Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1895-12-12
Won at Last
The Great Love Story of the
Season.
By Bernard Bigsby.
COPYRIGHTED 1895.
CHAPTER XVII.
ELSIE FINDS SOMETHING.

thought that fate was tired OF perSe-
cutting her. Her pupils were all she
could wish, loving, affectionate, duti-
full; her eccentric mistress had not only
taken her into favor, but had actually
made a pet of her, admitting her into
the family circle--nay, even into the
sacred precincts of dining and draw
ing-rooms on gala occasions Only last
night she had been present at grand
ball given in honor of the eldest daugh-
ter's attaining her majority, and the
dazzle of the brilliant scene had hardly
faded from her imagination than she
found herself crying her eyes out in
the keenest distress
: That very morning it had all hap
pened. At an early hour Mrs Grindlay
had demanded an interview with her
in her boudoir, where she was sitting
flushed, nervous and terribly out OF
temper.
so, Miss hitford, you have condo
scended to come at last" had been Ell
sizes greeting.
! Really, madam, made all haste"
the girl replied.
''Of course you know why I have sent
for you?"
, mo, madam"
what, after your conduct last
night"
My conduct last night!''
>''Oh, you are all innocence, suppose.
/ am abiding, miss, to your disgrace
full carvings on with Adolphus Glib
SON.
! What, the fatuous youth with the
eye-glass? Why, talked to him out of
sheer pity"
. ''Fatuous young man, indeed! Do you
know, Miss Whitford, that that young
gentleman is worth one hundred thou
sand dollars year?"
I, ''I'm glad to hear it for his sake, for
it would be difficult for him to earn his
own living"
! THAT is all very fine" Mrs Grindlay
remarked, severely; lit is just such
treatment as that-for men are such
Ifools-that drove Mr.. Gibson to take
the step he did last night
"May ask what step he took, mad
amp"
''As if you didn't know. Well, if you
must hear it. then, he actually asked
my permission to call and pay his adj
dresses to you. / really never was so
shocked in my life"
''Does the shocking character of his
proposal reflect on him or me?" Elsie
asked, with provoking innocence.
i Mrs. Grindlay flushed furiously
81 do believe you have no conception
of the word propriety You forget your
position, you forget his"
'And you yours, madam"
'What, you are insolent-and after
all l have done for you. You will seek
another home this day month, Miss
Whitford."
mo, madam, to-day"
ooh, yes; go off at once and leave me
with those tiresome children. Then l
suppose you will pose as a martyr be-
fore Uncle Woodgrove, and / shall
never hear the last of it."
''Do not fear that, Mrs Grindlav. l
will not stay another night in your
house, but l will not carry my griev-
ances to that good old man"
"And as for money. Since you are
so reasonable, l will gladly give you
| ''Just what you owe me; nothing
more"
''Then, 1 think Miss Whitford, it
would be as well not to say good-by to
the children; it is no use stirring up a
fuss over such trife.'
| mot the slightest USE" Elsie as
sented, and left the room dismissed.
Back to her old lodging again.
Then came a time of adversely, of
perpetual daily disappointment, enough
koryo,, 10 I, Ia-oe - I,
courageous girl. Advertisements she
answered by the score. Now it was a
public speaker who wanted an amanu-
ensis, an Office that needed an attend
ant, a correspondent for a new COM
pany, but the burden of their story was
| always the same-the advance of a few
| hundred dollars as an assurance of
| good faith-not on the part of the
bogus enterprise but ON behalf of the
unfortunate applicant, who was to en-
bark her services with very dubious
| chance of ever receiving payment.
! To add to her trouble her stock of
money was getting daily more and
more attenuated, and in the midst of
all these worries an adventure occurred
to her which OILY plunged her deeper
| into difficulty.
One cold, clustering day she was re-
turning from fruitless hunt after en-
ployment when her eye was attracted
to tall, slouching man, apparently a
tramp in very dilapidated condition
leading by the hand very tired little
boy.
The child looked at her with pitiful
glance which went straight to her
heart Notwithstanding his dirty
clothes and unkempt hair it was appar-
ent that he was lovely boy.
The man noticed her wistful glance,
and looking round to see that no po-
liceman was in the neighborhood, be-
| gan to whine forth tale of suffering
SIS this little boy yours?" she asked
I "Well, no, miss. I'm a keepin' the
kid for gent as was to meet me here
an pay for my trouble, but he amt
come, an if he don't turn up afore
night, by thunder, L"
The little fellow had never taken his
eyes off the girls face. Suddenly he