Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-10-18
CHAPTER XVII.
NV nov yrAppy

/ When Captain Winthrop found himself
one Of the hundreds pouring out Of tao
gateway Of the Central station in New
York, | fancy he felt, for all his bravo
words to his wife, little nervous concern
ing the troubles he was about to encounter,
for, like all uutravclod proyincalists, his
IDEAS Of the metropolis were not exactly
aattering to its inhabitants.
| 1t was mid-aftcrnoon when he arrived.
aud, frst running into dock ~ at a hotel,
he set boldly out for East Sxty-third street.
It was rocking hot--hotter than the Captain
in his widest dreams had ever imagined
human beings could endure it and live
Along Fifth avenue it was bad enough, but
/ whom he turned TO the right into n mar
rover and moro crowded street he had
4 fairly TO gasp for respiration. Tho neigh.
borhood was not pleasant one; for by do
( grces tho character OF the houses seemed
to detoriorate until at last he reached a re-
gion Of squalid tenement dwellings,, tenn
ing with slatternly women and helf-naked
children, WHOM the sitting air had driven
to the door-steps. Again and again no
paused, thinking he mus. have Numbered.
but the inscription on tho street lamps re-
assured him and he plodded on Then
things mcndcd little There was a marked
NFAAAStAN IA NiAb oAl 40 VI i&OuStN, WHICH
were now Of the shabby-genteel order. with
windows decorated with cards OF Apart.
mcnts to let, aud at last he reached No
905l.
A pleasaatloolSing, neat, middle-aged
woman was sweeping the doorstep as he
approached
Docs Miss Frobsham live hercg" the
Captain asked, moppng his brow with q
bandana handkerchief big enough for a
yacht-1ag
"Yes, sir Please come in" And the
Captain found himself IN a ANAL, dark sit
ting-roonl, made hidoous with abortlons 10
wax flowers and colored tides after the
manner Of tho New York lodging houses.
" You'll excuse me, sir" the woman con-
tinued, when the Captain was seated, "brt
might ask yo-r business with Miss Fro
bishami''
The Captain stared in indignant silence.
"Oh, you need not be angry, sir. don't
ask out Of curiosity; only / can see that you
are IRON the country, and L suppose you are
one Of tho family"
Merely an old friend" tho Captain OK.
planned.
" An old friend, ehi Then I'm glad ! took
the precaution OF speaking to yea. You
must deal gently with her, for Shes seen
about as much trouble as she can bear,
and il you're gong 70 worry her with any
bad news or other unpleasantness you won't
see her at all, aud that's plump"
The Captain felt very uncomfortable.
'The piano mans been here this morning
and taken the instrument away, though she
starved herself 10 pay the hire, ard too
proud she is to let me helpher. Lord above
knows what she'll do il some Of her people
don't turn up-but, gracious, I'm letting my
tongue wag, and precious mad she'd be il
she knew I'd lot on about her troubles"
"May / see her, pleasclp the Captain
asked, meekly.
Yes, suppose must tell her you are
here" the woman said, reluctantly. "Walt
few minutes and will fetch her"
Left to himself, the Captain began TO de-
plore tho obstinacy Of women in general and
Kate Frobisham in particular. Why, in the
name Of goodness, couldn't she let his boy
aloncl But he would bring this young per-
son 70 her senses before he left the city,
sure as his mama was Daniel Wintbrnn.