The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-03-09

She could afford no better. for her
money would soon be all gone, and she
did not know where she would be ahIe
to get work.
There was an advertisement in ono
OF the daily papers for governess. in
good family, to teach in English and
French.
Lenora answered it immediately. and
gave her name, Mrs. Bristol. The fami-
ly that wanted the governess wanted a
recommendation of course.
Have you your recommendation
with you? and where We're you before?
and how long have you been governess?
and how ola are you? and are your
parents living? and how long has your
husband been dead? and what did he
do while living?" etc.
This great volley of questions fright
ened Lenora, and she felt more like
crying than answering. OF course she
had no recommendation, no parents.
and had never been governess, and as
for telling anything about her lost
darling, that she would not and could
not do. Of course, as she could an
swer none of these questions, she was
dismissed and compelled to return TO
her lone, dingy room, sadly discour-
aged
She went IN answer to great many
advertisements, but could not secure a
position, because she could furnish no
recommendation and had never worked
before.
A month had gone by, and she had
not found anything to do as yet; she
did not think of putting that sweet
voice of hers to use in theater, or of
applying III a factory for employment.
She had offered to do housework. but
her little soft, white hands did not
seem to suit, and she was turned away
everywhere. Two weeks more passed,
and most of the time now was spent
IN crying; her clothes were getting
shabby, and she was behind two weeks
IN her room-rent, and then had scarce
ly enough money to keep her from
starving.
"Oh, what shall what can / do?
! wish ! was dead Everybody is so
cold and cruel, and / cannot get EN-
ployment. l have but ten cents left,
and no way 10 get any more"
door, and she hastily dried her tears
and opened it. Her landlady stood
there, with cross, ugly face.
Come in, please"
The big, fat, coarse woman walked
in and shut the door, placed her broad
back against it, and then looked
Lenora straight in the face.
This room must be vacated tonight
unless the rent is paid before six. 1T
is great mystery to me that woman
can wear fine diamond rings and not
pay little room-rent. Yes, If you do
not hand me the money before six you
must go. Do you understand? 2"
Eyes, l understand you quite plainly;
but l would not tell falsehood and
when | say L have not the money |
speak the truth. As for my diamond
rings, they were presents to me and L
would not like to part with them"
LenOra was now quite pale, and
trembling, and the cunning old land
lady saw it. She believed that Lenora
had money, but wanted to cheat her
out of the rent
81 can take one of the rings as Sc
curity until you pay what you owe me.
Who gave EN- to you, anyway"
cone was my mothers and the other
was given me by my husband
Eth! It's a pity if you had such
wealthy people and can't pay two or
three weeks board; a pretty how-de-
do, l tell you"
Lenora was growing so nervous over
the old woman's talking that she was
afraid she would faint, and in order to
get rid of her IN some way she said
she would try and get the money
and hand it to her before six
The old lady then left the room,
mumDling something about fine folks,
but as Lenora did not care to hear, she
did not listen
After sitting there for some time, she
did not know how long, she drew her
watch from her pocket to see what time
it was.
"Half-past four and yet [ have not
the money; oh, what shall | do? |
can't walk the street all night, or lie
out in the cold, and | won't give up
either of these rings, or my watch,
either, for poor darling gave me that.
No, no; can never part with them.
have but one dress besides this that [
have on, but perhaps l shall be able to
get work somewhere before this is worn
out, and then / can get another. [
shall have to either pawn that or sleep
in some alley tonight, and / fear poor
darling would see me from his home on
high, and surely it would make him
feel sad Yes, l will pawn my dress
and pay the rent"
fTha l,1oaI- Gill II
about fifty dollars, but she knew that
she could not get near that much for
it, but she would do the best she could.
She had not had anything to eat since
morning, and as she went down the
long stairway to the street she felt SO
weak that it was almost impossible for
her to walk.
1t was fearfully cold night, and
the wind was so strong that it almost
blew Lenora off the pavement. On she
went, in search of pawnshop, with
her bundle under her arm. She did
not know where to find one, but would
ask the first policeman she saw.
They all seemed off duty, for she
looking for the three balls hanging
out, but every step she took now
seemed that it must be her last. She
was numb with the cold and faint from
hunger The little feet moved over
the icy pavement very slowly now, and
finally they stopped entirely, and the
little form swayed from side to side, as
if she were drunk. The next moment
that poor, injured little wife lay sense
less in the streets of New York.
TO BE Continued