The suburban citizen., 1901-03-23
AIRY ELLET stood at the
one window Of her pretty
room, looking down upon a
child I'm the nrnn-n hlne-

I
as fair, and sweet, and bright a study
as even an artist could desire.
But Mary Ellet was no artist-at
least not one who puts beautiful fan
| cies into words, or on canvas. She
was only one of thirty saleswomen in
a Broadway dry goods house, and a
| boarder with the owners of the baby,
who was having a splendid time with
her dog and her dolly, in the sunshine
of the late spring that everybody was
rejoicing over.
Eight o'clock" said Mary, as the
striking Of a clock below came up
with a deep admonishng tone to
where she stood "What can keep him.
l wonder? A half hour past time al
ready, and l was never tardy before in
all the years I've been with Blake &
Hillman. l shall lose my place. just
as likely as not, for 1 cannot give
satisfactory excuse except l tell the
truth, which is quite out Of the ques-
tion; so must keep silent and trust
to luck"
She turned from the window. then,
and there was tired look in her great
gray eyes. as she put on her hat and
went hastily down stairs.
At the street door she met Leland
Forsyth, a tall, handsome young
man, who tucked her under his arm
forthwith with an assurance that was
unrebuked, because it hung itself to n
cable-of-a-promlse, and together they
started down the street.
You are late, Lee" the girl said,
speaking in a more serious tone than
she had ever yet used to her lover.
'Am ~ be Queried, shading his eyes
and looking up at the sun. Not very,
guess"
Enough to risk the loss Of my
place" Mary answered, quietly.
though the tardiness and Indifference
Of her lover piqued her
"Oh, pshaw! Blake e Hillman are
no such fellows Besides, Blakes in
love with your the young man said,
cOarsely. "Ive known that these three
months. Of course, his love don't
mean what mine does. These rich fell
lows"
'Leew
The girl drew her arm from her
lovers, and stopping stone-still in her
walk, she looked at him with wild,
frightened eyes, and lips from which
every atom of color had departed.
He had been drinking heavily, and
the knowledge of that, and the low, in
sulting words, had well-nigh crushed
her.
Eyes, took a little" he said, an
swering her unspoken thoughts. "Nfen
do that, you know, Mollie, when they
get into tight places, and things 60
wrong every way"
1t was by no means the first time
that Leland Forsyth had taken "a
little" He had never been n strong
man, never very good man: and all
who knew Mary Ellet wondered at her
choice-for her engagement and the
prospect Of her marriage in the fall
were things well understood by her
coterie of friends, who counseled. and
pitied and blamed, and ended by wish
ing her far better than they could
hope and that her influence over the
man she loved might keep him
straighter than his own self-respect
could, save for her sake.
Are things very wrong, LeeY she
asked, making his trouble her own Mt
once, after the manner of women who
love, and half-forgetting her indigna.
ton before the sorrow in his eyes.
Yes, very; and If don't get help at
once, I'm gone! That's allm
The girl forgot all about the lace
department in the house Of Blake &,
Hillman, and sinking into one of the
seats close by-for they were in Wash
ington Square-she dropped her hands
idly in her lap, as If there was no more
work to do, saying:
Tell me all about It, Lee I don't
suppose can help you-women can't
90 that often--but l want to know"
You can help me, Mollle-you can
save me-you and you only"
"IT' under her breath. and opening
her eyes to their widest.
"Yes, you!-and you must. There is
no alternative. If your love for me
Is anything more than a profession.
you willw
He looked so determined and so
hard! His voice was thick and hoarse.
He twitched his watchguard nervous
ly, keeping his eyes on the ground.
Surely l will if can" Mary said.
softly. "Only tell me how, Lee-only
tell me howw
Il want money, girl, and l must have
It,"
much, Lee"
"Three hundred dollars"
The girl drew her breath in sudden
ly. She stared for a moment, almost
vacantly, into the face Of her lover
then her chin settled upon her bosom.
and Il sigh that meant more than any
words futtered through the pallor Of
her lips.
"You have something at Blake &
l know. How much is it,
MaryY
ITS only little, dear?" the girl an
swered, Frightening; "and I've been
saving II nm fOr-for eouno fbinous T., +L. |