The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-04-11
AIRY ELLET stood at the
one window Of her pretty
room, looking down upon i
cL-lLl in tLo nrna-a Llun-

" ipOils lDOA4A5 "O''A4 el''-+ -
child in the area-a blue
eyed. faxen-haired baby OF four years
as fair, and sweet, and bright q study
as even an artist could desire.
But Mary Enet was no artist-at
least not one who puts beautiful fan
cics into words, or on canvas. She
was only one of thirty saleswomen in
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 admorishing tone to
where she stood. What can keep him.
/ wonder? \ half hour past time al
ready, and l was never tardy before in
all tie years Eve been with Blake &
Hinman. l shall lose my place, just
as likely as not, for l cannot give a
satisfactory excuse. except l tell the
truth, which is quite out of the ques-
ton; so 1 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. tall, handsome young
man. who tucked her under his arm
forthwith with an assurance that was
unrcbuked, because it hung itself to a
cablc-of-a-promise, 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 L" he queried, shading his eyes
ana looking up at the sun. Not very
/ guess"
Enough to risk the loss of my
place" Mary answered quietly,
though the hardness and Indifference
of her lover piqued her.
oh pshaw. Blake & IIillman are
no such fellows. Besides, Blake's in
love with YOU the young man said.
coarsel-. I've known that these three
months. Of course, his love don't
mean what mine does. These rich fel-
lows
"Lecw
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
Yes, I took a little" he said. an
swering her unspoken thoughts. Men
do that, you know, Aollie, when they
get into tight places, and things go
wrong every way"
1t was by no means the first time
that Leland Forsyth had taken ga
little" He had never been strong
man, never a 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, Lee? she
asked, making his trouble her own at
once, after the manner of women who
love, and half-forgetting her indigna-
ton before the sorrow in his eyes
Yes, very: and if l don't get help at
once, I'm gone! That's all"'
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. 1 don't
suppose I can help you-wOmen can't
do that often-but 1 want to know"
You can help me, Mollie-you can
save me-you and you only"
~" 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 will"
He looked so determined and so
hard! His voice was thick and hoarse.
lie twitched his watchguard nervous
ly keeping his eyes on the ground.
Surely l will if I can" Mary said,
softly. only tell me how, Lee-only
tell me howw
Il want money, girl and must have
it."
Much Lee?"
Three hundred dollars"
The girl drew her breath in sudden
ly. She stared for moment, almost
vacantly, into the face of her lover
then her chin settled upon her bosom,
and sigh that meant more than any
words futtered through the pallor of
her lips.
You have something at Blake &
1TilInau'S I-pou How, Y,,rol, ie f.