The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-09-04
CHAPTER XIV.

A pretty, petite figure tripping down
Broadway, New York, attracts the at
tention of the loungers who always in
fest that busy thoroughfare, bent on
staring every unprotected woman out
of countenance. Many glance of hon
est admiration is cast at the face of
young girl, as she passes along, wdst-
fully looking into the upper windows
of the great business houses.
Her face is unwontedly pale, and her
big blue eyes look as though they had
lately been bedcwed with tears.
Poor Elsie Whitford evidently did not
leave carking care entirely behind her,
when she evacuated Oretown 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 stilled for
ever, and the house, which should
have sheltered her, closed and empty.
A l1indly-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 hurrying.
Mr.. Grail was disturbed when his
clerk announced to him that 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 l am the person referred to
in it."
II wouldn't if 1 were you," the clerk
said, sympathetically He'd never
read it, but if it's case of charity,
why perhaps might do something for
you, miss"
Elsie flushed Indignantly, then poured
into thc mans ear the story of her mis-
adventure.
"0h, he'll see you all right" was the
glad assurance, and minute later she
found herself in the great mans pres
ence.
st must have been great shock to
YOU" Mrs. Grail confessed, with a little
sympathetic cough, "and under stand
you have no friends in New Yorli?"
"None."
swell, of course shall be glad to af-
ford you means to return home"
"But l do not mean to return"
"Good gracious, young lady, do you
suppose you can remain in this big
city?"
"Why, certainly. Surely in this vast
place there is room for one more young
woman to earn her living"
''But what could you do?"
"Anything that is honorable"
"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 livelihood"
Hundreds Of thousands, but they are
under the protection of their friends"
II am sorry troubled you," Elsie
said, rising.
"Do not be impatient, Why, bless
my soul, do you suppose that am go
ing to allow an innocent child like you
to walk out into the pitfalls of this
sruel place-what do you take me for?"
IF you cannot give me work to do,
nor tell me where 1t Is to be got, shall
accept no other aid from you"
Mr.. Grail stared at her harder than
ever.
81 think" he said, ''you had better
return to 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 the
latest. Even your activity can brook
80 brief delay, l hope"
"Oh, yes, SIR" Elsie said, giving him a
look out Of those lustrous eyes of hers
that set the matter-of-fact old mans
heart aglow.
Now. in accordance with instructions
from Mr.. Grail, which our heroine re-
ceiyed in due course, she found herself
waiting with all humility ON q grand
society lady, one Mrs, Clarence Grind