The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-08-28
CHAPTER XIIL-CoNT1NUEp

M Weeks passed. Elsie was still with
Mrs. Wilders. The pleasant harmony
of the pretty home had brought the
color back to her cheeks and elasticity
to her steps, but Millie was in trouble
about her young friend for all that.
The fact was she was mystified, and as
she could not read the puzzle jumped
like a woman to a wrong conclusion.
Elsie Whitford was receiving letters
letters from distance, which she read
in her chamber and never discussed
even with her bosom friend; ergo, this
young woman argued, she is correspond
ing surreptitiously with some man,
and who could that man be but Frank
Grey? And the good little creature was
considerably harassed by the dis
covery.
Yet that very night Elsie spoke.
''Millie," she said, II want to tell you
secret"
Mrs Wilders' eyes flashed suspicion
at once.
"a secret, Elsie?" she asked, coldly.
"Yes, dear; and want you to prom
Use that you'll never breathe it to liv-
ing soul"
"Well-er-that sounds very mystic
rious."
"Will you promiseP"
"No!"
"What! I cannot understand you
rightly" Elsie's big eyes looked won
deringly as though she could not have
caught the meaning of the emphatic
monosyllable.
"Now, Elsie, may ask you ques-
tion?" Mrs. Wilders gravely asked.
"Why certainly-of course"
"You were great friends with Mr..
GreyP"
"Ah, yes, indeed, but those happy
days are passed"
"You thoughts great deal Of him?"
''How could l help it? So good, SO
generous, so self-denying. Millie,
owe him more than words can tell He
found me crude, ignorant girl, with
no appreciation of the good and beauti'
full, no taste for books, no care for self
improvement, no ambition. He left
me"
"Head over heels in love with him,
laughed Millie. "That's the worst o1
handsome young men with taste fol
literature"
Elsie's head dropped and crimson
blush suffused her cheeks.
81 think did love him." she sighed.
sDidy
"Well, then, do love him-to me he
is king, prince, a demigod."
"My gracious goodness! What piece
of infammable tow the child is"
sand what is your question, Miller
SIS q very simple one. Have yor
heard from Mr.. Grey since he left Ore
town."
81 heard from him! No, indeed, HI
has long ago forgotten me. Wha
could such man as he see in CIR
like me to keep me in his memory
much less to trouble himself to write
"If he were not as stupid as an ow
he would have seen one of the sweet
est girls that mans eyes ever rested on
So you have never heard from him?"
''Not word"
"Then, dearest Elsie, the clouds ar
cleared away, and 1 can keep your secre
that is, if 1 may share it with Jack"
''That is of course Do you think
you stupid, that ever fancied you coul'
keep secret from Jack?"
"Well, now for the mystery-I d
like mysteries"
''Do you remember, Millie. the tw
ladies who stayed week at our hous
year ago-the strangers from New
York, who owned so many shares in tn
Buffalo mine?"
"Oh, yes; they captivated Jack, an
he gave them lot Of mineral spec
mems"
swell, they took quite a fancy t
me, and, If mother had not made s
strong an objection, would have take
me back to New York with them then
"Ah, and you have been correspond
ing with them-I see it all"
"IhaVe. / have asked them to offe
me temporary home"
''Elsie Whitford"
"What else could do? Misunde
stood by father and mother, persecute
iby scoundrel with whom they are il
fatuated, what resource have l leftP"
"This is very serious, Elsie. HaN
YOU the means to go-but that is Sc
ondary consideration, for, OF cours
Jack"
'Thanks, dear friend, but l have I
designs on Jacks generosity. To-day
received from Mrs. Baxter draft fl
the expense of the journey and lovir
renewal of her offers"
Surely, Elsie, this great New Yoi
lady cannot be conniving at your lea
ing your home surreptitiouslyS"
''There's the trouble. You see | sa
in my letter that was suddenly d