The Van Buren press., 1904-05-14
A CHANGE
OF FORTUNE
The Atonement Of Use.

d AIN, storm and the ringing Of bells.
n Ilse listened. She steadied herself
a moment and leaned her head against
the door frame
How tired she was! For hours she had
tramped around in the November storm,
upstairs and downstairs. She had rung
at the various doors and opened her
large leather portfolio to display the
specimen pictures.
kindly pardon me. Perhaps you
would like to have some photographs
enlarged? They are well done, worth
the price and promptly executed"-she
had probably said it hundred times,
just as her employer had requested.
only do not let yourself be confused,
Fraulein," he had added, "and always
keep to the business routine; that is the
chief thing. II they turn you away at
the front door, go in again at the rear. -
Ilse shuddered A drop Of rain trick
led through the crepe veil which COW
cred her face. Or was II tear-one OF
those bitter tears which she had shed
so often since the death of her father?
All was different after the death of the
professor. The servants had to go, the
great household was broken up, and a
small dwelling in the north of the city
was rented.
There the mother sat and wept though
she said little and did not complain.
This cut llse to the heart
She, the spoiled daughter, who had
heretofore paid little heed to the suf-
ferings of others, suddenly raised her
head and sought work. She went from
one place of business to another, adver-
tised, answered advertisements and
humilated herself as much as she could,
all to no avail
At last an acquaintance recommended
her going TO a firm where canyassers
were wanted to solicit orders for the
enlargement Of photographs,
llse applied. She looked well-yes,
the slender figure in mourning would
induce people to give orders out OF pity,
II nothing more But she found It difii-
cult to talk, and the orders were so few
that her employer gave her TO under
stand that he would \ Red her serv-
ices longer if thiNS~t on in this
way.
llse shuddered when she thought Of
Il. How was she to save herself from
losing her employment, her daily bread? i?
She gathered up her wet skirts and
entered the house. Then she raised her
head and pressed the portfolio closer to
her.
On the first story the door was not
opened at all At her gentle ring on the
second story a boy shut the door in her
face, so that she was obliged to rest a
moment after the third flight before
pulling the bell.
A woman opened the door She shook
her head pleasantly when the young girl
opened the portfolio
"No-dont need them she said 81
let furnished rooms and the men don't
want such stun hanging about
llse quietly closed her case and was
on the point Of descending the stairs,
when the woman called to her again,
at lust occurred to me, Fraulein, ono
gentleman who lives here asked me re-
Gently II knew whore one could get
photographs enlarged Perhapsyo can
do something for him"
Ilse turned "Is-is the gentleman at
home?' she asked,
Jus, wait; III knock" said the wom'
an,
She went to a door and knocked, while
she bent her head TO the keyholc. No
not a sound. He Is not at home, Frau
lein. Too bad!'
The girl nodded her head as Il re-
signed
"NothIng them" she asked,
"Nolhing to-day" the woman replied,
Her feet achod and her lips burned,
She had TO grasp the railing for support
she was SO dizzy The landlady looked
n, her sympathotcally
"Como tomorrow, early FrauleIn," ="
she said, "Then Herr Valentin will be
AT home, It IL Atonemont day lie does
not 30 TO Lee n Co 's.'
nsc suddenly raised her head. She
Ind heard only the word "Valentin" and
the Arm name OF Lee \ Co. A light
camc before her gaze, and she saw an
old picture suddenly asifitwas brought
by magic TO her mind,
She saw herself young happy spoiled,
at spring festival In the month Of
MAY, And before her young man with
A dark head with brown cycs-thc son
of friend of her father young mcr-
chant She had played with him ~ q
child, Yet she had always kept certain
distance between herself and him,
Heavens. such an unassumlng fellow
tIc had not even finished the preparatory
school, scarcely completed the first year
ye, she liked to talk to him. rule over
him and make him follow her capfices
Nnd then that spring evening He told
her Of his new position with as much
bliss as II his ship had come in
"uso," he called her again just as In
childhood, And he took her hand and
gtood before her Os one intoxicated, and
eaId' II had to tell you first, llse dear,
Tor love you no much, soyory mueh'"
80. 49,. A Il. H.. t.Y