The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-12

continued, ''had TO speak my mind out
straight when man under me has been
lazy or careless, but ] can safely say
that / have never used a blasphemous
word on an expression that would be
jarring on woman's lips. And. as far
as talk about me went, / never hesitat-
ed to show that / disliked coarse and
irreverent and vulgar conversation.
Again, as you say yau were sent often
to the country on jobs, how did you man.
age for lodgings?" len quired.
Now that look back" sne answered,
sit does seem remarkable that l never
once found it inevitable to sleep in the
same room with man. / used TO go 70
cottages rather than to public houses,
for, though have never been a teeto-
taller, the accommodation OF the village inn
is very often Objectionable. One time
when 1 was on some work in South Ken
sington, 1 met man / had known, and
ne said. Charley. old CHAP. there's first
rate thing some of US are going doTn
to. It's near West Grinstead-the whole
Of Sir william Burrelfs mansion 10 be
decorated and there's a vacancy STILL
hesitated little, but il seemed good
thing. so I offered myself and went.
We all got down there and while we
were sitting round thir lunch l strolled
out, saw a nice old fellow smoking over
gate, and said: Know where l could
get q room? I'm here for the painting
Of the big house Don't know as We
couldn't accomoiate you ourselves, and
ne took me in and showed me a clean
and comfortable room which 1 immed-
lately engaged, and fearing any Of my
companions would want to share it, I
said I would have my wife down, also
my neice; and 1 had as comfortable
and healthy a summer in the country
as you could have wished"
Working at Kingston in the summer,
she fell from scaffolding and frac-
tured some ribs. She made a good re-
covery, but no suspicion even then was
raised as to her sex by the doctor VINO
set them and attended her, any more
than 1t had been when she fell down
ships hatch and fractured her kneecap.
On this occasion, however, the doctor
had said one day, What curiously small
hands you have for man, Wilson"
Looking too, at them, well formed and
even white, 1t is almost a wonder these
never did raise any inquiry. But Gner
savings were soon exhausted, and, for
the last two weeks, work was unobtain-
able. For two days and two nights this
brave hearted woman tramped the
streets with no more than half penny
roll to eat, and at last she was fain to
seek the shelter of the workhouse- She
clung to the hope that somehow sne
might evade the compulsory stripping
but it was impossible, and feminine mod
esty revolted even TO yielding up the
secret she had kept so long.
But have hope that 1 shall not have
20 stay here long," she piteously said.
"My eyesight is not as good as 1t was,
end 1 fear 1 shall not be able to work
again, but I could act as caretaker. l
could keep lodge and should be very
thankful If I could near of any position
of trust / am doing my best while am
here, and the matron is very kind TO
me, giving me only some stockings to
darn and sheets to hem, instead Of send
ing me to scrub and wash. And 1 feel
very uncomfortable in these clothes,
though you would not find me wearing
any half-and-half 'bloomers' II 1 can't
have my old coat and trousers"