The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-08-19
MISCELLANY.
THE DISGUISED HEIRESS.

stSA
fected her deeply.
She was an heiress, having come into
possession, at her majority, OF nifty
thousand dollars. She was prepossesslng
in her appearance, and this, as was
natural, added to the report of her
wealth, which, as usual, was consider
ably exaggerated, brought her suitors
in plenty. Among them she made
choice of William Winsor, and in a
few weeks they were to be married.
William was engaged in the whole
sale clothing business, and had the rep
utation of being sharp and active man
of business. He was of good appear
suce, and as far as could be judged,
was good match even for the heirSss'
Nothing to his prejudice had come to
her ears until the day before. "A poor
woman had come to the door for relief
On heing questioned, she said she was
employed 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 spoiled and that nothing
would De paid her for her work; but she
would agree to make them better. She
added that this was one of the ways IN
which the firm made money out of poor
work women, by pretending that the
work was unsatisfactory done, when
really no fault could be reasonably found
with it.
The sum, small as it was, of which
she had been delrauded, was all-impor-
taut to her, as it represented nearly
weeks work.
.Ouly dollar and forty-four cents
fora weeks work" exclaimed Miss Yer
non in dismay.
"That's all" said the poor woman.
"How do you live?"
"It can hardly be called living. It's
just barely keeping soul and body to-
gethcr," said the poor old woman.
"And who is this extorlioner that
first offers you starvation wages, and
then defrauas you even of them Z" ask
ed Miss Vernon Indignantly.
"William Winsor"
"Who?" demanded Miss Vernon,
quickly.
civilian Winsor"
81 can hardly believe this. I know
the gentleman
at is true, and you will find it to be
So"
"1 will investigate the matter. Here
ia Eve dollars for your present needs
Como here tomorrow at this time and
I may have some work for you to do"
The poor woman departed invoking
blessings upon the beiress.
II will look into this" said Margaret
Vernon resolutcly, "and if it proves true
the engagement between William Win.
sor and myself shall be broken. I will
not give myself to such man"
Nancy" said Miss Vernon the next
morning to the chambermaid, shave
you an old dress and shabby cloak AMI
bonnet you can lend mc?"
~ have got some that are so poor
that I am not going to wear them a.
gain," said Nancy, surprised at such an
inquiry.
"Will you lend them to ne?"
"Of course, Miss; but what would the
likes Of ycu want of such old clothes ?"
GA little fun, tiat is ALL" said Miss
Vernon. "l am going to disguise my
self, and see if l can't deceive some
body"
With this explanation Nancy was
content and produced the clothes. Miss
Vernon put them on, and in addition
borrowed from another of the servants
a thick gseen veil, somewhat the worse
for wear, and then set out on her mis-
sion. No one in her disguise would
have recognized the usually elegantly
dressed heiress, Miss Margaret Vernon
Miss Vernon slipped out of the base
ment door and took her way to larg,
store, on which was inscribed the name
William Winsor, in large gilt letters.
She entered and after awhile clerl
spoke to her in rough voice;