Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-01

for a few days but at the end Of a
week l should 90 on toward Raleigh.
For some hours we chatted and about
eight o'clock he informed me he was
going to pay social call on some
friends whom he had reason to believe
wanted a piano and he would try to
unite business and pleasure in the
same evening, 1 thought that was
equivalent to intimating he no longer
desired my company SO l bid him good
night and went to my room. had
just settled to the comfortable enjoy
ment of an evening with some Of my
beloved books, which were ever my
best friends, when a quick rap was
heard at the door, and before | could
reply in walked my friend, the plano
salesman. He Greeted me pleasantly
and invited me to accompany him on
his visit. On the way he intimated
that I might make myself agreeable
by playing for the folks, and in this
may help him to make the sale. 1
was very glad to be able to spend an
evening in so pleasant a way, so ac-
cepted his invitation, and we started
at once.
I noticed that he watched me closely
all the evening and rather felt that
he wanted to ascertain just how much
I really knew about music. Looking
over some music the ladies had on
their old piano, selected the most diff
icult piece and played IL for them.
This seemed to surprise my friend. and
also to please him very much. On the
way home he grew quite confidential
aH4 al of.
pany him on the road and make a busi-
ness Of doing what I did that evening,
that is, to play for his prospective
piano customers and help him to make
sales. After some pretended hesita-
tion, and stating that I really did not
care to resume work so soon after the
beginning Of my vacation I finally
agreed with him for 81 per day over
and above all my expenses. In reality
I was so afraid he might change his
mind l could scarcely conceal my anx-
ietv.
That night I sent telegram to my
father asking for $40 in cash. and he
sent 1t to me Immediately. While
was really in need OF money / could
not Of my consent to write and tell
my dear old father that I was in dis
tress and wanted some money although
knew would have sent It to me,
as he did now without a word Of re-
prOach, and would really be panied did
he know I was without a dollar and
did not ask him for IL; but so soon
as I could be reasonably sure OF good
work and could see my way clear to
return the money thus borrowed from
my father. the same as I would to any
one else, I sent to him for IL without
hesitation and fully assured it would
be forthcoming
From this time until the goth day
of April | travelled as the assistant to
this piano salesman, who represented
a wholesale piano house in Raleigh.
North Carolina, and by this time had
money enough to go home like a
lady" and | went
l arrived at home, newly clothed in
female attire and was In time to wit
ness the wedding Of my younger sister
and to enjoy being one Of the welcom-
ed guests at a family reunion.
My own people never knew (and. un-
less they have ben reading these chap
ters, they never will know what I
had to endure on the trip. nor how
fortunately I came out Of It all. In
fact they don't know anything at all
about IL.
Now, dear reader, as the dime novel
lists say, please don't go and tell them.
for unless you have already guessed
the secret Of my Identity so well have
/ kept that secret from my friends and
family until now, / doubt whether thew
would be able to recognize this picture
or myself and my wanderings as a
girl tramp even should you point out
to them these "vicissitudes."
And now adeu. There is an old
saying to the effect that a kind Provid.
ence gives special protection to chill.
dren, drunkards and fools, and now
believe 1t, especial as to fools You
viii too, when you shall have read
this far, and to the end OF NV recital
tire.
THE END.