The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-11-22
CHAPTER XVII.
ELSIE FINDS SOMETHING

the family clrcle-nay, even into the
sacred precincts of dining and draw
ing-rooms on gala occasions. Only last
night she had been present at a grand
ball given in honor of the eldest dau2h-
ters 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 kecneSt distress.
That very morning il 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 Whitford. you have conde-
seconded to come at last" had been FL
sizes greeting.
Really. madam. made all haste"
the girl replied.
"Of course you know why have sent
for you?''
NO, madam
What. after your conduct last
night
My conduct last night
oh. YOU are all innocence. suppose.
am alluding. miss. to your disgrace
ful carvings on with Adolphus Glib
SON.
What. the fatuous youth with the
eye-gIasS? Why. talked to- him out of
sheer p ty.'
'Fatuous young man. indeed! Do you
know. Miss Whitford. that that young
gentleman is worth one hundred thou
sand dollars year?"
lin glad to hear IL for his sake. for
it would he difficult for him to earn his
own living.
That is all very fine. Mr.. Grindlay
remarked. severely: lit is Just such
treatment Is that-for men are such
fool,-that drove Mr.. Gibson TO take
the step he did last night;
May ask what step ne took. mad
am
As if YOU Didn't know. We'll. if YOU
must hear it. then. hr actually asked
my permission Ia call aud pay his adj
dresses 10 you. | really never was -
shocked in my life.
Does the shocking character of his
proposal reflect on him or me?" Elsie
asked. with provoking Innocence.
Mrs. Grindlav flushed furiously
Il do believe you have no conception
of the word propriety. You forget your
position. you forget his
And you yours. madam.
What. you are insolcnt-and after
ali have done for you. You will seek
another home this day month. Miss
Whit ford"
NO. madam. to-day"
oh. yes; go off at once and leave me
with those tiresome children. Then
suppose you will pose ss a martyr be-
fore Uncle Woodgrove, and shall
never hear the last of it,
do not fear that. Mrs. Grindlay. |
will not stay another night in your
house. but ! will not carry my griev-
anccs to that good old man
And as for money. Since you are
so rcasonab BILE. will gladly give you"
just what you owe me; nothing
more"
Then. think, Miss Whitford. it
would be- as well not to say gOOd-by to
the children: it is no use stirring up
fuss over such trifle."
Not the slightest use" Elsie as
scntcd. and left the room dismissed.
Back to her old lodging again.
Then came a time of adversely. of
perpetual daily disappointment. enough
even to crush the high hopes of this
courageous girl. Advertisements she
by the score. Now it was a
public speaker who wanted an amanu-
cnSiS. an Office that needed an attend
ant. a correspondent for a new CON-
pany, but the burden of their story was
always the same-thc 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
applicant. who was tn cni-
bari; 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 attcnuated. and in the midst OF
al! these worries an adventure occurred
to her which only plunged her deeper
into difficulty.
One cold. clustering day she was re-
turning from fruitlcss hunt after cni-
ploy.aCnt when her eye was attra ted
to tall. slouching man. apparently "
tramp in a very dilapidated condition
leading Ivy the hand Il very tired little
boy.
The chii'i looked at her with pitiful
glance which went straight to her
heart. Notwithstanding his dirty
clothes and unlScmpt hair it was appar-
nnt that he was lovely by.
The man noticed her wistful glan"e,
and looking round to see that no po-
iccnlan WAS in the ncighborhood. be-
ran Ia whine forth tale OF suffering.
Continued Merit Week.