New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08

ostensibly the rooms, but she saw the N'i
Of their eyes-she had felt disapproVai III '"ei
looks. The air was unsuitable. they sald-re-
Taxing. And one was seen later Knocking ac'o''
the way.
ooh, what mockery 1t Isl cried franoe''
There is no chance for me- Powder! "hat
powder would stick on this hair of nine! o"'
wish were bald entirely!'
She went off on a sad walk round the premises.
There were no hot-water jugs outside the doors,
and no having guests inside them. The three old
ladies' she had started with could no longer DC
heard dsputing shry; there were marks on
the stairs and in the passage where their poAe'
had bumped in being taken down. For the
whole first day after their departure Frances
had rejoiced In unusual peace Now she hao
begun to feel desperate
Opposite the two neghbors were presidihs DIT
tber tables: one at dinner and one at high Tea.
Tho staid canned heads were clearly visible anu
the many other profitable heads. Frances sat
down at her solitary table and looked out OIL the
window She could not eat but her nina was
busv Oh that horrid black hair OF heiS' II
had never brought her luck.
The morning post brought hopeful letters; but
when the writer's saw her they would chahse
their minds. She knew it.
She looked out. 1t was riining fast ana the
city men were putting waterproofs. The
water dripped the small iron gates, wettihs
the rust upon them Those clerks who had
their gloves on looked disguised as they let the
gates slam and saw their fingers. Cmh'eilas
blew about and mackntoshes Mapped IhSt
wearers legs. 1t miserable mornnS
over the way this weather did not matter;
only it was unnecessary to do the steps NO 10
was settling about the dinner. No. II was heip-
ing to make the beds. But Frances OReli mad
nothing whatever to do The house smet empty.
Every little sound. even the football OF the cat
going sadly up and down, was quite distinct
Doors creaked and windows ratified. and the
stair rail felt clammy. The householder could
not bear it any longer. She put on water
proof and boots and shabby little hat, and
took her lonely umbrella from the stand Then
she went out into the rain
At the street she found an omnibus
splashng round for start. The inside was not
full but there were babies. stormy babies IN IL,
so she climbed up on the top. holding on to the
dripping rail. and very sorry for her skirts. Inc
tarpaulins had not been properly Topped, ana the
seats were wet and slippery: but she sat down,
tilted her umbrella. and stared in front of her
There is nothing like rain for washing out I'M
ache only making the REDEEMED eyes ache too
and laughing like mockery in ones face Ram
does not jar and stngs one quickly into
Drawer mood The big drops that are not salt
bring a freshness that beats off dependency.
When Frances had sat ten minutes in the rain
on the omnibus-tOp her eyes were brighter and
her checks were red while wet diamonds glis-
tened in her hair. She liked rain. and santed her
umbrella to let it come smartly in her face;
looking like a girl revealing, girls are wont, in
what older people shun.
There was a block in the Strand. and she sat
forward seeing it gloriousy from her high seat.
Wet strands of hair blew about her face and
bothered her. getting in her eyes. That only
made her cheeks the ruddier, giving her more
girlish look.
4 good many hansoms We're blocked in near
the bus. one elderly gentleman. with square
sodcr-shoulIcrs and "A gray mustache leaned
out of a hanson suddenly His look was eager.
fixed little figure perched on high. He
seemed On the point of getting out and making
"A boyish rush among horses heads and wheels.
But "A hasty glimpse of himself in the narrow
looking glasses stopped him. He sat back and
followed that figure with his eyes only. There
was despair in them
The block broke up. and with slow caution
in their moving the big omnbuses struggled on.
The soldier spoke grutily through the roof. and
the hanson turned. He had been going to look
up old friends. He would not now
Frances reached her rides end and scrambled
down to the mud She left the fresh rain and
courage foo hphind and went soberIv into an