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

spur of sudden impulse; ana thus ne
! spoke.
remember, Angela, that if you go to
this summer. night pickle it will be in
defiance of my plainly expressed
wishes, and I,shall interpret it in but
one way"
So he went away, leaving Angela
more determined than ever.
81 am not to be coerced like a
child" she said. "And | will go ~
/ What a glorious night it was The
moonlight like beaming gold, the trees
along the river bank full of mystic
shadows, the band playing Strauss
sweetest waltzes. The fact that Kate
Belmont had brought with her the
/, brother whom Angela so vehemently
disliked, was only temporary dsmper
to her enjoyment. And she danced,
dreamed, watched the golden line OF
ripples that followed in their wake,
and tried to forget Doctor Budding
toms face-and all the time she was
miserable.
owe are to stop here for water,
cried Kate Belmont rushing up to her,
fifteen minutes. And there is glen
with an ice. cold spring and Dora Fa-
vassi and l are going ashore. The
captain says there will be plenty OF
| time to gather maiden-hair ferns at the
spring. You will come with US, An
gela ~
And scarcely pausing to think An
gela Joined the cluster of tumultuous
young girls who were hurrying across
] the plank into the woods.
"KateW she cried. "Dora wait for
me-"
But almost before she knew it she
was by Hugo Belmont's side, in the
darksome recesses of the glade.
"Where is the spring." she breath
lessly demanded. "Where are the
others ?"
at will be all right" said Mr.. Bel
mont, with the smooth, plausible smile
which she so disliked. "Don't hurry,
/ beg! There is plenty of time. Take
my arm. l know of short cut
which"
"But don't like short cutsw said
Angela, angrily, as she remembered
that she was alone with this man in
the woods Take me back at oncel'
Mr.. Belmont laughed in sinister
fashion.
"You don't like short cuts" said he,
''and you don't like mel But | like
you, my pretty princess, and Kate has
been obliging enough to play into my
hands. There they go back to the
steamer. They have hardly had time
enough to get much maiden-fair fern,
eh?"
LET us hasten! cried 5reathless
Angela. There the boat whistles
now!"
But Mr.. Hugo Belmont planted his
stalwart figure resolutely across the
path.
eve are not going back" said he.
''Now don't tremble so, Angela
know some very pleasant people who
live down this road, and | am going to
take you there to spend the evening.
All is fair you know, my dear, in love
and war"
Angela burst into a wild shrek.
Help = she cried, spurning the
sneering villain away-'help help
Oh, is there no one to hear me ?"
| At that selfsame second a tall, dark
figure seemed to glide like shadow
across their patk-Hugo Belmont fell
backward like a log. measuring his
length on the dewy grass, and Angela
felt her arm drawn resolutely through
that of-Dr Frank Buddington
"You nere?" she cried, with little
hysteric gasp. ooh, Frank, l am so
| glad-so thankful !"
eve must walk quickly" he said, in
a low voice. The steamer has already
sounded her signal of departurc-we
have not a second to lose"
1t was like q troubled dream-the
shifting moonlight, the dewy thickets,
the glisten of the river, the conscious
ness that they were once more afoat,
with the sweet clamor of "The Beauti-
full Blue Danube" again Ginning in
her eare, the colored lights of the boat
shedding rainbow-iike glory on the
thronged deck.
| Guided seat, and stood in silence be-
side her. She was very pale-she
wrung her hands.
How came you on board ?" she
asked in low tone.
Because, Angela, | felt that you
needed protector-because did not
dare to trust my treasured lamb among
wolves. Do you know, DEAR" he added,
imprcssively, "that you have had q
most narrow escape?"
| eyes" she answered, shudd6ring, Oh,
Frank, | have been so mad, so willful,
that I almost deserved the worst which
fate could award me. | have been try
ing an experiment with my own heart,
and it has failed me. Dear Frank, can
you forgive me? Can you credit me
when | tell you that shall never defy
your better judgment again2"
He stopped down in the shadow and
tendely kissed her brow.
"My own darling" 'he said, 81 can
credit anything which is good and true
of you! You are only little willful,
"But l never will be willful again"
she whispered, "for l love you, Frank,
and ifmy folly had estrauged you, l
should have been wretched for life"
And that was the end of Angela's ex-
periments; and Mrs. Dr. Buddington is
the most graceful and dignifed of young
matrons, so that even Mrs. George says
wonderingly:
II never could have believed that
she could turn out such a perfect wom-
an. Frank, you were right, after all. :"
Helen Forrest GrdueS.