Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-08-21
THE DISGUISED HEIREss.

MISS vernon sat thoughtfully at
her window plunged in deep Thought.
This need scarcely be wondered at,
for the question upon which she was
pondering affected her deeply.
She was an heiress, having come
into possession, at her majority, of
fifty thousand dollars. She was
prepossessing in her appearance and
this, as was natural, added to the
| report OF her wealth which, ,as usual,
was considerably exaggerated,
brought her suitors in plenty.
Among them she made choice of
William Winsor, and in few weeks
they were to be married.
William was engaged in the whole
sale clothing trade, and had the rep
utation of sharp, active man of
business. He was of good appear
ance and so far as could be judged
was match even for the heiress.
Nothing to his prejudice had come
to the ears of Miss Vernon, until the
day before. n poor woman had
come to the door in evident poverty,
and asked for relief. On being ques-
| toned, she said she had been employ
ed in making shirts at twelve cents
| apiece for wholesale dealers-that
| after making dozen and carrying
them to the store, she had been
roughly told that they were spoil
ed, and nothing would be paid her
| for her work but she might have
some more if she would agree to
make them better. She added that
| this was one of the small ways in
which the firm made money out of
poor women, by pretending that the
work was unsatisfactory done,
when really no fault could be rea-
SOnably found with if
| The sum, small as it was, of which
she had been defrauded, was all inn
| pOrtant to her, as it represented
nearly week work.
"Only dollar and forty-four cents
| for weeks work ~ exclaimed Miss
| Vernon in dismay.
"That's al" said the poor woman.
"How, then, do you live ?"
at can hardly be called living. 1t
is just barely keeping body and soul
| together replied the poor woman.
"And who is this extortioner, that
| first offers yOL starving wages, and
then defrauds you of them ?'' asked
Miss Vernon, indignantly.
William Winsor"
"Who ," demanded Miss Vernon,
quickly.
"Wi1liam Winsor."
| al can hardly believe this. know
the gentleman"
"It is true, and If you will investi-
| gate the matter, you will find it to
be so.''
81 sciU investigate the matter.
Here is five dollars for your present
needs. Come here tomorrow at this
time, and / may have some work for
you to do"
The poor woman departed ,invok-
ing blessings upon the heiress.
Il VIII look into this, "said Marga-
ret Vernon, resOlutely, land if it
proves true, the engagement between
William Winsor and myself shall be
| broken. / will not give myself to
such a man."
| Nancy" said Miss Vernon the
next morning to the mbermaid,
"have you an old dress and shabby
cloak and bonnet that you can lend
me?
II have some that are so poor that
| am not going to wear them again,
said Nancy, surprised at such an in
quiry.
"Will you lend them to me ~
| "Of course, Miss but VIII =.
would the likes of you want of such
old clothes %
"A little fun, that is all" said
| Miss Vernon. L am going to dis
gdise myself, and see if / can't deceive
somebody"
With this explanation Nancy was
/ content and produced the clothes.
Miss Vernon pat them on, and in
addition borrowed of another of the
servants thick green vail, some
| what the worse for wear, and then
set out on her mission. No one in
her disguise would have recognized
the usually elegantly dressed heiress,
Miss Margaret Vernon.
1 Miss Vernon slipped out of the
basement door, and took her way to
| large store, on which was inscribed
| the name of William Winsor, in
large gilt letters.
/ She entered, and after awhile a
clerk spoke to her in Il rough voice I:
"Well what do you want ?"
| al want to get some work. she
| replied in a low voice.
1--WE can give you some shirts
"Any thing"
/ "Can YOU sew we'll ?''
81 think So
"At any rate, we will try you"
A hal. dozen shirts were given to
Miss Vernon, anI she was informed,
if satisfactorily done, she would be
paid twelve cents a piece. These
she carried home, slipping in at the
back door.
Two hours later, the poor woman
called.
Here are some shirts Tor you TO
make,n said Miss Vernon
why, they are the same as
have been making" said the wo-
man in surprise.
"That is true, and they came from
the same place"
Am | to bring them back there ~
mo. You will bring them here. L
| will pay you for the work when
done, double the price you have been
receiving
Thank you, Miss you are very
kind.''
'Sew them as neatly as possible
/ wish TO see whether they viii be
rejected as poor work"
"Nes, Miss Vernon, L will take pains
| with them.
Three days later the poor woman
returned with the work completed.
Miss Vernon paid her for them, and
| requested her 10 call the next day.