The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-11-29
W ON AT LAST.
BY BERNARD BIGsBY.

"Well, no, miss. I'm 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, /"
The little fellow had never taken his
eyes off the girls face. Suddenly he
snatched himself free from the mans
grasp and flung himself sobbing upon
Elsie.
"Oh, dom you know NEEDN'T you
know me-Fm Willie Wilders, of Ore
town."
willie Wilders!" Elsie cried, in
dazed wonder, turning to the man for
explanation, but that gentleman was
flying as fast as his numbering feet
would carry him out of the way of dis
agreeable questions.
When once Elsie Whitford put her
hand to the pillow she did not stop to
count the burrows; so, controlling her
curiosity, she bore her prize away to
her lodging, where, after pacifying her
landlady and enlisting the sympathetic
services of the domestic, she plunged it
in a bath of hot water, whence it came
forth pink, dimpled and pretty as a lit
tie live Cupid. Then she fed him, and
when he had eaten to his hearts con-
tent she counted her money and went
forth to purchase suitable clothes for
her poor little pensiouer. Not till then
did she begin to ply him with ques-
tionS.
He could not tell her much. The bad
man, he said, seized him when he was
walking in the woods ever SO long ago,
and had brought him by boat and train
a great distance. Oh. no, the bad man
had not been very cross with him until
quite lately, nor had they wanted food
until few days ago.
The next thing to do was to telegraph
the prospector; but here another OBJ
stacle was in the way. A terrible storm
had swept off miles of wire, so no mes
sage could be got through; nor was 1t
likely, the clerk said, that communica-
tions could be made under a week at
least. She could write, of course, he
suggested, but he was pretty GER
tain that the railroad was blockaded,
and he did not think letter would fare
much better.
This would not have been so serious,
only the poor girl found that after her
recent outlay she had only four dollars
remainiug-not a very princely sum on
which to keep two persons in city
like New York, where everything is
always at war prices.
Next day was Sunday. Early on
Monday morning Elsie was trying to
resolve herself into a committee of
ways and means. The more she puz-
zled her brains the greater seemed her
dilemma-dollarS were not elastic, and
the wisest head could not make more
than hundred cents out of them.
There's lady and gentleman down
in the parlor for you, miss" 1t was
the friendly handmaiden who bore the
summons.
Fully believing they We're some peo-
ple whose. advertisement she had an
swered. she babe Willie keep out OF
mischief and tripped downstairs for
the interview.
But she had hardly entered the room
than she found herself in the grasp of
a friendly hand, and a pleasant voice
rang nCl
$50 we've run you to earth at last,
but, dearie me! How pale and out of
sorts YOU are looking. What a naughty,
bad, wicked girl you are to run away
like this"
"Oh, Mr.. Woodgrove I'm so glad to
see you,' and the poor child's eyes
danced with unfeigned delight.
Then a white-haired elderly lady
came forward and took the girls hand
with such a sweet look ON her benevo-
lent face, that Elsie involuntarily
raised herself on tip-tOe and kissed her,
a proceeding which seemed TO hugely
delight Mr.. Woodgrove.
Didn't tell III so. MAJ he chuck
led. Told you you'd take to my little
governess the moment you set eyes on
her, didn't I?''
Mrs. Woodgrove laughed.
Hes quite in love with you, dear. so
you must excuse his gushing manner"
she said, sweetly. Now tell me, have
you secured any other POSITION
NO." Elsie replied with tears we'll
ing.
''Hurrah.' cried Mr.. Woodgrove,
chats all right then, SO all you've got
to do is to pack up your traps and come
along with us
go with you, sir where"
"Why, where would you go but home.
of course. To Buffalo, my dear. Well
leave by this afternoons train, for |