The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-11-15

BY BERNARD BIGsBY.
CHAPTER XIV.

broadway. New Ori<. attracts the al
tention of the loungers who always In
fest that busy thoroughfarc. bent on
staring every unprotected woman out
of coun. ! lanc... Many glance OF hon
est admiration is east at the face of
young girl, as she passes along. visit
fully looking into the upper windows
of the great business houses.
Her face is unwontedly pale. anG her
big blue eyes look as though they had
lately been bedewed with tears.
Poor Elsie Whitford evidently did not
leave carLing care entirely behind her.
when she evacuated Orctown with SO
much happy precipitancy.
Her case was singular one.
Death had stepped in to upset Mrs
Baxter's kind intentions regarding her
young protege. and The kind hand,
which but two weeks ago had written
Elsie SO encouragingly. was stille6 for
ever. and the house. which should
have sheltered her. closed and empty.
A kindly-disposed servant. won by
the girls sweet face. had secured lodg
ingS for her and given her the address
of Mr.. Theophilus Grail. Mrs. Baxter's
man of business. to whose office Elsie
was now hu-rying.
Mr. Grail was disturbed when his
clerk announced to him that a young
lady, who would not send in her card.
desired to see him on urgent business,
for more than once that astute gentle
man had found his sanctum invaded by
feminine canvassers with just such ex-
cuses for admission.
Tell her I'm engaged"
The message was curt and came like
the cut of whip to the frightened
girl.
Give him this letter" she SAID at
last. recovering little courage, land
tell him | am the person referred to
in it,
Il wouldn't if | were you" the clerk
said. sympathetically He'd never
read it, but if it's case of charity,
why perhaps might 10 something for
you, miss.
Elsie flushed Indignantly, then poured
into the mans car the story of her mis-
adventure.
oh. he'll see you all right. was the
glad assurance. and minute later she
found herself in the great mans pres
ence
1T must have been great shock TO
you" Mrs Grail confessed. with a lit
tie sympathetic cough. and | under
stand You have no friends in New
York.
None.
'Wcll. of course shall be glad 10 af-
ford you means 30 return home.
''But do not mean to return"
Good gracious. young lady. do you
suppose you can remain in this big
city9"
why. certainly. Surely in this vast
place there is room for one more young
woman t" earn her living"
But what could you do?"
Anything that is honora BILE"
Really. this is extraordinary. What
nerve You western girls must be en-
dowed with"
Are there not thousands of girls in
New York working for a livelihood"
Hundreds of thousands, but they
are under the protection Of their
friends"
Il am sorry l troubled you" Elsie
said, rising.
do not be impatient. Why, bless
my soul, do you suppose that ] IN 60
ing to allow an innocent child like you
to walk out into the pitfalls of this
cruel place-what do you take me for?"
IF you cannot give me work to do,
nor tell me where it is to be got, shall
accept no other aid from YOU"
Mr.. Grail stared at her harder than
ever.
Il think" he said. Won had better
return 10 Your lodgings, and | will in
quire among my lady friends what Is
best TO be done. You may rely on hear
ing from me by noon tomorrow at thu
latest. Even your activity can brook
so brief a delay. hope.
Oh, yes. sir" Elsie said. giving hima
that ST the mattcr-of-fact old mans
heart ;i@lnw.
Now. in accordance with instructions
fro:a Mr.. Grail, which oar heroine re-
ceiyCd in due course. she found herself
waiting with all humility on a grand
society lady" one Mrs. Clarence Grind
lay. in her Fifth avenue mansion. a sup
plant for the position of nursery gov
erneSS
\ GORGEOUS footmau opened the door
such radiant being as poor Elsie's
bacl1woodS experience had never inn
agined.
well. what is it," he abruptly asked.
Il called on Mrs. Grindlay by the adj
vice OF Mr.. Grail. In fact" She added.
for She thought it would pay to be a
little confidential. Il am seeking the
position ST nursery govcrness here"
'-Oh. please sit down.
Elsie placed herself uncomfortably in
one of the antique hall chairs. whose
heraldic designs aStonished the unSo-
phiSticatcd child. that had been taught
to believe that the citizens of this free
and enlightened land were above such
fripperics.
In few moments there was the .fr0u
frOUof a silk dress heard. and Il stout.
handsome woman. superbly dressed.
ablaze in diamonds and gold. though ii
was barely yet midday. and accompa-
MED 10y two young ladies. equally bediz-
ened. made her appearance.
The gorgeous footman whispered a