The Irish standard., 1895-07-20
CHAPTER XVII (.
ELSIE FINDS SOMETHING,


the family circle--nay, even into the
sacred precincts of dining and draw
ang-rooIns on gala occasions. Only last
/ night she had been present at q grand
ball given In honor Of the eldest daugh-
ster'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. Gripdlay
had demanded an interview with her
in her boudoir, where she was sitting
flushed, nervous and terribly out OF
temper.
$50, Miss Whitford, you have conde-
scended to come at last, " had been Eli
sizes greeting.
Really, madam,.I made all haste, {"
che girl replied.
.'of course you know why have sent
for you7"
''No, madam.
reWhat, after yonr conduct last
nightl' ~
'My conduct last nightl''
''Oh, you are all innocence, ! suppose.
am abiding, miss, to your disgrace
full carvings on with Adolphus Glib
SON." 4
'.What, the fatuous youth with the
eye-glass? Why, talked to him out Of
sheer pity"
'Fatuous young man, indeedl Do you
know, Miss Whitford, that that young
gentleman Is worth one hundred thou
sand, dollars year?"
'sI'm glad to hear it for his sake, for
It would be difficult ferehim to earn his
own living,
''That is all very fine, !" Mrs. Grindlay
remarked, severely; ut is just such
treatment as that-for men are such
fools-that drove Mr.. Gibson to take
the step'he did last night"
"May ask what step he took, mad
amp"
Gas If you didn't know. Well, II you
must hear it, then, he actually asked
my permission to call and pay his ad-
dresses to you. / really never was SO
shocked in my life. :"
.tDoes the shocking character Of his
proposal reflect on him or me3" Elsie
asked, with provoking innocence.
s Mrs. G7indlaY flushed furiousl1.
ia 81 do believe you have no conception
/ Of the word propriety. You forget your
position, you forget his"
&. ''And you yours, madam"
hat, you are insolentr-and after
ell / have done for you. You will seek
another home this day month, Miss
Whitford.'
.tNo, madam, to-day. !"
{ ooh, yes; 70 of ct once and leave me
Z with those tiresome children. Then 1
suppose you viii pose % amartyr be-
fore Uncle Woodgrove, and / shall
never hear the last Of t." s
EDO not fear that, Mrs. Grindlay. I
will not stay another night Ii your
house, but i will not carry my grew
ances to that good old man" q
i. !. I. sand as for money. Since you are
DO reasonable, 1will gladly give you-r
inst what you owe me; nothing
more. = A.
..Then, L think, Miss Whitford, Il
would be as well not to cay good-by to
the children; It is no use stirring up .
fuss over such q tribe. = 3 5 Ref.
.a3 Tot the slightest USE" Elsie as-
scented, and left the room dismissed.
Back to her old lodging again. 4 ss:s .s u
Then came o time Of adversely, az
perpetual daily disapp enough
even to crush the high hopes Of this
/. courageous girl. Advertisements she
answered by the score. Now it was q
public speaker who wanted an amailu-
sensis, an office that needed an attend.
. ant, q correspondent for new COM
pany, but the burden Of their story was
always the satnethe advance Of 9 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 only plunged her deeper.
into difficulty
one cold, clustering day she was re-
turning from 8 fruit less hunt after ems
ployment yfhet1 her eye was attracted
to s tall, slouching mAn, apparently 8
tramp 81 9 very dilapiaated condition.
leading by tho hand avery tired little
fhe child locked at her with 8 piitiiftul
Rlanee which went straight To- her
hear !. tanding his dirty