Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-10-31

woman, hanged II L don't.
81 don't see why you shouldn't,
said his interlocutor. "They viii
come for less and work harder
Women always do"
$50 I've heard" said the res
taurant man.
"And III advertise tomorrow fol
lot of girls to wait here"
Ermina rose timidly and went
toward the red-faced, good ma
tured looking man.
; "Sir," said she, "you spoke Of
employing girls as walters. / will
come and work faithfully. Will
yon employ me 7"
The restaurant keeper looked
bewildered.
"You are lady, Miss" mutter-
ed he.
81 know that" said Ermina, as il
she was making some damaging
admission, "but ladies must live,
and / am very poor"
So the next day she came in a
frilled white apron and French
print dress, and began her new du-
ties in the Eagle Eating Saloon.
"At least" she told herself, 81
am earning my own livelihood
and when | am busy l don't have
much time to think"
Mr.. Bellaire Bolton came in one
day for a glass of ale and a plate
of oysters.
"Bless my SOUL" gasped he, as
Ermina Hall, quick and neat, look
ing as though she had been born
and bred to the trade, served him,
"this is never you 7"
"Why not ?" said Ermina, laugh
ing in spite of herself.
"My wife's cousin in a cheap
restaurant I" he exclaimed. "Good
heavens what is the world COM
ing to-"
ats not so disagreeable business
as you might think it" said Ermina,
"and I must live"
"Disgrarefnl perfectly disgrace
fnl !" said Mr.. Bellaire Bolton, as
he bolted out, leaving his oysters
untasted.
Mr.. Prince came in for a sardine
and a cup Of coffee champage and
trufFles were altogether ont of the
question when he had to settle the
bill out of his own pocket-and he
started and grew very red when he
saw Ermina. But he looked
straight into his cup of coffee and
pretended not to know her. And
Mr.. Clay stared at her as if she
was some rare curiosity on exhibit
ton when he gave his order one
day for bowl of mock-turtle soup.
$50 it's you, is it ?" said he.
eyes, sir, it is" said Ermina.
81 think you might have gone
into some more creditable business"
said he.
"Any business is creditable
which honestly supports a GIRL"
retorted Ermina, "and if you can
suggest any improvement l am
qnite ready to listen"
Our timid little lassie has grown
independent, you see.
Mr.. Clay muttered something
about distorted IDEAS" anu burned
his tongue with his hot soup, while
the young bankers clerk, who
came to lunch every day, and sat
opposite, was laughing in his sleeve.
"That's the prettiest girl ever
saw" thought Rudolph Penfield.
"If could only 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 disagreeable 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 jewel of great price to
shine on the breast of the lucky
man that wins her."
Three weeks after this, young
Penfeld grew more positive on the
subject.
81 must have her," said he.
Little as the half Of my salary is, it
must be more than she earns here.
And IL my uncle looks favorably on
the matter of my marriage, he'll
be pretty sure to do something
handsome for Us. will bring him
here to see her. That will melt
him."
And the next day Rudolph Pen
field ordered cold roast lamb for
tKo-himself and A portly old