Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-11-24
A CASE OF ADOPTION.

LILLIAN Reese was OlSLuTO6u lucTe
was no doubt OF that. Her lovely
brown eyes were flashing. and there
was a fine, faint, white shading
around the crimson OF her close-shut
lips, which came only when affairs
went very far wrong indeed.
She was standing In her pretty
drawing-room, facing a tall and hand
some young man, who, leaning one
elbow on the mantle, was watching
her, q half amused, half sympathetic
smile playing over his bronzed face.
II confess. Lillian, to being very
obtuse," no was saying, for can't
see that you are called on to shoulder
every charity In this town. I am sure
they don't need you as do ! need
you 80 very much.
"Why do you talk so. Clyde? Don't
you understand that during these two
years you have been away, and es-
pecially since | lost mamma, all my
attention has been given to my chari-
ties?"
mot quite all. my darling" he OBJ
jected to her question. you had time
to write me letters that my heart
lived on until came back and found
you 30 wrapped up In other folks AZ
iairs that you had no time at all for
mine"
20. Clyde!"
ITS true, Lillian. We have been
engaged for four years. and now my
business Is In such shape that 1t fairly
runs Itself. l am well and strong,
ready and anxious to give my life to
make you happy. Yet you turn from
me, declaring that duty demands you
TO devote your life to others. When
! investigate, find the others are q
home for old women, a society to I'M
prove the poor missionaries thous-
and miles away, fondlings' home,
and heaven knows what else. I'm
sure don't. do know, however,
that your days are spent attending
meetings and your nights planning
more. You are running your health.
neglectlng your friends, and, worse
still, Lillian. you are cheating your
own heart"
"Clyde, do stop!" she pleaded Il
have thought this matter over long
and carefully. When you wrote you
were coming home Miss Denn,ng iore-
saw just what would happen VIXEN
you arrived. We both decided 1t could
not BIO right for me to give my life to
ycu, at the very time when | was do
ing so much good. Dear, take one OF
my charities, and think of thoio 40
babies, and fancy them all .uMe out
in the cold on night like this!"
Gracious. wouldn't they howl,
thought" the young man laughed.
Lillian looked Indignant.
Are you utterly heartless. clyde"
she cried, Don't you believe in charity
at all?"
Indeed do, Lillian; but l believe
In more Individual charity. dont
think that the Individual should be
lost sight Of In the class. Take, your
foundllngs' homo, for example,
wouldn't 1t be better for those babies
to be In homes OF their own than In
common nursery?"
But they haven't any homes. Clyde.
There was little baby which Mrs,
Barrett brought In yesterday. 1t had
been abandoned on her doorstep. or
course she took 1t direct to the home,
where 1t could be cared for"
you should say, dearest, Instead OF
caring for 1t yourself, as she Is abund-
antly able. she turned 1t over to you.
And this very baby we'll illustrates my
complaint. My man David saw the
mother leaving 1t on Mrs. Barretts
step. He tells me she Ia sewing
rett's sewing"
20. Clyde, was that Mrs. Fleming i
baby? Why, Mrs Barrett and both
stopped having her. and have been
doing our own plain sewing, 80 we
could give the money we saved to heir
to start the home, never thought
how she would miss the work"
No" Clyde answered. but you soc
1t would have been much better foi
you to take work from the individual
poor and give 1t to public charities"
Lillian looked distressed
20, Clyde, dear" she cried. II wish
you would quit! Indeed, indeed.
am doing only what l think right
Miss Denning says would never b,
happy In selhshly devoting my life K
one man when humanity claims me"
Miss Dennlng be hanged" Clyd,
Interrupted. II believe that old mai,
IL at the bottom OF this nonsense
She-------."
"You forget you are speaking OF m,
dearest friend. MIR. Huling. and on,
who Is my inspiration in every goo,
work. Now let us end this matter
II you can prove, by practical de
monstration. that private charity 1
more wise than public benefactions
you may claim all you ask. On tn
contrary. IL | convince you OF tn
pressing need OF my public charities