Polly in New York Read online

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  ELEANOR HELD OUT THE SEAL, BUT JIM LOOKED FORLORN.(_Page 77_)]

  POLLY IN NEW YORK

  BY LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

  _Author of_

  POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT, POLLY IN NEW YORK, POLLY AND HER FRIENDS ABROAD, POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE.

  ILLUSTRATED BY H. S. BARBOUR

  NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS

  Made in the United States of America

  POLLY IN NEW YORK

  CHAPTER I--IN THE BIG CITY

  The long Pullman train, that left Denver behind and carried PollyBrewster away on her first venture from the ranch-home, was fitted up asluxuriously as capital could do it. Eleanor Maynard, Polly's bosomfriend, enjoyed her companion's awe and wonderment--that a mere _car_should be so furnished.

  "Nolla," whispered Polly, furtively glancing about, "how different arethese cars from the ones that come in and go out at Oak Creek!"

  Eleanor, whose pet name was Nolla, laughed. "I should think they wouldbe, Polly. Why, those 'ancients' that rock back and forth between Denverand Oak Creek, are the 'only originals' now in existence. They'll be inBarnum's Show next Season as curios."

  Polly seemed to fully appreciate the comfort of her traveling carriage,and remarked, "One would hardly believe these cars are going at all!They run so smoothly and without any awful screeching of the joints."

  Anne Stewart, the teacher to whose charge these two girls had beencommitted, had been studying the time-table, but she smiled at Polly'swords. Then she turned to her mother, a sweet-faced woman who wasenjoying the trip almost as much as the young girls were, and said:"Mother, we'll have at least seven hours in Chicago before we have totake the New York train. We can visit Paul all that time."

  "Goody! Then Poll can visit John and I can see Daddy," exclaimedEleanor, eagerly. "But we must first charter the wash-room to turnourselves from dusty travelers into respectable citizens."

  "There isn't a fleck of dust to be seen, Anne," objected Polly, glancingaround the tidy interior, then at herself and friends.

  "Wait till after we have crossed the plains and passed through all kindsof towns--we won't look like the same people."

  To Polly, that journey was a source of great interest and fun. Thedining-car, the folding tables for games or work, the sleepingarrangements--all were so strangely different from the vast open-airlife of the ranch.

  Then the express train reached Chicago and the recess hours were filledwith greetings, visits and then good-bys, before the little party offour was on its last lap of the journey.

  After leaving Chicago, Eleanor asked curiously: "What did you think ofour city, Polly?"

  "I never saw such crowds of troubled people! Everyone looked as if theworries of the universe rested upon his mind. And not one soul walked oracted as if there was a moment to spare before the end of the worldwould throw everything into chaos!"

  Polly's graphic description caused her companions to laugh, and Eleanoradded: "If that is what you think of Chicago, just wait until you reachNew York. The folks, there, are simply wild! Now Chicago is consideredquite slow, in comparison."

  Polly stared unbelievingly at Eleanor, and Anne Stewart laughed. ButMrs. Stewart placed a calm hand over the amazed girl's throbbing wrist,and said sweetly: "Nolla is joking as usual."

  The four members which composed this little group of travelers arrivedat Grand Central just before noon. Polly gazed in consternation at thevast station where the constant going and coming of trains and peoplemade a most interesting sight for her.

  "We'll stop at the Commodore for a few days, girls, as it is soconvenient for us," remarked Anne, telling a porter to conduct them tothe hotel mentioned.

  Placed in a comfortable suite, Anne remarked: "I think we will call upthe Evans or the Latimers, next. You remember, we were told to let themknow the moment we arrived."

  The others agreed to this suggestion, so Anne telephoned the twofamilies. Mrs. Latimer was out, but Mrs. Evans said she would come rightdown town to meet the new-comers.

  "Well, we can unpack our bags while we are waiting for her," suggestedAnne. "But we must manage to get to a store this afternoon, and do someshopping for Polly."

  "Dear me! I was hoping you would show us all the sky-scrapers I've readabout," said Polly, eagerly.

  "I planned to let the sight-seeing wait for a few days, as we _must_secure a place to live in, first of all. Here it is the middle ofSeptember, and I have to start school work the first of October, youknow. In a great city like New York, the desirable apartments aregenerally taken as early as July and August. So we are up against it, inbeginning to seek so late in the season."

  "But we can't hunt at night, Anne, and you might take us out to show usthe Great White Way--as the boys call it," urged Eleanor.

