“An engagement? May I ask of what nature?” and he felt hurt that she had not consulted him regarding her movements for the future. “Certainly. I saw an advertisement a week ago for one hundred girls to work on fancy straws. I have always been bewitched over fancy-straw work, so I wrote, asking for a situation.” “But you have no friends there, and where will you make your home?” he asked, in dismay, yet admiring the resolution expressed in her bright eye and flushed face. “There is a boarding-house connected with the establishment for the accommodation of those who work in the factory, and I shall board there for the present.” And thus it ended as Brownie decreed. He bade her farewell as she took her seat in the train that was to bear her away, feeling worse than any condemned criminal who had been sentenced to hard labor for life, for she must go forth unprotected into the world to earn the bread she ate, and he was utterly powerless to prevent it. * * * * * Never was there a more lonely or heart-sick girl than Brownie Douglas when she entered the office of Ware & Coolidge the next morning, and presented her card, and the letter she had received from them engaging her to come into their employ. “Do you wish to see any one, miss?” asked a clerk, as she entered the office, and bestowing a bold stare of admiration upon her lovely face. “I wish to see Mr. Coolidge, if you please,” Brownie answered, with cold dignity, yet a hot flush arose to her cheek at his look and manner. “Ah, yes, certainly. Walk this way,” and the dandy led her into an inner office, where a man of about forty-five sat reading his paper. “Mr. Coolidge, a young lady to see you, sir,” the young man said, and, with another insolent stare, bowed himself out. The gentleman immediately came forward, and Brownie gave him her card and the letter. “Ah, yes, Miss Meta Douglas,” he said, pleasantly, reading the name, while his quick eye ran over her dainty figure from head to foot, taking in her beauty and expensive apparel at a glance. “You understand the business, I suppose. What department would you prefer to work in?” “No, sir, I know nothing whatever about the business; I have come to learn,” she answered, frankly and simply. The gentleman gave her a look of surprise, then a smile of amusement curled his lips. “My dear young lady,” he said, a trifle embarrassed, “there is some mistake about this. We never employ any but experienced hands. The fall work is coming on rapidly, and we need those who can go right into it without any showing or teaching. Did not the advertisement say ‘none but experienced hands need apply?’” “Yes, sir,” Brownie replied, with a sinking heart; “but I thought it might be only a mere form; and as I am very quick to learn anything, and necessity has suddenly compelled me to labor for my living, I thought I would apply for the easiest work I could find.”