. armed
with big umbrella. As Bessy. still
doubtful, glanced ruefully about to see
If she could reach the nearest tree. or
had better brave it ont, the stranger.
picking his way through mud and wet,
stood by her side.
Now we all know that it does not do
for woman TO Overstep conventional
limits she must keep it to the bars of
her gilded cage, and twitter happily be-
hind them. To allow a gentleman to
speak To her without M introduction.
even if he were ON a raft, while she
loated by. going politely to the bottom,
would be a thing of very doubtful
etiquette. But down came the shower,
and there stood Bessy without an UNI
brclla. Under some circumstances, il
must be owned, conventionalism makes
poor show beside savageism, and
young BROMLEY, having more on less of
the savage lingering about him, proiier-
cd his umbrella. 1t was promptly re-
ceived by the girl, who had evidently
Gar less regard for the proprieties of
'ife than for her dripping dress.
"Oh, dear ?" she said, cts com
pletely spoiled, | suppose. This is the
second time I've started out TO see poor
/ little Tom, and been stopped by the
rain, / hope it won't rain this way every
afternoon.
% almost hope that it will, said her
companion, glancing at the bright,
/ flushed face beside him. 81 always
carry m umbrella.
Now ii must be confessed that this
commendable prudence and foresight
had sprung up in the young man with
IN the last ten minutes. But what of
that? Reforms must begin at some
time, presume.
| have observed that, as rule, most
heroes of romance are well provided
for, They have n lighter sphere of
/ troubles than the mere harrassment of
looking for bread and butter. And
right enough IL should be so, say !. Il
is a pity II We cannot have place of
refuge, between book covers AZ least.
whore the contemplate common place
of life is not thrown upon MS. All hail
/ 10 the heroes with rich uncles and old
aunts, and good humored mole-eyed
grandmothers, aud forthcoming lega-
cies I'm sorry can't place my hero
among them but he's an intensely
everyday fellow, not fit tor such high
society. He hasn't even p distant rela-
/ tive in India with one foot in the grave.
The fact is, the youth had actually
come up 70 Evansville looking for a sit
uation in the big country store Of Van.
der \ Co, and what is more, he'd been
refused IT,
But here, however, with the incor.