Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise, by David Graham Phillips

go for my things.""You can walk down and take the Fourth Street car," suggestedher landlady. "Then you can watch out and not miss the store. Theconductors are very impudent and forgetful."Susan escaped from the house as speedily as her flying feetwould take her down the two flights. In the street once more, herspirits rose. She went south to Fourth Street, decided to walkinstead of taking a car. She now found herself in much moreimpressive surroundings than before, and realized that Sixth Streetwas really one of the minor streets. The further uptown she went,the more excited she became. After the district of stately mansionswith wonderful carriages driving up and away and women dressedlike those in the illustrated story papers, came splendid shops andhotels, finer than Susan had believed there were anywhere in theworld. And most of the people–the crowds on crowds of people!–looked prosperous and cheerful and so delightfully citified! Shewondered why so many of the men stared at her. She assumed itmust be something rural in her appearance though that ought tohave set the women to staring, too. But she thought little aboutthis, so absorbed was she in seeing all the new things. She walkedslowly, pausing to inspect the shop windows–the gorgeous dressesand hats and jewelry, the thousand costly things scattered incareless profusion. And the crowds! How secure she felt amongthese multitudes of strangers, not one of them knowing orsuspecting her secret of shame! She no longer had the sense ofbeing outcast, branded.When she had gone so far that it seemed to her she certainlymust have missed the drug store, carefully though she hadinspected each corner as she went, she decided that she muststop someone of this hurrying throng and inquire the way. Whileshe was still screwing her courage to this boldness, she espied thesign and hastened joyfully across the street. She and Wyliewelcomed each other like old friends. He was delighted when helearned that she had taken the room."You won't mind Aunt Kate after a while," said he. "She's sourand nosey, but she's honest and respectable–and that's the mainthing just now with you. And I think you'll get a job all right. AuntKate's got a lady friend that's head saleslady at Shillito's. She'llknow of something."Wylie was so kind and so hopeful that Susan felt alreadysettled. As soon as customers came in, she took her parcel andwent, Wylie saying, "I'll drop round after supper and see how thingsare getting on." She took the Sixth Street car back, and felt like anold resident. She was critical of Sixth Street now, and of thewomen she had been admiring there less than two hours before–critical of their manners and of their dress. The exterior of theboarding house no longer awed her. She was getting a point ofview–as she proudly realized. By the time Sam came–and surelythat wouldn't be many days–she would be quite transformed.She mounted the steps and was about to ring when Mrs. Wylieherself, with stormy brow and snapping eyes, opened the door."Go into the parlor," she jerked out from between her unpleasantlookingreceding teeth.Susan gave her a glance of frightened wonder and obeyed.