The Republican., 1900-12-27

tOrtS had their effect, but more than
all, to her ''close-isted" father, was the
tempting bait of her future earnings.
And so to the city went Jenny, fully
confident that her pretty face and quick
apprehension would serve her in lieu of
other qualifications. Negotiations with
the teacher of typewriting and short
hand-whose advertisement in their
home paper had decided her upon this
| step-resulted in her securing board in
very genteel and correspondingly
high priced boarding house.
To her unsophisticated mind that 800
appeared a small fortune, yet she saw
ii slip away with but little apprehen-
sion as the weeks rolled on. In the
space of six weeks, by diligent app,i-
cation, she had acquired the art" of
typewriting, and as she was assured by
the professor" speed only was nee
essary now to render her eligible for
frst-class position, position COM
manding $12, SIS or $50 per week. How
glibly the sums rolled from the pro-
fessor's lips!
"But one dollar left" ruefully said
Jenny one morning. "My, how money
does fly in the city. Why, could have
made that sum do me for years at
thought with pang of regret of that
home, of the loving care and the simple
home comforts which had ever been
hers without this weekly bargaining.
So that day, with much care and pre-
cision, Jenny answered several adver-
tisements, confidently expecting ia
vorable reply from one at least. How
anXiously she watched for the post
man. Day after day passed, and there
came no reply.
At length, oh, joy. an answer, bid
ding her call at a downtown office.
Donning her most becoming hat and
jacket, Jenny tripped forth, and be-
fore ten o'clock had struck stood in
the office designated.
'The gentleman amt down yet, re-
piled an idle boy who serenely revolved
in a handsome office chair in front of
the desk; ''he don't most generally
come down till II o'clock"
"What is the business ?" she next in
quired.
81 dunno, ma am; was only engaged
this week. l reckon it's stocks. though.
or a agency, or somethin' or other"
Further speculation was cut short by
the entrance of the proprietor, to whom
Jenny timidly introduced herself.
He nodded affably, and the girl,
blushing under his cool stare of ad-
miration, forgot all she had prepared
herself to say.
The gentleman first divested him
self of his overcoat, opened his desk
fumbled among some papers, then Sc
lecting one, directed the boy to go
to that address and deliver it.
"Now!" said he, when they were
alone, settling himself comfortably in
his chair, tell me something about
yourself!"
Jenny wondered if that was the
way business men interviewed ap-
plicants for positions, as she. with
no little embarrassment, complied
"Ah but few weeks in the great
city,. he remarked with a cordial
smile, 'unsophisticated, etc, etc.
That suits me. What salary, may
ask, do you eXpect?"
Il leave that to you, sir" she
stammered.
Him! Well,' refectively, suppose
we say ten dollars per week. Wheth-
er it shall be increased in the future
will depend upon yourself"
Jenny's eyes sparkled.
Ten dollars a week! The sum had
seemed large one in that modest
home in the country, but how insult
fcient it seemed now that her eyes
had feasted upon the costly fabrics
displayed in numberless shop win
dows, the elegant attire of women in
the churches, upon the street, and
even in the parlor of her genteel
boarding house.
'It will be some time before l can
spare any money towards hiring help
for mother" she soliloquized that
night. Il shall need all 1 can make
to keep up appearances here" and
with visions of new and stylish addi-
tions to her wardrobe, Jenny fell into
a sweet, untroubled sleep
How contented she was with her
lot as the weeks flew by! How
thoughtful of her comfort and pleas
ures, even, was her handsome en-
ployer! How kindly he sought to
break the monotony of her lonely
evenings by escorting to concert
and theater! And then the little
suppers, and often the delightful
luncheons at noon, while the office
boy idly dangled his legs before the
handsome desk.
Letters from home were but few.
and as the days wore on, hers to the
waiting, weary little mother grew
shorter, and more and more infre-
quent.
"There's a change come over our
Jenny" said Mrs. Bently to her un-
sympathetic husband, "her letters
don't sound as they used to, I'm
thinkin'. l wish some of us didn't
feel so tired when night comes, SOS
we could write to her oftener. 1t
don't seem right" sadly, ''to hev our
girl go off 'mong strangers to live,