Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-07-05

I
dazed wonder, turning to the man for
explanation, but that gentleman was
flying as fast as his laundering feet
would carry him out of the way of dis
agreeable questions
When once Elsie Whitford put her
hand TO the pillow she did not stop TO
count the burrows; so, controlling her
curiosity, she bore her prize away to
her lodging, where, after pacifying her
landlady and enlisting the sympathetic
services of the domestic, she plunged it
in a bath of hot water, whence 1t came
forth pink, dimpled and pretty as lit
tie live Cupid. Then she fed him, and
when he had eaten to his hearts con-
tent she counted her money and went
forth 10 purchase suitable clothes for
her poor little pensioner. Not till then
did she begin to ply him with ques-
tions.
He could not tell her much. The bad
man, he said, seized him when he was
walking in the woods ever SO long ago,
and had brought him by boat and train
4 great distance. Oh, no, the bad man
had not been very cross with him until
quite lately, nor had they wanted food
until few days ago.
The next thing to do was to telegraph
the prospector; but here another OBJ
stacle was in the way. A terrible storm
had swept off miles Of wire, so no mes
sage could be got through; nor was IT
likely, the clerk said, that communica-
tions could be made under a week at
least. She could write, of course, he
suggested, but he was pretty GER
tain that the railroad was blockaded,
and he did not think letter would fare
much better.
This would not have been SO serious,
only the poor girl found that after her
recent outlay she had only four dollars
rcmaining-not very princely sum on
which to keep two persons in city
like New York, where everything IS
always at war prices.
Next day was Sunday. Early on
Monday morning Elsie was trying to
resolve herself into a committee Of
ways and means. The more she puz-
zled her brains the greater seemed her
dilemma--dollars were not elastic, and
the wisest head could not make more
than hundred cents out of them.
There's lady and gentleman down
in the parlor for you, miss" 1t was
the friendly hahdmaiden who bore the
summons.
Fully believing they were some peo-
pie whose advertisement she had an
swered, she babe Willie keep out of
mischief and tripped downstairs for
the interview.
But she had hardly entered the room
than she found herself in the grasp of
friendly hand, and a pleasant voice
rang in her ears.
$50 we've run you to earth at last,
but, dearie me! How pale and out Of
sorts you are looking. What naughty,
bad, wicked girl you are to run away
like this"
"Oh, Mr.. Woodgrove! I'm SO glad to
see you!'' and the poor child's eyes
danced with unfeigned delight.
Then a white-haired elderly lady
came forward and took the girls hand
with such sweet look on her benevo-
lent face, that Elsie involuntarily
a proceeding which seemed TO hugely
delight Mr.. Woodgrove.
Didn't tell you so, map" he chuck
led. "Told you you'd take to my little
goyerness the moment you set eyes on
her, didn't II"
Mrs. Woodgrove laughed.
Hes quite in love with you, dear, SO
you must excuse his gushing manner
.Ae said, sweetly. ''Now tell me, have
you secured any other position?"
"No," Elsie replied with tears well.
ing.
"Hurrah!' cried Mr.. Woodgrove,
''that's all right then, so all you've got
to do is to pack up your traps and come
along with u.s."
'Go with you, sir-where?"
"Why, where would you go but horne,
of course. To Buffalo, my dear. Well
leave by this afternoons train, for
Ma Lzm~p