The novel-reading, theatre-going girls rallied around her to a girl; and

the young men in the store were not far behind. Elizabeth was popular from

the first. Moreover, as she settled down into the routine of life, and

had three meals every day, her cheeks began to round out just a little;

and it became apparent that she was unusually beautiful in spite of her

dark skin, which whitened gradually under the electric light and

high-pressure life of the store.

They went to Christian Endeavor, Elizabeth and her cousin; and Elizabeth

felt as if heaven had suddenly dropped down about her. She lived from week

to week for that Christian Endeavor.

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The store, which had been a surprise and a novelty at first, began to be a

trial to her. It wore upon her nerves. The air was bad, and the crowds

were great. It was coming on toward Christmas time, and the store was

crammed to bursting day after day and night after night, for they kept

open evenings now until Christmas. Elizabeth longed for a breath from the

mountains, and grew whiter and thinner. Sometimes she felt as if she must

break away from it all, and take Robin, and ride into the wilderness

again. If it were not for the Christian Endeavor, she would have done so,

perhaps.

Robin, poor beast, was well housed and well fed; but he worked for his

living as did his mistress. He was a grocer's delivery horse, worked from

Monday morning early till Saturday night at ten o'clock, subject to curses

and kicks from the grocery boy, expected to stand meekly at the

curbstones, snuffing the dusty brick pavements while the boy delivered a

box of goods, and while trolleys and beer-wagons and automobiles slammed

and rumbled and tooted by him, and then to start on the double-quick to

the next stopping-place.

He to be thus under the rod who had trod the plains with a free foot and

snuffed the mountain air! It was a great come-down, and his life became a

weariness to him. But he earned his mistress a dollar a week besides his

board. There would have been some consolation in that to his faithful

heart if he only could have known it. Albeit she would have gladly gone

without the dollar if Robin could have been free and happy.

One day, one dreadful day, the manager of the ten-cent store came to

Elizabeth with a look in his eyes that reminded her of the man in Montana

from whom she had fled. He was smiling, and his words were unduly

pleasant. He wanted her to go with him to the theatre that evening, and he

complimented her on her appearance. He stated that he admired her

exceedingly, and wanted to give her pleasure. But somehow Elizabeth had

fallen into the habit ever since she left the prairies of comparing all

men with George Trescott Benedict; and this man, although he dressed well,

and was every bit as handsome, did not compare well. There was a sinister,

selfish glitter in his eyes that made Elizabeth think of the serpent on

the plain just before she shot it. Therefore Elizabeth declined the

invitation.




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