Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-04-24
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL "a. 1903
IN THE WEE
= SMA' HOURS
BY a MY LEE
Copyright, loO2, by tho 8. 8. Mcclure
Company

biSu ululnpupu.
There were so many things, she In
sisted, that she would need for their
little home when the wedding occur
red In October-things without which
she could not keep house, but which
her mothers limited income would not
permit her to buy, Seven dollars a
week and her three meals daily, with
absolutely nothing to do but hand out
keys and MALL The hotel was within
walking distance Of their home, 80 she
could save every cent of her salary, to
say nothing Of what her mother could
save on their table in her absence.
Mrs Ruggles had the old fashioned
southern prejudice against business
life for women. In a vague way she
realized that II was perhaps a particu-
larly perilous position In which to
place her pretty daughter. Then, too,
she looked forward with dread to the
three meals alone each day. Little did
her daughter realize how much she
would save on the table, how seldom
she would set forth for herself more
than tea and bread and fruit.
Anstruther felt the rooted objection
which every good, manly fellow must
make at thought OF his sweetheart
working for her daily bread. He want
ed to assume that burden himself, but
Elsa had insisted upon waiting until
every cent was paid on their home
nest. Moreover, he disliked the publici-
ty OF 1t all, the phase of life which she
must inevitably see day after day.
But Blsa alternately pouted and ca
joled until she won her point and was
duly installed as key and mail clerk
at the Stuyvesant House.
At first she was radiantly hnppy in
her work. The manager OF the hotel,
Mr.. Paxton, had been her fathers
friend and took more than passing In
terest In his new employee. II was
pleasant to wear her long, trailing
black skirt and fresh, dainty shirt
waist every day and to sweep into
the dining room, where well trained
walters served her. And pleasn inter-
still 1t was to buy certain little luxu-
ries she had long wanted to add to her
wedding outfit.
But by and by the serpent Of envy
raised Its head In her new found Eden.
The regular guests passed her In such
a bewildering variety Of frocks that
her own simple outfit turned rusty In
her eyes. out of town people. In for
few days shopping. sent home @. 0. ID.
packages that made her own pur.
chases look absurdly small. She dis
covered that what appeared like luxu-
rles to her were the everyday necessi-
ties to the majority of Stuyvesnnt
House guests And why should these
gowns with such poor grace be given
all the good things OF life while she
had 80 little to set of her natural at
fractional There were the two daugh-
tiers of a Butte minO Rnerator who
wore rings outside theft gloves and
tipped the walters with crisp bills,
They had actually offered her d tip one
day as she handed out their keys.
Thinking Of II all. fever sometimes
burned In her veins that even the over.
worked electric fan above her head
could not counterfeit
Many Of the guests tried TO patron
ize her. but she kept herself proudly In
hand AS for the men, she vouchsafed
them only the demurest good morn.
Ing" when they made frequent and
often unnecessary trips to her desk
This until Alnalee came. Ainslce rep
resented prominent New York i'm.
porter, ordered bis clothes from
Broadway tailor. knew life and how to
enjoy II and had been n privileged
guest ut the Stuyvesant ever since he
had been on the rond. He WIS Il spe.
cial fayorite with Mr., Paxton, who
granted him the unusual favor of an
Introduction 10 the new clerk.
Alnslee was to stay week this time.
When Mr.. Paxton heard It, he regret.
ted the Introduction. Ainslee con WINGED
the head waiter that II was the diplo-
matte thing and likewise pecuniary
advantage TO that dignitary to give
him seat al Miss Ruggles' table.
Later he assured his pretty table visa
Wis that she WAS looking peaked and
pale Her position was too combining.
She needed more fresh air In the even
ings Now. the very next night he must
run out TO Lake Placid to meet Gus.
toner. Would she 20 along1 II meant
a lovely trolley ride, dinner with mu-
sic on the piazza and a summer spec
tacle at the Casino. II would take him
but short time 10 go over business
details with his customer. and In the
meantime she could be drinking IN
that much needed fresh dir.
Elsa consulted both her mother and
her fiance. but with an air OF anality
that showed tho futility Of objections.
A note Of complaint sounded IN her
voice. She never went anywhere, while
everybody at the hotel seemed TO live
for pleasure. Anstrutber might have
reminded her that last year they had
gone everywhere together, but that
now he was denying himself every
pleasure to make the final payment on
their home. Instead he kissed her long
and tenderly and said he felt quite
sure that Mr.. Paxton would permit her
to meet no one who was not a Ht com.
paniOn.
II was n great evening for the unso-
phisticated Elsa, who did not realize
that the money Mr.. Ainslee layished
was his firms and was used tO enter.
tain the customer rather than herself.
In reality she w1s merely a side issue,
a reward that Ainslee felt he deserved
for the efforts he was putting forth TO
secure a new line OF trnde. II would
all appear In his expense account
Then Ainsleo wns no different from
her own quiet lover. She wondered II
all New York men would DO like this
80 excessively watchful Of her comfort
In small things, no entertaining Ia their
and delicate In their nattery.
She wished that Anstruther had nc.
compnnied them. Lately no had seemed
20 preoccupiod and was less mindful Of
heS little needs when In public. Yet
when she reached home she was hot
sure that sf1e had enjoyed tho
aVeninQ pe@hana tho sornanf NJ dia-