River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-08-10
ALIITLE WILLFUL.

DfeaJnlessiy. ana 10 HuIudH WnoHi
YOU know 80 little of Oh, Frank,
frank How recklessly you men fling
your lives about !"
Doctor Buddington smiled. Men as
a rule do not like to be lectured, but
Doctor BCddington would endure more
OF this mental discipline from his pref
ty sister-in-law than from any other
living person.
So he stood there, with folded arms,
leaning against the ruby velvet dra-
peries of the mantel, while Mrs. Tom
BuddIngton clipped the dead leaves off
her roses and shook her little crepe
head at him warningly.
81 don't suppose | know all about
her." said he. "But man might have
a society acquaintance with girl for
ten years and really acquire very little
knowledge of her true self We all
have 10 take our risks, George, you
know"
zone of your charity patients, sup
pose" said Mrs. Buddington, scorn-
fully.
"You are wrong there, George"
said the doctor, with invincible good
humor. 81 met her first at one of the
Thursday evening readings at the hall. +"
ooh, forgot your philanthropic en-
terprises," said Mrs. Buddington, ele-
waiting her pink nose-"where the
lame, the blind and the halt are all
tumbled in together p
'She is a working girl" said Doctor
Buddington. "And she is in Madame
Favassi's embroidery and worsted store
And her name is Angela Adams. And
she lives with her mother in cheap
clearinghouse on Eight avenue And
now you know all about itr'
"All :" Mrs. Buddington made two
round arches of her eyebrows. 81 sup
pose although you haven't mentioned
it-that she is prettyp.
CAS- beautiful as an angel," said Doc
tor Buddington, enthusiastically.
ooh, dear, dear" said Mrs. Budding
ton, shaking her head I'm afraid
you've arrived at the desperate stage
of the disease, Frank. A shop girl in
an avenue boarding house, and beau
full as an angel"
And she drew long sigh of despair
Just about that time Doctor Bud
dington was running the gauntlet of
his sister-in-law's half-serious criti-
cisms Angela Adams was cCnfding to
her mother the new life which had Just
dawned on her life.
"Angela, you don mean It - said
poor Mrs. Adams. 1t can't be pos
sible ?"
Mrs. Adams was pale and attenuated
and shabby, with great hollows under
her cheek bones, and eyes that elowed
beneath their hrows like smoldering
fires.
Angela was tall and graceful, with
shining nut brown hair, limpid brown
eyes and delicate complexion,
"where rose and lily strove together
for mastery" as the poet says.
Il do mean itl'' said Angela. "And
it is pOssiblel He loves me and wants
me to be his wife"
ooh, heaven be praised for this I"
eagerly exclaimed Mrs. Adams. "Doc-
tor Buddington is d rich gentleman,
who can place my jewel in casket
worthy of her brilliance. He has both
social position anil dignity. He is one
whose notice would be credit to any
girl. Did you tell him, darling, how
honored you were at his preference"
The sudden crimson famed into An
gela's cheek; her eyes glittered
IIOuOItNy sic tACAdllnENl.
al? Indeed, no. There is not man
living by whose gracious preference |
should feel - hOnored !"
"Angela !"
doctor Buddington is very kind,
said the girl. recklessly. And l do
not deny that like him. But he is
one of our uncanonized saints. And l
am human, like to dance, to go to
parties, picnics, excursions. | delight
in admiration, spirit, life. And" up
lifting her lovely young head, " do
not propose to take the veil during the
rest of my life under the pretense of
marrying. He need not think because
| went once or twice to the evening
readings that | intend to devote the
rest Of my days to theology. l am not
one of those soft, malleable human be-
ings who can lie nodded into any
shape or form. | am Angela Adams.
And those who cannot take me Just as
am had better let me alone.
Mrs. Adams looked fairly appalled,.
"Angela ~ she cried. Daughter
Are you crazy ?"
Angela laughed.
Mamma" said she, 81 did not in
tend TO indulge in such TRADE when
l began. But L have only expressed
my real sentiments, and now | must
20 back to the store. so good bye
And with a loving kiss she lief, the
warm little room where poor Mrs.
Adams spent most of her time on a
not particularly comfortable sofa.
Angela Adams was not unlike Il half
tanned wild animal. Shy, sensitive,
distrustfui of herself, almost more
than of others, capable of almost limit
less affection, yet cold by intervals,
her moods varied with Kaleidoscope
suddenness.
eyes" she said, within herself, 81
love him But-does he love mey
Am | worthy of place in his heart
Once enthroued there am cap able of
retaining my position? For 1 would
rather never be loved than, once hav-
ing loved, to lose my scepter of com
mand Doctor Buddiugton IS grave,
silent, selfcontained. | am a trivial
natured, unframed child; nor would |
for worlds have him think me better
than am !"
"Of course, Angels" said Doctor
Buddiugton, unconsciously using her
name, 'yOu will not go to the sum
mer Night Festival 2"
"Why shouldn't go?" retorted An
gela, all the rebellious instincts of her
nature rising up against mis- words.
''All the other shop girls are going.
And the Hudson by moonlight would
be worthy of an artists finest pencil Il"
won't it be rather mischivous
crowd?' said Doctor Buddington, criti-
cally.
II DO not plume myself on being
an aristocrat," said Angela, coldly.
SIT isn't that, dear" argued the doc
tor. But the Favard girls and Miss
Belmont are going. with their cavaliers
at least so am told-and they are
scarcely the associates with whom l
could wish you to mingle.
1--WE think differently on that, as on
many other subjects" said Angola.
"Do not go, Angela = coaxed Doctor
Buddmgton To oblige me, abandon
the festival. !"
Not IT. said Angela, lightly. Il
love music and | am devoted to the
water, and l exult in moonlight. /
shall go!"
Doctor Buddingten looked sadly at
tine sweet, defiant young face. Was
Georgia right, after all? Was there an
;,barn,oriONs chord in ADgela's nature