Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-08-24

'eiAONtAAO VI IL 'N1A1AOOu OuU VI Tile least
possible amount Of ready cash, and
she had eaten bat little the whole
day.
An oyster stew and a cup of tea!
1t seemed like boundIeSs extravaganza
to the girl; but she was faint and
hungry, and felt the sore necessity for
food. She was early yet; there were a
few customers at the neat little white
draped tables, and the proprietor was
leaning against the counter, talking to
a woman who seemed to be some
relative.
They We struck, everyone Of EN-"
said he. "The ungrateful fellows,
after [ paid 'em regular walters
wages all the autumn when no one
else did! And now, if / shut up shop,
| won't have one Of 'em back again.
I'll employ women, hanged if /
don 3"
g don't see why you shouldn't t., e"
said his interlocutor They'll come
for less and work harder. Women al
ways do
$50 I've heard" said the restau-
rant man. "And I'll advertise to-
morrow for lot of girls to wait here"
Ermina rose and went timidly
toward the red-faced, good-natured
looking man.
"Sir," said she, "you spoke of en-
ploying girls as walters. [ need work.
[ will come and work faithfully. VIII
you employ me?"
The restaurant-keeper looked be-
Wildered,
You are lady, Missr' suffered
he.
q know that" said Erminia, as
If she were making some dangerous
admission, ''but ladies must live. And
[ am very poor
So The next day she came in frilled
white apron and French print dress,
and began her new duties in the Ca
gle Eating Saloon"
cat least" she told herself. 81 am
earning my own livelihood. And when
| am busy [ don't have time to think"
Mr.. Bellairs Bolton came in one dav
for glass of ale and plate of oys-
tiers.
" Bless my soulr' gasped he, as En-
mlnla Hall, quick and neat, looking as
II she had been born and bred to the
trade, served him, ''this is never
you?'
"Whynot?" said Erminia, laughing
III spite of herself
my wife's cousin in a cheap res
taurantp' he exclaimed. Good heay-
ems! what is the world coming TOP"
cts not so disagreeable a business
as you might think it, said Erminia.
6 And one must live
" Disgraceful! perfectly disgrace
fulp' said Mr.. BelIairs Bolton, as he
bolted out, leaving his oysters I'M
tasted.
Mr.. Prince came in for sardine and
a cup Of coffee-champagne and truf-
fieS were out of the question when he
had to settle the bills out of his own
pOcket-and he started and grew very
red when he saw Erminia. But he
looked straight into his cup of coffee
and pretended not to know her. And
Mr.. Clay stared at her as if she We're
some rare curiosity on exhibition,
when he gave his order one dav for a
bowl Of mock-turtle soup.
$50 it is you, is it?" said he.
eyes, sir, it is l." said Erminia.
Il think you might have gone into
some more creditable business said
he.
''Any business is creditable which
honestly supports girl" retorted
Erminia, land if you can suggest any
Improvement [ am quite ready to lis
ten
Our timid little lassie had grown in
dependent, you see.
ILL., SIChy 1I1uIICICo SbillbIIll1G ABOUT
distorted IDEAS and burned his
tongue with his hot soup while the
bankers clerk, who came to lunch
every day, and sat opposite, laughed
in his sleeve.
"That's the prettiest girl l ever
saw" thought Rudolph Penfeld. elf
[ could afford to marry, and she were
willing-two rather essential ifs, by
the way-I would make her my wife.
don't think that [ am positively disa-
greeable to her, for gentle and modest
as she is, / can see the color rise to her
cheek when ] come in; and [ believe
she would be a jewel of great price to
shine on the breast Of any man who
wins her"
Three weeks after young Penfeld
had waxed more positive on the sub
ject.
Il must have her," said he. "Lit-
tie as the half of my salary is. it must