Beautiful but Poor — page 206: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BEAUTIFUL BUT POOR. 197 little while, and then I am going up town on a visit. I shall not go to the bindery until to-morrow.” “Why, you’re in mournin’! Sakes alive, I didn’t notice that till this minute. I was so glad to see you. Who’s dead, dear?”’ asked Miss Scrimp. “My mother!”’ answered Hattie, choking down a sob as she started up stairs for her room. . ‘‘Her mother! Poor thing! Ill be a mother to her now!”’ said Miss Scrimp, thinking of that thou- sand dollar check most likely. Hattie found everything in her room as she had left it. She had long before had the lock put on her- self, and it was one which no other key in the house fitted, or Miss Scrimp might have explored her apartment in her absence. The young lady remained up stairs but a short time, and when she came out she took an up town street car, and started to see her kind friends, the Legares and Mrs. Emory, as well as dear Little Jes- sie Albemarle. When she arrived there, such a welcome met her! Lizzie, Mrs. Emory, and Jessie covered her with kisses. Mr. Legare pressed her hand warmly, and poor Frank stammered and blushed, and hardly knew what he said, though he tried to be very po- lite, and at the same time very ardent in his expres- sions of pleasure at seeing her once more. And he hurried to inform her that Mr. W—— had gone to California. ‘One rival out of the way!’’ he said to himself. But his hopes went below zero when she calmly told him she knew he was going before she left town, and he had telegraphed to her when he was on the point of starting. “They’re engaged. I know they are!’’ groaned (ele) Comichoo cS