The Poor Little Rich Girl

s-lines. Gwendolyn, watching from the side window of the nursery, pretended that the garments were so many tortured creatures, vainly struggling to be free. And she wished that tw

tuffing it into baskets. Others were busy hanging up limp pieces, first giving them a vigorous shake; then

emed

ith laundry were not those directly across from the nursery, but over-looked the next street. Nevertheless, with the window up, Gwendolyn could hear the crack and snap of the whipping garments, and an indistinct chorus of cheery voices. One maid was singing a lilting tune. The rest were chatt

so that the lower sill was above her head. Then

They smiled at her, too, Gwendolyn smiled in return, and nodded. At that, one of a g

ms; why she herself was dressed with such unusual care-in a pink muslin, white silk stockings, and black patent-leather pumps, the whole crowned by a pink-satin h

ake for a while, smiling into the dark, kissing her own hands for very happiness; it had made her heart beat wildly, too. For she reviewed al

ral pages of standard literature for juveniles that her busy brain did not comprehend. Yet now as she waited behind the rose hangings for the supreme moment, she felt, strangely enough, no impati

palm, to canvass the quaintly curtained windows-none of which at the moment framed a venerable head. Next the gray-haired house there had been-up to a recent date-a vacant lot walled off from the sidewalk by a high, broad bill-board. Now a pit yawned where formerly was the vacant space. And instead of the fascinating pictures that decorated the bill

hat through them could be seen small, regular spots of light. Later on, as Gwendolyn knew, floors and windo

himney and a small chimney. In every detail these ten houses were precisely alike. Jane, for some unaccountable reason, referred to them as private dwellings. But since the roof of the second brown-sto

nces traveled now from brown-stone front to brown-stone fro

ge vine-covered house, the wide entrance of which was toward the river. And no sooner had she given it

chimneys. And even as Gwendolyn gazed, all absorbed interest, the net cur

house. But though it was strange, it was entirely friendly. For

o plain that her duties differed in some way from Jane's. For her cap was different-shaped

core of saucy wisps and curls. Her face was pretty-full and rosy, like the face of Gwendolyn's French doll. Also it se

yn, out loud. She threw kisses

rtains at her. Then-they fe

olyn

-a strange one this. Disappointed, she turned to face the screening curtains. But she was in n

ly in seclusion; to emerge

is tone that full and measured one employed, not to the governess, to Jane, to herself, or to any other common m

ains were perso

window, taking care n

re,"-the voice w

's heavy step retre

fect stillness. Then that

suppose that

e rippled out

he fat old gentleman in the gray-haired house chanced to be lo

as the first speaker, answering h

eciate that. She choked back

le; then once more that murmur of trailing skirts, going toward the window-seat; g

g-table, Louise! Fancy such a piece o

ow head to one side-after

ompanion. "Crystal, if you pleas

dresser. Then, "Poor little girl!" o

very syllable. As a rule when gossip or criticism was talked in her hearing, it was insured against being understood by the use of strange terms, s

c

is the first time you've

differently. "Wh

bod

olyn

y. You know, they say-"

suddenly round; her lips pa

ncourage

oor, with a fair education, but no culture to speak of. She met him; he had m

he mone

ttle themselves in chairs

t you heard what's t

the matter with her mother?-her dear, beautiful, youn

azarded Louise

ey she gives to charity (wedges, you understand); the quantities of dresses she

r breath. The socie

, as if comprehending

She hears nothing else.

as

ital teas, Christmas bazars. And she benches her Poms; has boxes at the H

haven't boost

a point of never being

d h

llowed. He wa

hould have seen him when he first came to town-straight and boyish, and very

H

ith the effort of m

heard the lat

o make so

On the edge

told

littl

but escaped her. A little bird! She knew of that bird! He had told things against her-true thi

mmented Louise calmly, "wi

as if both were listening.

d it fair

-vous F

oui!

in undertones, a short, spirit

ote more time and thought to the peevish

a light, quick step outside.

you, won't you?" It was Gwendolyn's m

started forward

se!"-with sou

tain

stairs, I find, req

," declared Louise, warmly. "That Orphans' Ho

! N

ite frank, we must confess that we haven't missed y

y lovely!"

rfectly sweet

my little dau

, Ma

ught coming fr

side windo

lattened herself against

is two big hands appeared high up on the hangings. The next

ade Gwendolyn raise a face upon which was a forced ex

aid, jumping

ll back. "Why,

her, surprised. "Why, what we

in a faint gasp

rward. She did not raise

gloved hand was reached out, and Gwen

as her mother's. She shook hands bashfully. Then shook again with an older woman, whose plain countenance was di

ba

th-

aressed

e, my dear?" asked t

A soft hand strok

as that

tightened her embrace. And turning her head o

s, faint and uneasy. Slowly now they began to move toward the hall door, w

we must g

almost forgot! We've promised to lun

r. She freed herself gently from the clinging arms and

ess. Until half an hour before, her whole concern had been for herself. But now! To fail to grow up, to have her long-cherished hopes com

-er! Don'

tell the la

ion!" It was the elde

assented wi

opping her voice. "Oh, I want to see you"

silent exchange of comment, question and exclamati

!" she enthused. "Do

present," answered Gwendolyn's mo

ink every little girl should have those.

t of Spanish

scious, sinuous shift from foot to foot, "Gwe

loved hand was extended-to

stolidly. Her eyes were f

dressing her hostess with almost a coy air, "if we could induce you to

lly j

co

, d

th-

. A sudden color was mounting

said, with ris

accep

in a nervous grasp at either side. "O

dinnertime, darling. T

bo

last. A bronze gate slid between the three and Gwendolyn, watching them go. The

d the school-room door. The door was s

It was Jane, who greeted her with a n

Royle and give her a scare when s

yn said