Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-09-15
The girl, who was very thinly and

The girl, who was very thinly and
poorly clad. looked up.
Yes, she answered 81 am we'll"
but you are sad You have met
with some misfortune, have You not?p
Yes, answered the girl, despond
emily.
"Will you tell me what it isp Per.
haps it is something that can remedy
Do not think me inquisitiye. but I
really want to help you, if you win LET
me.
The girl answered frankly:
THANK you for your kindness. IT
does me good, for | stand in need Of
kind words"
lie me, then, your trouble" and
Isabel, IN her sealskin jacket and warn
velvet dress, took the arm of the shabby
creature, and together they walked
along through Market street into the
busiest part Of town.
My mother and lived together"
explained the girl. "We are very poor.
and mother is an invalid, unable to do
much. We have nothing to live upon
except what earn by my needle"
THAT must be very little"
Yes, it is very littlA; but / have
been defrauded Of that little. 1t is too
hard"
"Tell me about it. Isit possible that
any one could he so mean as to cheat
YOU out Of the little you earn in that
hard way?"
/ viii tell you how it happened. A
week since. / got bundle of waistcoats
10 make for large house The pay
was very small. By working early and
late | could earn about eighteenpence a
day"
. Is it possible? ! never heard of such
oppression !! said Isabel Indignantly.
Well. | finished the half-doze1, and
this morning took them round to the
shop. Instead of paying the money, the
proprietor, rich man, said roughly
that they were not well done, and he
could only pay sevenpence apiece for
them. If would take that lie would
give me more work. 7 knew it was all
pretence to cheat me out of sixpence
on each, for l am an experienced waist
coat-maker, and these were made as well
as usual.
And did you take the money, my
poor friend ?" asked Isabel.
What could / do? There was no
money to buy our dinner. had to take
1t, but know that it is impossible for
us to get along on that paltry sum.
see nothing for us but starvation.
Cheer upl am rich. will nelp
YOU" said the heiress. "But tell me
the name of this mean wretch who de-
frauded you?'
walter Barton"
"Who?" exclaimed Isabel, startled
and surprised.
Walter Barton. hear he is en-
gagged to wealthy heiress, but don't
think such man can prosper"
~ must look into this" said Isabel.
quickly, her face flushed 'It's more
important to me than you know. Come
to my house."
The girl accompanied her home, and
presently the heiress, who had changed
dresses with the poor gir1 for brief
space emerged into the street and made
her way to the shop Of Walter Barton.
She was SO muffled up that her face
could not be seen.
what do you want?" asked sales
man roughly.
80 see Mr.. Barton" answered Isabel
in low voice.
"He is busy. He can't see girl like
youw
i have something important to say
to him."
Walter Barton, on being told this,
came forward.
well, girl, what do you want of me-"
he asked rudely.
You gave me only sevenpence fol
some waistcoat | brought here this
morning. said Isabel in an assumed
voice.
"What of that? They were poorly
made.'
81 need the money for my mother.
worked hard, and ! am sure the waist
coats were well made.
"Look here /, can't be troubled with
YOU" said Barton roughly. 81 gave
Won all the work was worth"
"My mother will starve r.
Let her starve then. It's no bus
mess of mine.
This was too much for Isabel, whose
indignation was intense.
She threw up her veil, revealing tc
Walter Barton face that terrified him,
so full was it of whitening scorn.
:" | am glad ] have found you out,
Mr.. Barton" said Isabel. "Fortun-
ately it is not too late, and she turned
haughtily and swept ont the shop.
Isabel Isabel Isabel Howard I"
called Walter Barton in al agitated
tone "Come back. It's all a mistake
/ will make it right"
Isabel did not answer, nor turn back
but left the place with her illusions
broken.
The next day it was announced in
society that the engagement was broken.
Three months later there was a New
engagement, but this time it was DR.
Percy who gained the pIize for which
SO many We're striving.
] he poor gil soon obtained remunera
tive employment through Isabefs in
fluence, aud she and her mother never
AGAIN knew want
As for Waltar Barton, he ruel bit
terly his fatal mistake, but for Isabel it
is a most ortunate on, since ii saved her
from marrying man whom she would
lave de-p sel, and gave her husband
whom she could respect rs well rs love