  Mrs. Evans came down in time to have luncheon with the Westerners, andin the hour she visited with them, it was learned that Mrs. Latimer andshe had scoured the uptown west-side for suitable apartments for Mrs.Stewart, but everything had been leased long before. She concluded with:

  "So I really do not see what you are going to do, unless you just happento stumble over a place which has recently been resigned. There isabsolutely no use in doing any place above Ninety-sixth street, as wesought diligently from that street up as far as One Hundred andSixty-eighth street, and not a decent thing to be seen or had!"

  "But Ninety-sixth street is awfully far uptown, isn't it?" asked Anne,to whom the city was as yet a small middle-west town.

  "Oh, dear, no! It is about the center of the city, between North andSouth, these days."

  "I'm sure we will find just what we want, dear Mrs. Evans, but we aregrateful to you for being so kind to us," said Polly.

  "My dear child, I feel that I have done _nothing_ in comparison to allyou have done for me and mine. To know that my dear brother had friendsduring the last days of his life, means so much to me. I always had ahorrible feeling that he died in the Klondike without money or friends;"and Mrs. Evans hurriedly dried the tears welling up in her eyes.

  Of course, that launched the conversation about Old Man Montresor, andso interested were all concerned, that Mrs. Evans started when she heardthe mantel clock chime the hour.

  "Merciful goodness! Here am I--my first call, and staying all day!" shelaughed.

  "It's not late, Mrs. Evans. We were only going to look up a first-classshop where Polly can buy a few things," replied Anne.

  "Perhaps I can be of service in recommending a place?"

  Several shops of quality were spoken of, and as these were located onFifth avenue, not far from Forty-second street, everyone felt relieved.It would not take much time to do this necessary shopping, but Mrs.Stewart preferred to remain at the hotel.

  Mrs. Evans said good-by and the three young folks walked to Fifthavenue. It was about four o'clock and the avenue presented an endlessstream of automobiles--one line going down, and the other line goinguptown. The crowds of people hurrying to and fro made Polly tremble.

  "For goodness' sake, Anne, where _do_ all these folks come from, andwhere are they rushing to?"

  Anne and Eleanor laughed.

  "Well! If this is your wonderful Fifth avenue, I don't think much ofit," declared Polly, a few moments later.

  "Why--it's sim
ply great!" exclaimed Eleanor, having a far differentview-point of the city.

  "Great! Why, just look how narrow the street is? Main street, in OakCreek, is twice as wide. And Denver has nicer streets than this famousalley you hear so much about," scorned Polly.

  Again her companions laughed merrily. At this moment a traffic policemansounded a shrill whistle. Instantly the mass of pedestrians, backed upon the curbs, started to cross. Or to use Polly's own description in theletter she wrote home that night: "Really, dearies, they catapulted backand forth like rockets! We had to rush with them, or be trampled upon.It is just awful!

  "And such freaks, mother! Nolla says it is style. Well, all I can sayis, spare me from such outrageous styles! Most every woman and girl Imet had faces covered thick with layers of white chalk, with a daub ofred on each cheek, and lips as scarlet as a clown's. In fact, I had tostand stock-still and look at one queer creature--she looked exactly asif she was made up for a circus. Anne and Nolla laugh at me, all thetime. But I don't care, so! These horrid painted things are not _nice_!

  "If I hadn't set my heart on being an interior decorator, I'd take uplecturing, and teach these crazy New Yorkers how to look and enjoy asimple life."

  From the above account you can see how one day's experience in New Yorkimpressed the girl of the Mountain Ranges in the West.

  Polly, accustomed as she was to the overstocked store in Oak Creek,where shelves were stacked high with all sorts of merchandise, openedher eyes as Anne led her into a quiet parlor-like room that openeddirectly from Fifth avenue. She stared around for a glimpse of the gownsshe expected to see; but nothing like one was to be seen. The dignifiedlady who met Anne, and a few other well-dressed women who conversed inlow tones with each other, did not look like Polly's idea of shop-girls.

  Anne's lady conducted them to a lift, and they shot up two stories.Again they came out into a lovely lounging-room, but still no sign ofdresses. The lady pushed a button, and another woman hurried in.

  "Measurements of this young lady. She will need several gowns forafternoon and street wear; possibly, an evening dress."

  Then Polly was scientifically measured, and in a short time a number ofmodels were brought for her inspection and approval. These were placedupon forms, and every desirable detail of the gowns was pointed out toAnne and the girls.

  "Oh, I just love that one, Poll!" cried Eleanor, gazing with rapt eyesat an imported model.

  "Isn't it clumsy at the back? And see how narrow the bottom of the skirtis. Maybe they didn't have enough goods to make it any wider?" commentedPolly.

  Eleanor giggled but Anne explained to Polly. The saleslady seemed not tohave heard the western girl's objection to the gown.

