Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise

d have risked in it any article of clothing with the least pretension to cleanness. It w

a quarter before five. The night before, Susan had brought up from the basement a large bucket of water; for she had made up her mind, to take a bath every day, at least until the cold weather set in and rendered such a luxury impossible. With this water and what she had in her little pitcher, Susan contrived to freshen herself up. She had bought a gas stove and some indispensable utensils for three dollars and seventeen

resh for her new surroundings and for her new class. But in comparison with what she usually looked, already there was a distinct, an ominous falling off. "I'm glad Rod never saw me looking like this," she said aloud drearily. Taking a roll for lunch, she issued forth at half-past six. The hour and three-quarters she had allowed for dressing and breakfasting had been none too much. In the coolness and comparative quiet she went down University Place and across Washington Square under the old trees, all aliv

were the criss-cross lines under them that tell a story to the expert in the different effects o

at her with the dazed eyes and puz

u'll find the job dead easy. They're mighty nice people to work for, Mr. Jeffries especiall

I thi

last night. I was out with one of th

ry good,

-I love lobster-and elegant champagne-up to Murray's-such a refined place-all fountains and mirrors-really quite artistic. And my gentleman friend was so nic

n the last remark wa

her-and, looki

nt customer and he gets fresh and she kicks and complains to Mr. Jeffries-or Mr. Jonas-or Mr. Ratney, th

when-when a cust

I talk to you because I know you're a lady and because I don't want to see you thrown down. A woman that's living quietly at home-like a lady-she can be squeamish. But out in the world a woman can't

ey waited for the opening of the room where Susan would be outfitted for her work

es

iff. "They can hardly make a living for themselves. And a man who amounts to anything, he wants a refined lady to help him on up, not a working girl. Of course, there're exceptions. But as a rule a girl in our position either has to stay single or marry beneath her-marry some mechanic or su

y away, so that her

Hin

asn't married t

about myself," said

not pl

uriosity did not give offense; it excited the e

dirty common laborer like most women are, and working in a factory even, give me the factory. Yes, give me a job as a pot slinger even, low as that is. Oh, I hate wor

however slight, every breath she drew, a gesture of sensuousness. As she looked at herself in a long glass in one of the show-parlors, her face did not reflect the admiration frankly displayed upon

cynical, reckless. "You know, the buyers are men. Gee, what awful jay things we work off on them, sometimes! They can't see the dress for the figure. And you've got such a refined figure,

a gesture of indifferent disdain. "They ta

e had been contemptuous of the offerings of Jeffries and Jonas for the winter season, had praised with enthusiasm the models of their principal rival, Icklemeier, Schwartz and Company. They were undecided whether he was really thinking of dese

nd also in a modified form that permitted its use for either afternoon or evening. Susan had received her instructions, so when she was dressed, she was ready to sweep into Gideon's presence with

h for many a year. In dress he was as spick and span as a tailor at the trade's annual convention. But he had evidently been "going some" for several day

" he snapped, as th

ke to be ke

ick hands, said fawningly, "But I think, Mr.

make when the first chunk of food hurtled through the bars and landed on his paws. He sat with cigar poised between his long whi

insolence of a customer containing possibilities of l

erchant's laugh for a customer's pleasantry. "But

figure. As his gentle, insinuating hands traveled over her, his eyes sought hers. "Excuse me," said Jeffries. "I'll see that they get the

hy they left. "I don't think I've seen

this morning,

must get better acquainted. You've got the

Susan with a gra

hing would yield precedence to him, he did not wait for a reply, but we

aid Susan, "bu

don't be shy. Of c

ll tell you i

I'd rather not be see

come in the cab myself and

ctive for a man of his type-had strength and intelligence in his features, had a suggestion of mastery

not eat you up-" with a gay and grac

er. She saw that she must either accept the

and gave hi

ps. Gideon waved them away. "You've shown 'em to me before," sai

h weariness of the monotony, of the distasteful play of Gideon's fiery glance upon her arms and shoulders and throat. Gideon tried to draw her into conversation, but she would-indeed

ink a glass of water, Susan walked up and down the show parlors weighted with dresses and cloaks, furs for arctic weather. The other girls, even those doing almost nothing, were all but prostrated. It was little short of intolerable, this struggle to gain the "honest, self-respecting living by honest work" that there was so much talk about. Toward five o'clock her nerves a

d much better. And she felt better. We shall some day understand why it is that if a severe physical blow follows upon a mental blow, recovery from the physical blow is always accompanied by a relief of the mental strain. Susan cam

