The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-15

anil get as far away from it as possible
there will be something for me to do
in New York. and I will 90 there. Sucha
large, busy city as that certainly has
room and employment for one more,
aad I will CO."
\ few davs after she decided to leave
Chicago she took a train for New York,
hoping that che could find work, and
in that way perhaps she would forget
her troubles. Poor, inexperienced little
wife! She had never sought for EN-
'ployment before, and knew but little
how to manage. She had secured 8
little room on the fourth floor of al
old house, in not very enticing
street.
She could afford no better, for hel
money would soon be all gone, and she
did not know where she would be able
to get work.
There was an advertisement in one
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 o
recommendation of course.
Have you your recommendation
with you? and where were you before !!
and how long have you been governess!
and how old are you? and are your
parents living? and how long has your
husband been dead? and what did he
do while iving?" 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 lad 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 dlscour'
aged.
She went in answer to great many
advertisements, but could not secure q
position, because she could furnish nc
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 in factory for empioym ent.
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 I do?
I wish was dead. Everybody is SC
cold and cruel, and I cannot get en-
ployment. I have but ten cents left
and no way to get any more"
Just then there came O rap on the
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 o great mystery to me that woman
can wear fine diamond rings and not
pay a little room-rent. Yes, if you do
not hand me the money before six you
must 60. Do you understands"
"Yes, I understand you quite plainly;
but I would not tell a falsehood, and
when I say I have not tho money !
speak the truth. AS for my diamond
rings, they were presents to me and ]
would not like to part with them"
Lcnora was now quite pale, and
trembling, and the cunning old land
lady saw it. She believed that Lenora
had money, but wanted to cheat he1
out of the rent.
II can take one of the rings as 30.
curity until you pay what you owe me.
Who gave 'em to you, anyway
"One was my mothers and the other
was given me by my husband"
"Eh! It's q pity if you had such
wealthy people and can't pay two or
three weeks board; pretty how-de-
do, tell YOU"
Lenora was growing so nervous ever
the old woman's talking that she was
get e e. rid Or ner A IN some way she saio
she would try and get the money
and hand it to her before six.
The old lady then left the room,
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 I have not
the money; oh, what shall do? !
can't walk the street all night, or lie
oat in the cold, and I won't give ur
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, Iut perhaps I shall be able to
get work somewhere before this is worn
ont, and tlea I can get another. I
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, I will pawn my dress
and pay The rent"
The lless was black silk, worth
about fifty dollars, but she knew that
she could not get near that much fol
it. but she would DO the best she could.