  Then it was tried on Polly, and she saw how very becoming it was. Butwhen she endeavored to walk over to the full-length mirror, she almostfell down upon the rug.

  "Mercy, Anne! I never can amble about in this binder! Get me somethingsensible," complained Polly.

  But Eleanor liked the dress and as it fitted her, also, she said shewould take it as long as Polly didn't.

  "Take it and welcome, Nolla! but I pity _you_ if you try to scoot overthe crossings of Fifth avenue in _that_ skirt," laughed Polly.

  Other gowns were brought and Polly finally found several that she liked,with wide enough skirts to suit her comfort. Then Anne asked for thebills. The list was added up and when the total was mentioned Pollyalmost fainted. If she had not been seated, she might have crumpled tothe floor.

  "We'll take that gown with us, the others you may send," said Anne,taking up the one to be wrapped. Then she gave the name and addresswhere the other dresses were to be sent. A fat roll of yellow bills nowcame from Anne's hand-bag, and she paid the enormous sum--or, at least,Polly thought it was enormous for so few dresses.

  Safely out of hearing of the fashionable sales-ladies, Polly whispered:"Anne, you paid _hundreds_ of dollars for those things!"

  Anne nodded, smilingly. Eleanor said: "Why, that wasn't much for what wegot, Poll. The dress I bought is _imported_! And a model, at that. Itwas a bargain at that price."

  Polly sighed. Would she ever be able to accommodate herself to such achanged life as this one now seemed to be? Her friends laughed at thesigh and expression of doubt on her face.

  As Anne led her protegees past the hotel desk, a very polite clerk said:"A 'phone call for you, Miss Stewart, at five-ten P. M."

  Anne was handed the slip and read: "Mr. Latimer called up. Said he wouldcall again at six-thirty."

  "Maybe he wants us to go somewhere, to-night!" suggested Eleanor,eagerly.

  "Well, you won't go to-night, if he does ask you. It's bed at nine, foreveryone of us, because we have a hard day of house-hunting before us,to-morrow," decreed Anne, courageously.

  But Eleanor was given no cause to argue that evening, for Mr. Latimercalled up to invite them all to go to the Mardi Gras at Coney Island thefollowing evening. He said the Evans and Latimers would call at thehotel, in two cars, about six o'clock and take them to supper at theIsland.

  "Oh, goody! I never saw Coney Island but I've heard so much about it!"cried Eleanor, dancing about the room.

  "I have read how dreadful a place it is," ventured Polly.

  "That's another point of view, Polly. If you go down there to enjoy thefun and games, and see the ocean, then you will have nothing but frolicand sea. But if one is in quest of crime, then it can be found festeringthere, just as it is in every other section of a large city," explainedAnne.

  "But we are only going for a frolic," added Eleanor.

  "I should hope so!" Polly said, so fervently, that Anne had to laughheartily.

  After dinner that night, Anne said: "I think Polly ought to see a sightthat no other city can offer--that is the wondrous advertising signs onBroadway about Times Square, at night."

  "I am too weary to go out, daughter, but you take the girls," Mrs.Stewart remarked, so they hurriedly donned their hats and gloves.

  When they reached the famous corner of Forty-second street and Broadway,and stood at the uptown side of Times Square Triangle to look at thelights, Polly was speechless.

  "Why, it's as bright as day, everywhere," whispered she.

  "And just see the moving ads. up on the roofs!" cried Eleanor,delighting in the scene.

  "I thought there were hordes of mad folks on the streets this afternoon,but this beats everything!" exclaimed Polly, watching both sides ofBroadway from her vantage ground. "Honestly, Anne, do they not actobsessed, jostling and rushing as if Death drove them? They never seemto mind trolleys, autos, or policemen. They swirl and fly every whichway, regardless of everyone and everything."

  "I just love this excitement!" sighed Eleanor, smiling.

  "Well, I hope to goodness we will live far enough away from all this tolet me forget it once in a while," said Polly.

  "Oh, you'll love it, too, pretty soon," Eleanor said, confidently.

  "Never! This is Bedlam to me. When I write home about it, I shall tellfather that it reminds me of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah when fireand brimstone fell and destroyed those cities. I bet the folks neveracted any wilder, there, than these New Yorkers do, here."

  Anne laughed at Polly's vivid disgust, and suggested that they return tothe hotel.

  "Oh, no, Anne! It is only eight-thirty. And for New York that onlybegins an evening, you know. Let's get up on top of one of the buses onFifth avenue and take the round trip. That ride will show Polly lots ofsights: the Flat Iron Building, Riverside Drive and the Hudson, andheaps of things."

  Eleanor prevailed, and after a delightful drive of an hour, the littleparty was glad to get to the hotel and drop into bed.