Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-03-14

an object she completely succeeded in
accomplishing, as we have seen.
1t was towards the close of a dull.
drcary day in November, and in a sparse
iy-furnished room in a dingy house in
Islington, sat a young woman holding a
pair Of thin lands our for warmth to-
wards a miserable scrap of fire in the
bottom OF the CRATE.
Suffering and pTivation had done their
work only too we'll and it was hard tn
realize that the gray, drawn face. with
its many lines OF care and trouble. and
the STORING. rouud-shouldered figure of
Alice Jcllrics had once been the happy
merry features and 1.-THE, willowy form
Of Minnie Merton Of Heathcotc
How is it all to end ," she murmured
as she drew her wooden shawl closer
around her breast. / know not what to
do and she glanced round the room.
To-day IS rent day, aud / possess lust
eightpence halfpenny. ! should have been
more economical at first. and then that
Il0 might have lasted longer But what
would have been the use? | can get 10
work without n reference, and though /
have offered to take pupils for next to
nothing, | cannot get them. There is
nothing for it but the workhouse or
the river. All! that would indeed be
rest, but what of hereafter?"
Her solloquy was cut short by sharp
knock at the door, and Mrs. Mason, the
landlady-a short, stout, florid faced
woman--came busting in
Il am very sorry, Mrs. Mason" Minnie
began alphabetically. Il know YOU have
come for the rent, but | haven't really
got it. If l sell those Christmas cards l
painted l shall be able to pay all l owe,
but until then"
II must wait, of course Well. nv
dear, although / am a London landladv,
do not expect to draw blood from a
stone At the same time, | am only a
poor woman, with a large family, and if
l do not pay my rent, and the children
bless em!-will be given the key to
the street As Mason says, we don't let
lodgin's for fun
Il have nothing can sell, Mrs. Mason,
or YOU should have the rent"
Il know all about that, my dear, so
don't worry. | see way you can pay
me. and get good living for yourself
/ know you are well eddycated, but are
you willing to work."
Try me and see" the girl said eagerly.
Very good Miss Jeifries, then | can
get you a job"
You, Mrs. Mason2''
Eyes, me--humble as / look. You've
heard me speak of my cousin Julia
Julia Perks, what married the rich pub
lican as is retired from business with
ever so many thousand pounds? Well,
it seems, neither Julia nor Mr. Perks are
satisfied as to 'ow their three little
dorters have bin gettin' on at boardin'
school. Seems they was half starved.
So they're agoin' to keep 'em 'ome in
future, and hev governess TO teach 'em.
/ think it's stuck-up business myself, but,
there, they've got the money. and they
must spend it, suppose. Now the last
time Julia called here, over cup Of tea
l was talkin' about you, and arskin' her
if she knew nobody amongst her fine ac-
quaintances who would send their chill
dren to you for moosic lessons. She said
she didn't Just then, but she would bear
you in mind. And Julia has kept her
word for once. l have just had letter
from her, tellin' me to ask you if you
would like TO teach her children for ff-
teen poun' a year and your board, and
lodgin' and washin', and she says you
won't be wanted TO wear caps, an will
be treated quite rs a Teddy an one OF
the family. They live well, my dear, ]
can tell you--no stint or sparing theTe."
The girls eyes frightened. Even the !