Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-01-16
A Situation.

She stood at the crossing of the village
/ street just rs the shower came down. II
had been rainy morning, the drops
filtering playfully through the clouds,
| interspersed with dazzling outbursts of
sunshine, but now pelting, merciless
torrent rushed sharply downward, gath
ering yehemence from past delay.
And there stood Bessy in the midst OF
it, one pretty foot stretched doubtfully
outward to feel for stepping-stone
amidst the torrent that swept over the
crossing.
Quite by accident, of course, young
Brownley, dawdling at the depot, in
doubt whether to take the next train,
caught sight of this lovely vision, as he
drummed with idle fingers on tho gray
green panes of the waiting room. 1t
was quite by accident also, of course,
that in second after this he 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 out, this stranger,
picking his way through mud and wet,
stood by her side.
Now we all know that it does not do
for women to overstep conventional
limits. She must keep to her gilded
cage, and twitter happily behind it.
To allow q gentlemen to speak to her
without an introduction, even if he were
on raft, while she foated by, going
politely to the bottom, would be u thing
Of very doubtful etiquette. But down
came the shower, and there stood Bessy
without an umbrella. Under some cir
cumstances, it must be owned, conven-
tionalism makes poor show beside saw
ageism, and young Browniey. having
more or less Of the savage lingering
about him, offered her his umbrella. It
was promptly accepted by the girl, who
had evidently far less regard for the
proprieties of life than for her dripping
dress.
"Oh, dear" she said, I" it's complete.
ly spoiled, I suppose. This is the Sec
ond time I've started out to see poor
little Tom, and been stopped by the
rain. hope it won't rain this way ev-
cry afternoon"
"I almost hope that it will said her
companion, glancing at the bright.
flushed face beside him. 81 always
carry an umbrella
Now it must Le confessed that this
commendable prudence and foresight
had sprung up in the young man within
the last ten minutes. But what of that
Reform must begin at some time sup
pose.
hare observed that, as a rule, most
heroes OF romances are we'll provided
for. They have higher sphere of trou-
bles than the mere harassment of look
ing for-bread and butter. And right
enough it should be SO, say I. 1t is a
pity if we cannot have place of refuge,
between book covers at least, where the
contemplate commonplace of life is not
thrust upon US. All hail to the heroes
with rich uncles and old aunts, and
good-humored, mole-eyed grandmoth-
ers, and Forthcoming legacies; I'm sor-
ry I can't place my hero among them;
but he's an intensely everyday fellow,
not fit for such high society. He had
not even distant relative in India with
one foot in the grave.
The fact is. the youth had actually
come up to Evansville looking for sit
uation in the big country store of Wander
4 Co.. and what is more, he'd been re-
fused it.
But here, however, with the incorrig-
ible hopefulness of youth, he walked
along beside Bessy, and forgot all about
it. He expected to leave her at some
cottage gate near by, and so he did