make a date with Gid?" inquired she. Her tone let Susa

ine with him, and

nice dress-dinne

ng is all. My other dres

w one for you. This dinner's a house affair, you know-

h short notice," said Susan, casting about f

white dress-and a black and white hat. I know 'em all

eemed a show in which she had no part, and at which she sat a listless spectator. A f

e with Mr. Gideon. He's a perfect gentleman-knows how to treat a lady. . . . The minute I laid eyes on you I said to myself, said I,

id Susan,

wasn't any such things as cloaks or dresses in the world. He'll understand all right. . . . If you land the order, my dear, I'll see that you get a

aid Susan. "I'

nd it. I feel as if we had

too much," she said hesitatingly. "I'm no

s pay in advance." Jeffries hesitated, decided against dangerous liberality. "Not ten, you understand, but say six. You see, you won't have been with us a full week." And he hurried away, frightened b

ies had infected the entire personnel with his excitement, with the sense that a great battle was impending and that the cause of the house, which was the cause of everyone who drew pay from it, had been intrusted to the young recruit with the fascinating figure and the sweet, sad face. And Susan's sensitive nature was soon vibrating in response to this feeling. It terrified her tha

ry Hinkle, as they walked up Broadway, she

pairs of s

hite gloves-and a pai

t affor

sk you-and to go to work a

"If you pay," said she, "maybe you'll get your money back from the house, an

e mighty nice, too-that's why I'm sure you've never been a real working girl-leastways, not for a long time. When you get to the restaurant and draw off your gloves in a slow, careless, ladylike kind of wa

. "Yes, I guess I'm what's calle

aldorf or the Madrid or any of those high-toned places, and see the women with the swell clothes and jewelry! The married ones, and the other kind, both. Are they raving tearing beauties? Not often. . . . The trouble with me is I've been too good-hearted and too soft about being flattered. I was too good looking, and a small easy living came too easy. You-I'd say y

What was the matter with life? As between the morality she had been taught and the practical morality of this world upon which she had been cast, w

no place for a lady!" cried she. "But it won't last long

ied," said Susan. "If

to vacate before death. Ellen, the maid, passing the door, saw and entered to add her ecstatic exclamations to the excitement. Down she ran to bring Mrs. Tucker, who no sooner beheld the glory displayed upon the humble bed than she too was in a turmoil. Susan dressed with the aid of three maids as interested and eager as ever robed a queen for coronation. Ellen brought hot water and a larger bowl. Mrs. Tucker wished to lend a highly scented toilet soap she

e stocking," observed Mary. "But yours is so nice

n a loose and graceful knot at the back, and Susan's small, healthily pallid face looked its loveliest, with the violet-gray eyes soft and sweet and serious. Mrs. Tucker brought the hat from the bed, and Susan put it on-a large black straw of a most becoming shape with two pure white plumes curling round the crown and a third, not so

ring powder, produced from a drawer some prepared chalk and with it safeguarded her nose against shine; she tucked the powd

. "Lovely"-"Fine"-"Just gran

ssed up," said she.

n't get wilted," cried Mrs. Tucker. "Hold your skirts cl

he garments, and the suggestion of "dressed up" vanished before the reflected eyes of her agitated assistants, who did not know what had happened but only saw the results. She hardly knew the tall beautiful woman of fashion gazing at her from the mirror. Could it be that this was her hair?-these eyes hers-and the mouth and nose and the skin? Was this long slender figure her very own? What an astounding difference clothes did make! N

ed Ellen-the question Mrs. Tucker had been dying to put bu

ive-a hundred and fifty, maybe if you was to try to buy it in a department store.

d Ellen. "Did you e

afford to buy it. The good Lord put everything on earth to be used, I reckon. And Miss Sackville is the build for

wave of nausea swept through her. Ellen peeped out, Mrs. Tucker and Miss Hinkle li

ackville appeared before his widening, wondering, admiring eyes. He was dressed in the extreme of fashion and costliness in good taste; while it would have been impossible for him to look distinguished, he did look what he was-a prosperous business

on the veranda at Sherry's?" su

atever pleasure there was a chance for? But-Sherry's-was it safe? Yes, almost any of the Fifth Avenue places-except the Waldorf, possibly-was safe enough. The circuit of Spenser and his friends

ows, saw the curtains agitated, felt the three friendly, excited faces palpitating. She leaned from the cab wind

of 'em-and an old hand at the business, no doubt." But he simply could not abruptly break throu

l candor. "Miss Hinkle borrowed it

could be served; that would put him at his ease. Yes-a drink-that would set him up again. And a drink for her-that would bring her down from this queer new kind of high horse. "I guess she must be a top notcher-the real thing, come down in the world-and not out of the near silks. But she'll be all right after a drink. One drink of liquor makes the whole world kin." That last thought reminded him of his own cleverness and he attacked the situation afresh. But the conversation as they drove up the avenue wa

