Angela's Business

window of her bedroom, the window that gave, over two sets of back-yards, a sectional view of Washington Street. On the ledge beside her stood th

e was yet farthest away. Often in the early weeks she had, indeed, felt quite forlorn as she sat here; she was a stranger and friendless, of a poor family and with small opportunity. Since the Redmantle Club meeting, however, the view from the window had become more personally interesting, more touc

all, nor did she so much as glance out of the window, with a naked eye. She had sheets of

entertained at brid

wn. It had occurred to her, more for fun than anything else, to write out a little notice of her party for the social columns of the "Post." Not being

l aspects of the party. Who were to be the guests at it

past four o'clock; whereon she sprang up at once, and began to dress quickly for the street. About quarter of f

d of Mrs. Wing, who was her double first-cousin, had, indeed, felt obliged to forbid Angela to cultivate any undue intimacy with Mary; which Angela, considering the differences between the two girls, was hardly likely to do in any case. Nevertheless, relations were still pleasant,

charge of the family. In the upper flat dwelt Mr. and Mrs. Crowther, who could sometimes be heard recriminating each other in embittered tones. In the lower flat Mrs. and Miss Wing were very comfortable, with four rooms, bath, kitchenette, tiny back yard and patent clothes-dryer. The fourth room, which had been Donald Manford's till he outg

e green paint, thought with a kind of surprise: "She really looks very nice." She was duly presented to Paulie and Neddy-Weddy, who were coaxed to show off their store of tricks for the Pretty Lady, and she did her best to shower those eulogies which the relatives in the case invariably expect. But Neddy-Weddy, for his par

er of the bridge-party on Thur

uldn't-possibly. I can't dream of taking a

f hers; they lay in bales in another corner, behind the sofa. Further, she had three articles to write at once for the League's magazine: for it had a special magazine all its own, it seemed. As for D

ded, "to the best of my knowledge,

, I taught a man in Mitchellton to play once, in twenty minut

e knew that Donald was going out that very evening, escorting Miss Helen Carson to the theater, in short. Mary

Use my telephone there, why don't you, and

wo short walks with Mr. Manford, the truth was that he had never called. Mr. Garrott,

ught you might just bring him with you, informal

go myself, Ang

touched with a little irritation at Cousin Mary's attitude. Her cousin, Mr. Garrott, Mr. Manford, and herself-they made a natural table of bridge, a little coterie of friends and relatives who instinctively met together no

arious position. Of course Jennie Finchman could be secured for the other girl, or even Fan

in her soft voice. "Mr. Garrott'll be so disappointed. He admi

were a part of the same sentence-"yester

a walk or somethin

ttractive, do

sness: "Oh, I do-he's the nicest thing!

t," said the school-teacher, "by th

of compunction, too. She had honestly wished and tried to "do something" for Angela; but, alas, she herself had been so long and completely out of things that few connections re

make a decently long visit, you'll be almost certain to see Donald h

-doe

is over them. And then you could ask

casual way, it would be different. And it must be admitted that Mr. Tilletts, who

the bridge-party to Fanny War

touch of envy. It was really a pretty room, much prettier than anything in the Flowers' little house, large, light, attractively furnished, most comfortable and livable. But, of course, it was a simple matter

presently. Mary Wing replied that s

hen the parlor is that long, narrow shape, like a sleeping-car, and needs papering so dreadfully! You know, Cousin Mary," said the girl, with a ruef

essed herself very sympathetically. "And I do know something

family gets along somehow, and never even put up his sign till I begged him to! And, of course

d on you,

y back, these weeks since we've been here! He was th

twist, with the very suggestion that Mr. Garrott had once

ful, "did you ever think at all of g

urprise. "Going to work?

ing of that

think of that. Of course, father can stil

your own money, all you want of it. It makes a difference, as I can testify! And then, too, I know a good man

lain herself to one holding her cousin's known

ch the housekeeping any more. It takes so much time, and worry, and our cook is awful, because we can't afford to pay but twelve dollars a month, and, of course, a good servant won't work

ck, but replied understandingly, and mentioned that Harold Warder felt the same way about women

id, with a girlish hesitancy that became her well, "I wouldn't want to go into an office-or have a b

nding near, surprised her by stoop

ur ambitions are

on't believe you'd und

two cents I'll tell yo

zing up with unfeigned intere

" said Mary, smiling in the nicest way: "To be

e ambition in the very words Angela herself would have used. But, though maidenly embarrassed, she would

's just a-weak womanly ambition! I know you aren't

d Mary, her smile dying. "I

: "Why does she call me Cousin Mary, all th

nto the long windows, fell full upon Mary Wing's delicate face. It was a face, to be just, not devoid of a feminine attractiveness at times. But now the bright day showed it colorless and tired; the marks of many "fights" lingered indefinably about th

ven something of her honors to be pret

good wife to ..." And, breaking off, she added, with another

ost her dreamy loo

Please don't say that

toward the window, interrupted the wom

said in her most matter-of-fact way. "Excuse

tartled gaze, and sprang up. The prospect of casually mee

a little wildly. "I-should have gone so

stiffen a little. So, perhaps,

dered, rather than requested. "I'd

ly and inviting Cousin Mary to th

y! I'll just run back and see

d, as if something within her threw out the words beyond her will: "Why do

gion, or run and hide with the leaflets behind the sofa. It may be she feared her hard cousin a little; but besides that, in the strangest and most

d then Mary Wing returned, her arm slipped b

of fearful fascination. Never in her life before, to her knowledge, had her girlish e

lower, whom you know of, I believe.

woman's not displeasing face, a litt

you do, Mi

brought a reaction, perhaps; and as well as Donald Manford, as well as Judge Blenso himself, Angela knew, if only by intuition, that good peopl

Trev

to her cousin and said, formally: "Good-bye, then,

een them probable. When the door had shut on Angela, Cousin Mary put her arm about t

ou must let me

flinch a little. Her gaze looked rather bright; it fell away from M

Why, w

little cousin showed t

ce. I-hardly ever notice what people do-r

t my hat,"

g educator looked into the room beyond, where the babies a

Mrs. Wing presently,

ry; and let it

to change his little socks again. She was very

-how do y

notice, she hardly looked at Paulie once! How could she help loving

't maternal, mother,

ing imperturbably, "all

hadow fell on her mother's calm face, and Mary s

those days, seemed to be dropping it to Mary. How far she minded her public unpopularity Mary did not say, but her mother's unwavering disapprobation she unquestionably took to heart. "Good women don't make mistakes of that sort," said Mrs. Win

was one person on earth to whom Mary could never seem truly the mature, advanced and dangerous young woman of Fights, Reforms and Careers. Through all her newnesses and