The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13
WILD AND WILFUL.

Floyd Warren, grave, handsome, ar
istocratic from his loosely curling blonde
hair to his well-shaped feet, stood lean
ing against the olive velvet, crimson
and gold-and-blue embroidered lam
brequin that draped the mantel in his
sisters pretty little boudoir, and lis
tened, without the vestige of smile,
to her energetic remarks, although a
curiously mischievous spirit lurked in
his hazel eyes.
s'It's too horribly reckless for any
thingr' Mrs. ST. Cyr exclaimed, fan
ming herself. Engaged to girl you
know so very little about! o, Floyd,
Floyd, I would never have imagined
you could be so silly"
Then Mr.. Warren smiled, and al
though, as a rule, men, and men of
thirty-five, do not particularly enjoy a
'.going over" by their sisters, he re-
signed himself with amused patience to
his temporary punishment.
So he stood his ground, his arms
folded, leaning lightly against the man.
tel, and looked down upon Mrs. St.
'Cyr-pretty, golden-haired, bright
eyed, and year-old matron of twenty
two.
mo, 1 don't suppose l know much
more about her than Philip did when
he married you, Beth, but-we all have
to take our risks, you know"
..But to think she is a poor, common
girl
mot quite" he interrupted good
naturediy. poor. I admit, but not
common according to your rendering
of the term. She is working girl,
and is employed from eight to seven in
Madame Fromard's s establishment. and
she lives in tenement-houseo on Eighth
Avenue with her parents-top floor,
too. And her name is Ida Inglis. And
now you know all you are likely to
know of the future Mrs. Floyd Warren,
until she appears In the actual role of
sister-in-law to Your serene majesty" !"
Mrs. st. Cyr frowned, and most
charming little frown 1t WAS. too.
"You are very considerate! Perhaps
me that she Is beautiful as an angel,
graceful as gazelle? They always
are, you know!'
Her sarcasm fell unheeded.
beautiful! Graceful! Beth, you
ought to see her! Why"
And then Mrs. Beth shrugged her
white organdy shoulders.
''Spare me, beg"
While at the self-same moment. in
shabby little parlor on the top floor of
No. 999 Eighth Avenue, Mrs. Inglis.
pale. faded and jaded with the cares OF
life, and the forever struggling to make
impossible ends meet, listened ecstati.
caIly to Ida's announcement of an en-.
gagement between herself and Floyd
Warren.
"It's too good to be tIVe, dear! Only
to think, you'll have beautiful home
and everything you want, and-money
to buy what you need! He is a gentle
man, and SO handsome, with position
and dignity. Ida. darling. you ought
to be O proud. happy girl"
And then Ida langhed-and such 9
laugh as she had, like rippling cascade.
of silvery water, or the sweet, sof
murmur of a summer breeze in a wOOe
it reminded you of anything that wal
lovely and merry.
''Of course am proud and happy
mamma, naturally a girl would be un
der the circumstances; but, mamma
you must not think'I feel honored by
Mr.. Warren's preference-no mRn'l
gracious preferences would make m'
feel that l was honored. 1t is | wht
honor him"
And the rich crimson leaped to Ids
Inglis' ivory-fair cheeks and detian
flash to her eyes that Mr.. Floyd War
rem had certainly not seen there yet.
.'And had actually feared you wer'
becoming interested in Paul Crawford
am SO thankful, dear!'
paul Crawford! As if / ever care(
for him beyond the fact of his beint
the best dancer in the crowd, mammal
Nor would Mr.. Warren approve o
him, dear; he"
And then Ida stopped over and 81
Ieneed the mother with loving ittl'
| kiss.
Il know just what you mean, mann
ma dear. Floyd would not approve O
him, nor would l, except in the mos
conventional way. But one thing i
sure and certain. it would not do TO
Floyd to presume TO dictate to me abou
his likings or dislikings. or my taste
\ or distates. He must take me as an
Ida Inglis just as Ida Inglis is. Or
let me entirely alonen'
| And in answer to Mrs. Inglis' ap
palled look Ida laughed merrily.
II am an anomaly, am not? AnC
| a dreadful creature, ! know"
II wouldn't have hair of your heat
different, darling-you are my dutiful
loving, noble daughter"
And with q warm glow in her heart
Ida went off to her daily work-sucl
an .'anomaly," really, as she calle'
herself.
Proud, sensitive. passionate, honor
able, truthful and independent despit
her sensitiveness, frank and free. coll
and sarcastic by turns, she was like
human kaleidoscope, character wort
closest study, well worth warmest In
terest and eager winning.
"Love himP Love him2" she though
to herself; .'indeed love him with al
my heart and soul and strength. Th
Question is-does he love meP And ca
/ retain him always?"
But with Floyd Warren's nature
grave. positive, steady. and firm as
rock bedded in the sea-and hers, a
inharmonious jarring was sure to com
at one time or another.
And it came on one August moon
light night. when Mr.. Warren pickle
up an invitation-card lying ON the tsbl
in the Inglis parlor.
"Of course you'll not 60. Ids." b
said.
what! Not 60 to the moonligh
dance at Fern Dale?" she answere
quickly. "Why, shouldn't 1? All th
other girls are going"
) ut win be rather q promiscnou
crowd"