The Propriety of Pauline

any. The young men's voices sawed her nerves, and the apparel of the young women set her teeth on edge. Almost she would have preferred elbow sleeves to virtuous garments that were so hideous. The negro waiters--ungloved in Illinois Street--clattered the crockery as freely as if the supper-table had been a sink; and when she sent away her plate, a black hand tossed her knife and fork back to her, to be retained for the next course.

"We shall get hardened in time," whispered Gardiner cheerfully, observing her despondence; "buck up!"

After supper some of the company adjourned to the parlor, where one of the young women strummed a selection from "The Belle of New York"--and Pauline spent the evening weeping in her bedroom.

She went to see her parents on the morrow, and proposed that her father should take Barry into partnership.

"The place is impossible," she explained; "we cannot hope to exist on twenty dollars a week! I think the least you might do, papa, is to pay Barry five thousa