The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-16

| HcFS IndI WOmdnnOOO SnOulQ De
battered for wealth and position,
or that a harlot's bread could be
aught but bitter.
you were quite right, my dear,
and-I wish you had trusted us"
The girl bowed her head, in re-
greet that was much more poignant
than her friends could understand
while there was still untold what
might well prove the worst half
of her misfortunes. And as to that
half she could not even now take
them fully into her confidence.
II wish l had, dear Miss Jane"
she said humbly. Butt ran away
instead. l went to New York, and
stopped there instead of crossing
to San Francisco. ! had not post
ed the letter you wrote telling Mr..
Quaintance's lawyers that / was
leaving you. ! didn't intend to
have anything more to do with
them, and-my only ambition was
to keep out of the nephew's way.
But, at the last moment, II was
so hurried that l had to leave some
of my money in the bank here, and
Fanchette and I have come over to
see about that
Silence followed her somewhat
abrupt conclusion, and she sat.
with anxious eyes, awaiting their
verdict on her behavior. Fan
Ghetto was respectfully seated be-
hind her, one of Miss Sophia's most
cherished afternoon teacups in her
trembling, work-worn hands. Miss
Jane was stiffly erect in her
STRAIGHTFORWARD chair, Miss Sophia
gazing abstractedly out of the win.
dow, her mind occupied not with
the past but with future possibili-
ties. And neither of them was in
clined to misjudge the girl.
Then you don't wish to meet
this young man at ALL" said Miss
Jane decisively. Hes been here
two or three times to find out
whether you've called. He told us
that you were in Paris again al
though we were scarcely inclined
to believe him at first"
How can he know that" cried
the girl in renewed alarm. ooh, ]
hope you won't tell him a word
about me, Miss Jane, Miss Sophia
Please promise me that"
"You may depend upon us, my
DEAR" the sisters assured her in
chorus.
And, to tell you the truth" Miss
Jane added with strong conviction,
che isn't altogether "a nice
young man."
mot by any beans a nice young
man." Miss Sophia affirmed, recol-
lecting how Seager had glared at
her in the course of their>first in
Iterview.
And you needn't give us any ad-
Dress" her sister suggested. "If
he should call again, as he said he
would, we shall simply inform him
that We don't know where you are
and beg him to discontinue his
visits"
There's q shabby-looking per-
son outside staring up at the
house at this moment" said Miss
Sophia from her window seat, a
tremor in her thin voice. Il hope
he hasn't employed a private de-
tective to trace you-although, to
be sure, he looked just the sort of
gentleman who would do that"
Stuff and nonsense!" her sister
retorted sharply. Sophia, you read
far too many novels. People don't
do that sort of thing in real life."
1.-The mans there, all the same,'
Miss Sophia protested, and their
guest arose, inwardly much embar-
raised.
II think I'll go now" she said
anxiously, unwilling to excite
further conjecture while she her.
self knew, only too well, who her
unpleasant attendant was.
Thank you so much forall your
kindness and-and encouragement.
l wish could have told you"
my DEAR" Miss Jane broke in,
kissing her with great tenderness,
come to us when you can, and tell
us what you will, We are two poor
old women, not very able, per-
haps, to advise you. But you may
be sure that we'll never advise you
otherwise than as your own
mother would. Had we believed
that there's nothing in this world
Of more worth than money, we
need not have been keeping a
boarding house today. Be brave!
You'll see your way by degrees,
and II we ca nhelp you in any man
ner, We will. most gladly"
poor thing!" Miss Sophia
sighed soulfully as she returned to
her favorite post at the window,
to watch the two disappear down
the avenue, faithfully followed by
the lounger she had observed. a
fact which she did not fall to COM
municate argumentatively to her
sister. Poor thing! hope she'll
be happy, She's so strong. Jane.