Iron County register., 1889-03-14
CHAPTER XVII.
MY BOY HARRY.

one of the hundreds pouring out of the
gateway of the Central station in New
York, l fancy he felt, for all his brave
words to his wife, a little nervous concern
ing the troubles he was about to encounter,
for like all untraveled provincialists, his
ideas of the metropolis were not exactly
flattering to its inhabitants.
1t was mid-afternoon when he arrived,
and, first running into docl5'' at a hotel
he set boldly out for East Sixty-third street
1t was reeking hot-hotter than the Captain
in his widest dreams had ever imagined
human beings could endure it and live.
Along Fifth avenue u was bad enough, but
when he turned to the right into a mar
rover and more crowded street he had
fairly to gasp for respiration. The neigh
borhood was not a pleasant one; for by de-
grees the character of the houses seemed
to deteriorate until at last he reached a re-
gion of squalid tenement dwellings, teem-
ing with slatternly women and half-naked
children, whom the sitting air had driven
to the door-steps. Again and again he
paused, thinking he must have blundered,
but the inscription on the street lamps re-
assured him and he piodded on. Then
things mended little. There was marked
improvement in the style of houses, which
were now of the shabby -genteei order, with
windows decorated with cards of APART
ments to let," and at last he reached No.
2051.
A pleasant-looking, neat, middle-aged
woman was sweeping the doorstep as he
approached.
Docs Miss Frobisham live here:" the
Captain asked, mopping his brow with a
bandana handkerchief big enough for a
yacht-fiag.
'.Yes, sir Please come in.n And Ghe
Captain found himself IN a small, dark SIT
ting-room, made hideouS with abortsonS El
wax flowers and colored tides after the
manner of the New York lodging houses.
You'll excuse me, sir" the woman con-
tinued, when the Captain was seated, ''but
might l ask your business with Miss Fro
blsham?'
The Captain stared in indignant silence.
s'Oh, you need not be angry, sir. don't
ask out OF curiosity: only can see that you
are from the country, and suppose you are
one of the family"
Merely an old friend" the Captain ex-
planned.
IAN old friend, ehs Then I'm glad l took
the precaution of speaking to you. You
must deal gently with her, for she's seen
about as much trouble as she can bear,
and if you're gong to worry her with any
bad news or other unpleasantness you won't
see her at all, and that's plump"
The Captain felt very uncomfortable.
ssThe piano mans been here this morning
and taken the instrument away, though she
starved herself to pay the hire, ard too
proud she is to let me heipher- Lord above
knows what she'll do if some of her people
don't turn up-but, gracious, I'm letting my
tongue wag, and precious mad she'd be II
she knew I'd let on about her troubles"
May l see her, pleased" the Captain
asked, meekly.
Eyes, suppose l must tell her you are
here the woman said, reluctantly. "Walt
a few minutes and WEI fetch her"
Left to himself, the Captain began to de-
plore the obstinacy of women in general and
Kate Frobisham in particular. Why, IN the
name OF goodness, couldn't she let his boy
alone2 But he would bring this young per-
son to her senses before he left the city,
sure as his name was Daniel Winthrop.
Suddenly the door opened and Kate
Frobisham stood before him.
Now, it is one thing for an elderly gentle
man to make big resolutions and another TO
carry them out when he is confronted by
a lovely young woman looking exasperat-
ingly beautiful, and piercing his very heart
with glance of pitiful entreaty. Such
sad, sweet face, tool What shame that
fortune should deal so hardly with her. 80
instead of reading her lecture on the lm
propriety Of her conduct, he found hmsei
holding both the girls hands in his and
drawing her to him with a fatherly kiss.
AZ was so surprised to hear you were
come" she said, in shy, soft tones.
Sand so glad, my pretty-say you were
glad too"
II think am glad-nay, will say am
sureI am glad, Captain Winthrop"
For an hour they talked, yet not q word
did the wicked Captain say Of the object
which had brought him to the city; and so
confidential did they become that when she