" to the fact that he was escorting a girl so unused to swell surroundings that she was ready to faint with fright. "Don't be foolish," he said sharply. Susan revived herself, d

wledge of cookery and assumed that she knew nothing about it. "Have a cocktail

pression. Gideon took a dry martini; ordered a second for himself when the first came, and had them both down before she finished her s

t very dry,"

notion of inequality in her favor dissipate as the fumes of the cocktails rose straight and strong from his empty stomach to his brain. "D

or

ame's Ed, but ever

the champagne opened. "To our better acquain

a suffocated voice, touc

was the real cause of her politeness and silence. But he must e

aren't you, Lorna?

ry interesting life, haven't y

dollars a week. Susan seemed interested, but her mind refused to occupy itself with a narrative so commonplace. After Rod and his friends this boastful business man was dull and tedious. Whenever he laughed at an account of his superior craft-how

my head. And anyone that knows me'll tell you I'm a regular fool for generosity wi

Generosity-generosity. How much talk there was about it! Everyone was forever praising himself for his generosity, was

d and grab it as tight. But when it comes to the ladies, why, I'm open-handed. If they treat me right, I treat them right." T

ng light-the beautifully dressed women listening to their male companions with close attention-were they too being bored by such trash by way of talk? Were they too simply listening because it is the man who pays, because

an would you say I was

e dexterity at vagueness that habitually

"shot" his cuffs with a gesture of careless elegance that his cuff links

u're-very

wo quarts of champagne. He was much annoyed that she did not take advantage of the pointed opportunity he gave her to note the total of the bill; he was e

g cigar, "sixteen seventy-five is quite a lively little peel-off

'd like it. Nothing pleases me better than to take a nice girl who isn't as well off as I am out and bl

dollar, isn't i

for poor devils who don't happen to be as lucky or as brainy as I am. What do you say to a turn in the P

t up so early

her. "You'll not have to bump the bumps fo

the driver go to the Casino. Once under way she was glad; her hot skin and her weary heart were grateful for the air blowing down the avenue from the Park's expanse of green. When Gideon attempted to put his arm around her, she mov

, "don't spoil a d

y dear-haven't I

u have, Mr

ing to place a big order with your house, if you treat me right. I'm dead stuck on you-and t

was

your job and coming to Chicago

en

can't live

d on less-

ou li

rally

to get on-

mus

the heart about

was

ain't going to get anywhere, and know you ain't. And it's a good first prize after you've arrived and can

t," said Susan. "Bu

make a dozen little slashes, each of them hurts as much as the one big slash-and the dozen hurt tw

attention for

why women d

she. "That's wha

are their best assets. God! I wish I'd 'a' had your looks and your advantages as a woman to help me. I'd be a millionaire this minute, with a house facing this Park and a yacht and all the rest of it. A woman that's squeamish about her virtue can'

e man did not offend her. It made what he said the more effective, producing a rude arresting effect upon her nerves. It made the man himself seem m

ught of th

ght of it. But

t-w

not

nse, I suppose. Do you see the applica

oors of the hansom, her eyes gazing dreamily into the moonli

ant to stick

N

le while. Models don't l

n see

it means ten

enement

then? What'

ven't

t want to get on!

y get anywhere

rk. I'm going to w

y you're going to breathe and eat-Work don't amount to anything, for getting

But I can't begi

t take

om

you go

Susan. "I'll h

g girl?" said he wit

es sound ridiculous,

t past without paying toll? Not on your life, my dear. If you was ugly, you might after several years get twenty or twenty-f

es

too. I'd make you do a lot of things for me-maybe some of 'em not so very nice-maybe some of 'em downright dirty. And you'd do 'em, as all young fellows, struggling up, have to. But you're a woman. So I'm willing to make easier terms

said

o me a good turn-not one that I don't want done, but

llow

se. "I hope you do," he said sharply. "What I'm saying is dresses on your bac

he world," said

e that's

was only

a woman needs to make

Well, it isn'

run you, instead of

rha

osition-that's the foundation. Build on that and you'll build solid. Build on love and sentiment and

what yo

d her hand. "Wh

think

it round in anybody's outside office . . . Maybe yo

ink you'r

. That's why I've got on. That's why I'll k

se on making one's way in the world. Her look was calm, inquiring-would have been c

people that order, an

der. I don't care about th

any way

r. She resisted firmly. "Wai

the way to the upper en

aid to her; "Well, do you get the s

as si

me or shall we stop a

ve champagn

like if you

any choice,

ips. "You're right, you haven't," said he. "It's a fine sign that you have th